Part one: printing
Short runs of newspapers are printed digitally, which means there is no minimum order. The price depends on the number of pages and the number of copies. These are the current prices from Newspaper Club, the UK printer I use, for a full-colour tabloid on 55gsm newsprint. Delivery to one UK address is included.
| Copies | 20 | 30 | 50 | 70 | 100 | 150 | 200 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 pages | £60 | £76 | £109 | £141 | £190 | £272 | £342 |
| 12 pages | £76 | £101 | £150 | £199 | £272 | £376 | £469 |
| 16 pages | £92 | £125 | £190 | £256 | £342 | £469 | £584 |
Two things stand out. The first few copies are expensive and the rest are cheap, so going from 50 to 100 copies costs far less than double. And page count matters more than anything else, so an 8-page paper for 50 guests costs £109 to print while a 12-page paper for 100 costs £272.
Part two: making the paper
There are three ways to get a finished design to the printer.
Do it yourselves
You pay for printing only. You need layout software, a free weekend or three, and someone who enjoys writing. Budget for a single test copy before the full run, because photographs often print darker than they look on screen. My guide to making your own wedding newspaper covers the steps.
Use a template service
You fill in a form or a template with your own words and photographs, and a designer or a website arranges them. This costs more than printing alone and less than a bespoke paper. The writing is still yours to do, and the result looks like other papers made from the same template.
Have it written and designed for you
A journalist or designer interviews you and produces the whole paper. You are paying for one to three days of skilled work, so expect a few hundred pounds on top of printing. My own fees are £495 for 8 pages, £695 for 12 and £895 for 16, with printing added at cost. A 12-page paper with 70 copies comes to £894 all in.
How many copies do you need?
- On tables: one copy for every two guests.
- On ceremony chairs or in welcome bags: one copy each.
- Spares: ten more for parents, grandparents and your own keepsake box.
For a wedding of 100 guests, that means 60 copies for tables or 110 for chairs.
Costs people forget
- A test copy. About £30, and worth it every time.
- Reprints. A wrong name after printing means paying for the run again. Proofread on paper, twice.
- Delivery abroad. Shipping to the EU adds local VAT and a customs fee, paid by the person receiving the box.
- Photograph rights. Some photographers charge for a print licence. Check your agreement.
Is it worth it?
A wedding newspaper can replace the order of service, the menu cards and the table plan, which between them often cost more than the printing here. It also gives guests something to take home that they will keep. Use the price calculator to see your own total.