How Much Does Wedding Stationery Cost in Australia?

Wedding Budget

General Advice

Elinor Zucchet

Last updated: 27th Nov 2024

Your wedding stationery plays a vital role in your big day – after all, without it, you wouldn’t have any guests! Before your guests have even stepped foot inside the venue, your stationery tells them everything they need to know: not just the date, time and location of your wedding, but other information such as the theme and (importantly) the food. It also continues to play a part once your guests have arrived and even after they’ve left, from letting them know where to sit, to a thank you card a week or two later.

In this post, we’re going to take a look at everything to do with the cost of wedding stationery, including the average cost, the cost of individual items, and what factors can affect the price you’ll pay.

What is wedding stationery?

Wedding menu in a plate on a decorated table

Wedding stationery is the name given to any materials, either printed or written, that are used to provide your guests with information. Examples of wedding stationery include:

Save-the-date cards
Invitations
RSVP cards
Welcome signs
Order of service
Menus
Seating plans
Signage
Table numbers
Name cards
Thank you cards
Maps and directions
Accommodation information

Wedding stationery even includes any hen or stag party invites or rehearsal invitations if you’re taking the formal route.

The beautiful thing about wedding stationery is that the only limitations are your imagination. Even on a smaller budget, you can use your creativity to come up with unique designs, formats and styles to suit your taste and the theme of your wedding. If your wedding has a cinematic theme, your invites could be designed to resemble an invite to a movie premiere. If you’re going for a countryside theme, your name cards could be printed on little cardboard trees – the possibilities are only as endless as your creativity.

What’s the average cost of wedding stationery?

Flower bouquets in printed paper cones

In Australia, couples typically spend an average of $500 to $1000 on professionally designed and printed wedding stationery. This includes everything from save-the-date cards sent well in advance to thank-you cards sent after the big day.

This figure, of course, represents an average (as detailed in our comprehensive wedding budget breakdown), meaning your spending can vary based on your preferences and budget. Opting for a DIY approach can significantly reduce costs, while commissioning bespoke stationery crafted by a skilled designer will naturally fall on the higher end of the spectrum.

How much do wedding invitations cost?

Wedding invitation with envelop and wax seals

In Australia, professionally designed and printed wedding invitations usually start at around $3 per invitation. However, the final cost can vary greatly depending on the designer’s skill, the quality of materials, and the intricacy of the design.

Wedding invitations are often the most significant piece of stationery for couples, as they set the tone for the celebration and provide guests with their first glimpse of what’s to come. For this reason, even if you’re saving money in other areas, it’s worth considering an extra investment to ensure your invitations make the perfect impression.

What factors can affect the cost of wedding stationery?

Printed wedding favors in a basket

Because there are so many possibilities when it comes to wedding stationery, the cost can vary wildly. Some of the factors that can affect the cost include:

Quantity: The number of guests you invite directly impacts your stationery costs. The more invitations you need, the higher the total cost—but bulk orders often come with discounts. For example, ordering 40 invitations might cost around $5 each, while ordering 50 or more could drop the price to $3 each. If you’re thinking about keeping a few as mementos, go ahead — it might even reduce your overall cost.
Vendor: Smaller businesses with limited resources often charge more than larger companies, and experienced designers typically have higher rates compared to those newer to the industry.
Type of paper: The type of paper you choose has a big influence on cost. A standard matte card might cost around $3 per invitation, while premium options like pearl or textured paper can increase that to $4 or more.
Printing method: High-end printing techniques such as embossing, foil stamping, or letterpress add sophistication but can significantly increase costs compared to digital printing.
Handmade elements: Custom, handcrafted designs require more time and care, which makes them more expensive than mass-produced options.
Complexity: A minimalistic design is usually more affordable than one with intricate illustrations or elaborate details.
Add-ons and decorations: Special features like belly bands, wax seals, ribbons, or twine wraps can add a personal touch but also raise the overall price.
Time: Last-minute orders often cost more, as designers and printers may need to expedite your request to meet tight deadlines.

Stationery Suites

The price of your wedding stationery can also depend on how extensive you want your suite to be. The more items you have, the higher the overall price. A rough guide to this would be:

$150-$300	$300-$600	$750-$1,200
25 wedding invitations and RSVP cards	25 wedding invitations, RSVP cards, thank you cards and save-the-dates.	25 wedding invitations, enclosure cards, RSVP cards, thank you cards, orders of service, menus, favour tags and table numbers.

What do individual wedding stationery items cost?

Pine cone with bride name tag on a table

We’ve already gone into detail about the overall cost couples pay for wedding stationery, but if you’re only looking for specific items of wedding stationery, below is a rough idea as to what you might pay for a professional service:

Save the dates

Cards: Starting at $2.00 each
Magnets: Starting at $3.00 each

Invitations

Single-sided: Starting at $2.50 each
Double-sided: Starting at $3.00 each
Pocketfolds: Starting at $4.00 each
RSVP cards: Starting at $2.00 each
Information cards: Starting at $2.50 each
Custom map design: Starting at $25.00

Ceremony stationery

Order of service programs: Starting at $4.00 each
Welcome signs: Starting at $20.00
Directional or informational signs: Starting at $10.00

Reception stationery

Seating charts: Starting at $20.00
Place cards: Starting at $1.00 each
Table numbers: Starting at $3.00 each
Menus: Starting at $2.50 each

After the wedding

Generic thank-you cards: Starting at $2.00 each
Personalised/Photo thank-you cards: Starting at $3.00 each

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