Are you wondering when to send your wedding invitations? When should you begin the process of designing your wedding invitations? What about a calligrapher for our envelopes? Between the cake and the dress and the venue, it can be hard to keep all of the dates, timelines, and to-do’s organized. So, when it comes to your wedding invitation suite we’re sharing our insider secrets on when to start designing your wedding invitations, when to start thinking about calligraphy, save the dates, day of the wedding details, and most importantly, when to mail your invitations.

You’re engaged and now wedding planning can begin, congratulations! Many couples begin their wedding planning by selecting their wedding date and wedding venue. The rest of the wedding planning falls more easily into place once you know the where and the when. Some of the other bigger items that couples tend to book early in the wedding planning process is their photographer and wedding planner. If your budget allows, we think a wedding planner is an invaluable asset during the wedding planning stage.

When should couples start thinking about their wedding invitations and day-of-the-wedding paper details? Wedding day stationery may seem like something that doesn’t need as much attention during the wedding planning process, but if you want to create custom wedding invitations or include custom calligraphy projects in your wedding day details, you want to have a plan for these items early.

Your wedding invitation and stationery are the first glimpses your guests will have of your wedding style and can help set the tone for your wedding day. As a wedding stationer and calligrapher, I’ve seen firsthand how the perfect invitation can add a touch of magic to your celebration. But before you can dive into the world of elegant fonts and bespoke designs, it’s essential to understand the timeline for sending out wedding invitations.

When Should You Send Your Save The Dates?

When it comes to your wedding stationery and invitation suite, the design timeline will depend somewhat on when you want to mail out your invitations. This will also be influenced by when your venue and caterer need your final head count, but there is a somewhat standard timeline that can be followed for creating your wedding day paper goods.

The first item to consider in your wedding stationery suite is your wedding save-the-date invitations. Once you book your wedding venue and location, word will probably spread about when you plan to tie the knot. But it is always a good idea to send a formal save-the-date invitation so your guests can mark their calendars and know they should expect an invitation to your wedding. Think of the save the date as a pre-invite to your main invite and it is a courtesy to your guests so they can plan ahead, take time off of work, or make travel plans, if necessary.

Once you have figured out your wedding guest list, plan on sending your save the dates anywhere from 12 to 18 months before your wedding day. If you are planning a local wedding day, closer to the 12-month before your wedding day mark is just fine. If you are planning a destination wedding or are getting married in a location where a lot of your guests will need to travel, more notice is appreciated so that your guests have additional time to plan ahead and make arrangements.

When Should You Start Your Wedding Invitation Design?

The next stage in your wedding stationery timeline is to begin your invitation design. This stage should be started about 4 to 6 months before the wedding day. Custom wedding invitation design can take 3 to 4 weeks and printing your invitation suite can take 3 to 6 weeks, depending on the print type.

We would highly recommend looking for your wedding invitation designer and calligrapher sooner than 6 months before your wedding date so that you can ensure you will be able to make it onto the artist’s calendar.

Pro Tip:  If your wedding stationer is a different vendor than your calligrapher, be sure to book your calligrapher at the same time and get on their calendar accordingly. You don’t want to wait until you have your envelopes back in hand to book a calligrapher!

In our opinion, it is easier to book one vendor for both wedding invitation design and calligraphy, because who doesn’t love one-stop shopping? Plus, this makes scheduling and production run smoother with one less vendor to coordinate with.

For more insight into hiring a wedding stationer and calligrapher, read our past blog post, 5 Things To Keep In Mind When Searching For A Wedding Calligrapher.

When Should You Mail Your Wedding Invitations?

Once your wedding invitations are designed and printed, be sure to have your final guest list ready with all the addresses. On average, it will take about 2 to 3 weeks for your wedding calligrapher to complete your wedding invitation envelopes. From there, your wedding invitations should be mailed out about 8 to 10 weeks before the wedding day.

When Should You Design Day-Of Wedding Details?

At the 8 to 10-week mark, your wedding reception, or day of the wedding, paper design should also begin. This could include wedding ceremony programs, escort cards, place cards, seating chart signage, dinner menus, and table numbers.

You may also be planning paper items like a map or weekend itinerary for your wedding welcome gifts or maybe even a custom calligraphy welcome sign. You might also want a cohesive look with hand-lettered signage for your cocktail hour buffet or dessert table, or custom-designed cocktail napkins and signature drink signage.

Any of those extra details you would like for your wedding day should be thought about in the 2 to 3 months before your wedding so they can be designed and sent to print 4 to 6 weeks out from your wedding day.

What Happens In The Final Month Before Your Wedding?

In the final month before your wedding, all the little details for your wedding day stationery and day of paper items will be finalized. As a general rule, your RSVPs will be due 3 to 4 weeks before the wedding, depending on what your venue and caterer require for final preparations.

From there, you should send your final guest list and seating chart to your wedding calligrapher 2 to 3 weeks before the wedding so they can complete the wedding escort cards and place cards.

Remember that this is just a general guideline and timeline to follow for your wedding stationery and invitation suite. You’ll want to coordinate with your wedding planner and your wedding stationer to be sure you are allowing enough time for all the design elements and ensure you will meet all the deadlines and target dates.

To learn more or to inquire about your own custom wedding stationery or wedding branding needs, please visit the weddings section of our website.