We decided that it was not sufficient to include just the designs that offer the best value because since we offer heavy discounts on the leading brands it would be difficult not to blow our own trumpet and include everything.  We then chose to look purely at price and focussed on the cost for 50 invitations of all our designs and draw a line at the cheapest.   This is where a further problem emerged.

Renaissance from Collison White Lace Collection

There are a growing number of wedding invitation designs that now include what traditionally would have been classed as separate items.  For example the Collisons Renaissance and Simplicity collections open out to feature an internal pocket that contain a reply card and guest information card.  These pocketfold designs have ‘additional items’ which are included in the price of the day invitation making them exceptionally good value.  Similary, the invitation in the Bound Together range from CCA, as the name suggests has a reply card bound together with the invitation.  When customers buy the wedding invitation in this range they are essentially getting a reply card for free.   In other words, the some of the individual parts of these designs would be a lot greater than their whole.

It looks like we need to give the section a bit more thought because it would be important not to exclude designs such as those highlighted above to customers looking for a budget wedding invitations especially when they need to buy other items such as reply cards and guest information cards along with their invites.

Damask Invitation

This classic looking pocket wedding invitation from CKK Wedding Stationery is beautifully understated in sage green damask but is bought upto date with the addition of three mini gems for the tiniest amount of bling.  The colour is perfect for a country garden wedding but works well for any season.  The pocket invitations cost £2.50 each and are available in many colours with a fully coordinating range of stationery available, the table plans look particularly stunning.

If you’re looking for tartan wedding stationery,  you’re either having a wonderfully romantic Scottish highland wedding, or you are a complete fashionista who is keeping right on trend with the recent tartan revival.  Either way this Tartan wedding stationery range from Lilypond Cards is charming and unusual.  The wallet style invitation has the insert inside which you pull out with a pretty, purple ribbon and has a coordinating RSVP card included inside.  This make the cost of  £2.50 per invite very cheap as most suppliers charge extra for reply cards.  There is a full range of matching items available including a postal box for all your wedding cards and small gifts on the day so that you don’t lose anything.

Keep your wedding invites simple and sophisticated with these Black Tie envelopment invitations from Fairy Cake Cards.  They look elegant and classy and will set the tone for your wedding, without tying you into a colour theme. They are extremely reasonably priced at £2.75 each.  There’s not alot of information about the actual cards on the website so it would be worth paying the £5 charge for a sample pack.

The Nouveau range of wedding stationery from Peach Cocktail is perfect for a chic and understated way to invite your guests to your wedding.  It uses thermography for the flower, text and border to give a sharp contrast to the smooth white card.  The matching envelopes are lined in black to give a dramatic effect and there is a full range of matching stationery available including table plan and table name cards which could really give your venue the wow factor.  They are priced in a sliding scale so the more you order the cheaper the unit price is, so for example the price for 50 would be £2.90 each.

If you’re after something with a bit more glamour, then the Plaza range that is inspired by the 1940’s era is amazing.  It also uses thermography but is mounted on black shimmering board and placed in a ‘collar’ style pocket.  Other items in the range are highlighted with contrasting ribbon to give a beautifully decadent feel, perfect for a black tie occasion.  The cost for 50 invitations in the Plaza range is £4.40 each.

There will be no mistaking the direction your wedding will be taking if you send these fantastic gothic invitations by Purple Fairy to your guests.  The striking white card with text and distinctive black markings is set on red and black card which is finished off with a bright red ribbon to pull the invite from its red wallet.  They are provided with white postal envelopes for mailing (probably so that you don’t scare the postman!) and are priced at £2.25.  What I really liked when I looked at the website is that Lucie is very honest and open.  She has a page that tells you about her, none of the boring “how I got into making stationery” stuff but the stuff that makes her tick, and in her news page she lets you know what’s happening and how busy she is so that you know when to order.  

For a sophisticated and elegant way to invite your guests to your wedding and to really set the tone for the day, these Soho Corset Invitations from Heather Martin are perfect.  The invitation consists of an outer cover which can be laced in three different styles, a printed invitation inside and a matching envelope.  The invitations come tied in the style you request so you don’t need to worry about trying to lace them up, you simply slide the insert out to write your guests name then slide back in.  The board is available in eight different colours with a choice of hundreds of ribbon colours, they will even match a swatch for you.  Prices start from £3.75 depending on the lacing style you choose.  

The inticate wallpaper pattern on this soft blue invitation really sets this design off.  The blue print inserts slide into the outer sleeve and the print style coordinates beautifully both inside and out.  The great thing about a pocket style invitation is that you enclose an RSVP, direction card etc in one neat little package.  The card is finished with a twisted wire beaded pearl embellishment.

The design is called Cathy from Purely Handmade and must surely make the shortlist if you are having a blue themed wedding.