Save the dates are, first and foremost, OPTIONAL! The Knot may have you believe otherwise, but here's the thing: many of your guests over a certain age will not understand what they are, and you'll find yourself explaining that it's not the invitation over and over. If you still want to do them, pick a cheap option.
The first option is to snap a picture of the two of you holding a sign with all the information you want on it, send the picture to your local Walgreen's or CVS or Target photo center, and make 100 or so copies. Each picture will run between 15 and 30 cents a piece, so you'll only spend $15-30 for 100 save the dates! (Postage, envelopes, etc, not included)
Another inexpensive option is to make a simple design with your names, date and location (or have a design savvy friend design one) and print off several per page (postcard size is usually perfect) at a place like Office Max or FedEx office. Color prints cost under a dollar per page, so you can spend around $45-75 for 100.
Lastly, there's the option of VistaPrint, which personally, I find too expensive for save the dates. These run about $8 for 10, which would cost you over $80 for 100. However, this is a fairly inexpensive option for those who are not the DIY-type.
I went with the photo option, because 1) I think some people *might* actually save it, 2) It was easily the cheapest option next to not sending any, 3) It was a lot of fun doing the photo shoot with my fiance in my parent's backyard with my youngest brother (13!) photographing us (and doing a bang-up job!). I actually made a collage of pictures, and it was so cute I'll definitely keep a copy! It was also easier to stick with my theme this way, as my wedding is taking place in an antique schoolhouse, so we're having a vintage schoolhouse theme.
Onto invites. Vistaprint is a great option, because I'd rather spend a tad more on the invites than the save the dates. These run between $7-20 for 10, making them $70-200 for 100. Again, it's up to you. If you really love the $16 ones, get them. It's your wedding. But if you're on a budget, this is one of those areas to consider cutting costs.
Another option is to buy those simple invitation sets at Target, Walmart, etc. They're about $20 at Walmart for 50, so $40 for 100. They usually include RSVP cards, envelopes, and the invitation itself, and allow for easy customization. Printing will cost about another 50 cents to a dollar each invitation, so you'll spend about 50-100 dollars there, plus the $40 for the kits.
My personal choice? I bought a PDF of Etsy that was designed by a wonderful Australian woman ($30) and printed them off at Office Max for a total of maybe $110, not including envelopes or stamps. Another tip: don't include a return envelope and stamp for the RSVP card. Have people RSVP by calling, or online. The Knot has some GREAT tools for this. You upload all your guests into the guest list, make a wedding website, and people can RSVP on your website! It's all free! Saves you about $1 or so per invitation, plus you have one less piece of paper to keep track of. You can even call people who haven't responded, and RSVP for them online. (Or delegate that joyful task to a willing or unwilling friend or family member)
Next stop: pictures! When looking for a wedding photographer, you need to consider a few things. One- You will save these pictures for years to come. Two- Not all amateurs are created equal. Three- This may be one of those areas you don't want to slash costs to the bare bones. My recommendation is to contact a few professionals in your area and see if they'd be willing to shoot your wedding for a base fee without a package attached. Many understand, with the economy how it is, that young couples (and in many cases, not so young couples) are trying to save money, and will be more than willing to accomodate. They may have some provisions, such as you would have to allow them the right to publish your photos or use them in their portfolio, but these are not a big deal. Our photographer agreed to shoot our wedding and give us a CD of all our pictures for $500, and he is a highly experienced professional. We can decide to print copies of these photos at Walgreen's at a lower cost, and if we can afford it later, purchase a package from him of some of our favorite shots. This option is very budget-friendly, and allows you to get quality photographs without the hefty package prices.
If you cannot find a professional willing to do this, or their prices are still more than you can afford, check with amateurs. Be warned, however, that the less experience someone has, the more likely you are to run into problems. A very inexperienced photographer may not be able to capture all the shots that a professional can. In this case, you'll more than likely find that you get what you pay for. If you find someone who's really great that you think is a good deal, that's awesome. I don't recommend getting a family member or guest to take pictures, because then they won't get to enjoy themselves. The best advice for going with amateurs is to meet with them, ask about their experience, and take a look at their portfolio. If you're not sure, ask them to do an engagement session first. That way, you can see first-hand their techniques and abilities. Afterwards, you can decide whether to hire them for the wedding or not.
Another topic related to photography is videography. Personally, I am not having a videographer, because they are so expensive in my area. Plus, I kind of love the way most wedding videos I've seen look- shaky, unfocused half the time, and home-video-esque. Mostly because they all have been home videos! But if you're looking into this option, expect to pay quite a bit, due to the time-consuming process of editing videos. You can also hire an amateur, as with the photographer, but again, make sure you see their work first. As with photography, it's best not to make some family member work at your wedding, but if someone offers... Take them up on it! I'll be relying on a family member to film my wedding, but I'm making it easy by saying not to worry about quality, editing, etc. I think it will be fun to watch the video later and laugh at how I can hear my grandpa grunting the whole time and how I can see my flower girl picking apart the flower petals. But again, it's your wedding, and you can do whatever you want!
My next post on weddings will be about decorations for the ceremony and reception, and flowers.
Hope these are helpful!
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