A Must-Read for Brides Looking to Save on Paper Items: 4 Unexpected Ways to Cut Costs on "Seating Charts, Place Cards, and Invitations"◎

I Want to Save as Much as Possible on Paper Items!

"Paper items," which are essential for weddings, especially "place cards," "seating charts," "profile books," "menus," and "invitations," can surprisingly add up in cost, as the price is calculated by [cost per item × number of guests]. Even if the cost per item is low, it can become quite expensive overall.

While paper items are important for guests, as they tend to be used only on the day of the event and are often thrown away by many guests once they're done, they also present an excellent opportunity for budget-conscious brides who want to save money!

However, figuring out how to save on paper items can be challenging. For those brides, I'll introduce some money-saving methods for paper items today!

Method 1 to Save on Paper Items: DIY Using Specialized Paper

One well-known way to save on paper items easily is to make them yourself! By using specialized paper, you can easily download templates and create them using Word, making this a recommended method.

For example, while the venue may charge around 150 yen per place card at the cheapest and over 300 yen at the most expensive, using specialized paper (for example: 500 yen for 40 pieces) allows you to make each card for less than 15 yen. That's significant savings!

⇒ Get the paper for place cards here

⇒ Find out how to make them here

Method 2 to Save on Paper Items: Use Lower Quality Paper

The next method to introduce is to lower the quality of the paper, which can be useful whether you're DIY-ing or purchasing.

If you're DIY-ing, it's wise to choose inexpensive yet sturdy paper rather than high-quality paper. Glittery or patterned paper may look cute, but it tends to be more expensive per sheet, making it less advisable for budget-conscious brides.

The paper I recommend for brides looking to save is [Mitanto paper]. Mitanto paper is cheap and sturdy, offers a good texture and thickness, and comes in a variety of colors, making it a favorite among DIY brides.

⇒ Purchase Mitanto paper here

When purchasing paper items, there are shops where you can choose the quality of the paper. If given the option, don’t hesitate to select the lowest tier. For budget-conscious brides, the quality of the paper items is not that crucial.

Method 3 to Save on Paper Items: Request Printing from a Professional Service

For items like seating charts and profile books that require a lot of space and pages, it can sometimes be cheaper to have them printed by a professional printing company rather than using your home printer.

The cost of ink for home printing, especially for color, can add up significantly. You may also be worried about the quality of the printing and the possibility of running out of ink in the middle of the job.

Did you know that professional printing companies often offer surprisingly good cost performance?

While this can vary greatly based on the type of paper and the number of copies, for example, if you order a profile book from Raksul with "B5 size, saddle stitch, booklet printing, matte paper, thick paper (110g), double-sided color printing, 100 copies, and shipping after 7 business days," it costs only 11,900 yen—meaning each profile book would only be 119 yen.

➡ Check Raksul's website here

Recommended companies are Raksul and Print Pack. Since the data submission methods are different for each, this is a great option for brides who are good at creating their data and familiar with computers.

⇒ Get Print Pack here

Method 4 to Save on Paper Items: Don’t Create Them or Combine Them

The last method I’d like to share is to either not create paper items or to combine them with other items.

For instance, if you display the seating chart as a board or seating chart at the entrance of the reception hall, you won’t need to create a separate one. Additionally, the menu can be included with the profile book or seating chart.

By reducing the number of paper items that need to be created in the first place, the costs will significantly decrease. Consider the age range of your guests and the style of the wedding to evaluate what is necessary and what isn’t.

⇒ Get the seating board here

Save on Paper Items and Prepare for Your Wedding Wisely!

How did you find these methods for saving on paper items? If you’re looking to save, there’s plenty of potential for significant cost reductions in this area. Brides hoping to save should definitely give these tips a try!

Of course, there are many brides who prioritize paper items. It would be wonderful if you could invest in all areas, but that’s not always the reality. Think carefully about where to invest and where not to, and plan an amazing wedding!