On the hunt for the perfect wedding invitations? If you're hovering between the convenience of online templates and the bespoke charm of custom designs, then semi custom wedding invitations might be the best option for you.

So, what exactly are semi custom wedding invitations? They’re a boutique stationer’s mid-level offering that balance the ease of pre-made templates from online stores with a touch of personalization akin to custom illustrated wedding invitations.

So, what are the benefits of semi custom? Let’s dive in!

One of the biggest benefits of semi custom wedding invitations is the next-level quality. While on-demand marketplaces produce decent digital prints on respectable cardstock, semi custom invitations open the door to more luxury options. Think letterpress, hand-made paper, and custom wax seals. These are the show-stoppers that will get you tons of compliments from your guests. And if monogram wedding invitations are your vibe, you're in luck – these designs are often a staple for semi custom.

Unlike on-demand stores, semi custom wedding invitations come with personal assistance from a professional stationery designer (like us!). Your stationery designer will have experience with all things wedding invitations and will answer your biggest questions. Not sure of the proper way to address a guest? Your stationer can help with that!

A stationer will also advise on and handle the design work so you don’t have to worry about DIYing it. (Because planning a wedding leaves you with SO MUCH free time, right?) And don’t forget the time you’ll sink into assembling the invitations, especially if they involve gluing envelope liners, folding vellum wraps, or some other advanced paper crafting technique. Much of the time, your invitation designer will take this off of your plate, saving you hours!

If cost is a concern, you’ll be happy to hear that semi custom wedding invitations offer luxury without breaking the bank, typically starting at $700-$1000 for 100 invitations. While a little more than on-demand sites, this is a lower entry price than custom designed invitations, which typically begin around $2000 or more. But the added quality, professionalism, and flexibility is worth every penny!

That said, semi custom invitations can run the gambit from a cost perspective, so be sure to let your stationer know your budget from the start. The cost relies heavily on the materials you choose and the quantity you need. So perhaps letterpress is a bit out of reach, but that wax seal? Add it on!

Semi custom wedding invitations often come with more design flexibility than on-demand invitations. Fell in love with a floral wedding invitation online but wish it matched your color scheme? Depending on the design, your semi custom stationer may be able to change that for you. Or maybe you found a venue illustration that you want to work it into the design. More often than not, this can be achieved with semi custom wedding invitations, but not always with big box stores. Ultimately, your semi custom stationery designer is creating a product for you and will want to tailor it to your wedding. You won’t find this level of personalization elsewhere.

Finally, semi custom wedding invitations are easier to visualize than custom illustrated wedding invitations. Since you begin with a pre-designed template, you’ll have a good idea of what your final invitation will look. It’s much easier to imagine a tweak to the color or font instead of a full wedding invitation suite designed from scratch. So if you’re a person who needs that visual, semi custom invitations may be the best fit for you!

Still have questions about semi custom wedding invitations? Let us know in a comment! And don’t forget to check out our semi custom options in the link below!