There are many ways budget-conscious brides can save money on their invitations.

Assembly: Instead of having your stationer assemble your invitations, gather your bridesmaids to help you tie, stuff, and seal them at home. Try to use self-adhesive stamps and a sealer sponger or glue stick to seal the envelopes.

Calligraphy: Professional calligraphers will address your invitations, but the cost for this service quickly adds up. Instead, do them yourself or ask a friend with beautiful handwriting to help you out. Computer calligraphy is also an economical choice at $.75 to $1.25 an envelope.

Extra Envelopes: You should order 25 extra envelopes in the event there is an error while addressing so you don’t have to rush a small order to your door.

Ink Colors: Keep budget-friendly with non-metallic inks. Most invitation companies charge a standard fee for black, gray and colored inks. Inks with hints of silver, gold and bronze are more expensive.

Printing Options: Engraving and letterpress are the most expensive printing options. Other, more economical, printing methods include thermography (raised lettering that gives the illusion of engraving), flat printing, offset printing, laser printing, and lithography.

Simplicity: Skip the engraved doves, hearts and flowers, and show off your refined style with a clean border or beveled edge. Select the heaviest, most luxurious cardstock you can afford, and finish off your look with a simple typeface in black or gray ink.

Standard Sizes: If your invitations are extra long, extra wide, extra thick, extra heavy, or extra small — make sure you have the post office determine the proper postage. Getting the postage wrong means invitations might be returned to the sender.