Is it cheaper to print my own wedding invitations?

Home printing saves you the printer's markup, but you need to count the real costs. Quality card is not cheap, and ink cartridges are expensive. You will also need envelopes, and you may need to buy a paper cutter or corner rounder for a neat finish.

Time is another cost. Printing, trimming and assembling every invitation takes hours. If you have a big guest list, that time might be better spent elsewhere. For a small wedding of 30 or 40 guests, home printing can be a lovely, personal project.

A middle option is to design your invitations yourself and have them printed professionally. Many online printers let you upload your own design, and this often costs less than a full design service. You still get crisp, even printing on proper card.

If you do print at home, buy a few extra sheets for test runs. Print one full invitation first and check the alignment and colour before you print the whole batch. Use the printer's best quality setting for the final run, and let the ink dry fully before you stack the cards.