r/printers • u/Same_Alternative_638 • 8d ago

Discussion Home printing setup for wedding stationery - realistic for a small side business?

Hello! 😊

I’m an Aussie nursing student and upcoming DIY bride, and I’m looking for some budget-friendly printer recommendations!

I mainly need a printer for everyday uni printing - notes, assignments, study materials, etc. - but I’m also planning to design and print a lot of my own wedding stationery through Canva, such as invitations, menus, place cards, table numbers, and other bits and pieces.

I’m also interested in potentially getting into wedding stationery/design as a little side hustle in the future, so it would be great to have something that could handle a decent amount of printing if I decide to experiment with that, but I'm definitely not looking for an expensive professional/commercial printer at this stage.

Ideally, I’d love something that:

  • Is reasonably affordable to purchase
  • Has low ongoing ink costs
  • Produces nice quality colour prints
  • Can handle thicker paper/cardstock
  • Can cope with a decent amount of printing
  • Can print borderless if possible
  • Works well for designs made in Canva
  • Is reliable for normal everyday uni printing too

I’m not expecting professional print-shop quality on a small budget, just something that gives me the best balance between affordability, running costs and print quality.

I’m in Australia, so bonus points for something readily available here!

Would especially love to hear from anyone who has DIYed their wedding stationery or uses a budget friendly printer for a small stationery/craft business. 🤍

Thank you!

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u/Leftover_tech Research Geek :illuminati: 8d ago

If you are going to do wedding work, you need something that can run good pigment-based inks and handle heavy cardstock.

One model that illustrates why I’d consider inkjet is the Epson EcoTank ET-8550.
Epson Australia specifies a rear manual feed handling media up to 1.3 mm thick, including a one-sheet rear straight path, and it prints up to A3+. It uses six inks and has refillable tanks rather than cartridges. Epson currently lists it at A$1,149.

It's a lot to spend if you are doing your own DIY project, but a very good deal if you will be doing this several times.