How much should I budget for wedding stationery in the UK?

Short answer

Budget for stationery as a flexible line, not a fixed figure. Costs vary hugely with print method, paper quality, quantity and design. Set a range you are comfortable with, then get quotes from a few printers to see what fits.

Your stationery budget depends on what you choose: printed invites, save the dates, order of service booklets, menus, place cards and thank-you cards all add up. A simple single-card invite printed on standard paper costs far less than a layered suite with foil, embossing or handmade paper. The number of guests matters too, because you pay per piece.

Start by listing everything you actually need, then decide what matters most. If you love beautiful paper, put more money there and skip the extra inserts. If you are handy, a print shop can supply blank cards and you can print at home or write by hand. For a formal wedding, you may want matching sets, but for a relaxed day, mix and match works well.

Ask printers for itemised quotes so you can compare like for like. Many offer a discount for ordering everything together. Remember to include postage and envelope addressing in your total. And leave a small buffer for last-minute extras, like extra invites for new guests or a few spares for keepsakes.