Wedding stationery timeline

Planning your wedding stationery early can save you stress and allow plenty of time to make decisions and ensure everything is just right. Here's a handy guide to help you plan when to order and send out each piece of your wedding stationery.

Save the Date Cards

Once you’ve booked your venue, it’s a great time to order your Save the Date cards. The more time you allow for the design and development, the more relaxed the process will be. I recommend ordering at least 4 weeks before you’d like to send them out, plus my usual 7-10 working days for production.

For most couples, Save the Dates should be sent out about a 12 to 18 months before your wedding. If you're hosting a wedding during peak seasons (like school holidays or Christmas), or if you have international guests, send them out even earlier. This ensures your guests have enough time to plan.

Wedding Invitations

If you’ve already ordered Save the Dates from me, I’ll have a good idea of your design and can begin work on your invitations whenever you're ready. If not, I recommend allowing a little more time for design. This could mean getting in touch around 4-6 weeks prior to when you would like to send them out.

As a general rule, aim to send your invitations out between 6 to 9 months before your wedding. If you’re sending Save the Dates, this timeline may shift, but it's always good to give guests ample time to RSVP and make travel arrangements.

When Should My RSVP-By Date Be?

While not strictly necessary, setting an RSVP-by date is a good idea. This helps you plan seating arrangements and final guest numbers. I recommend setting this date at least 12 weeks before your wedding day. If your venue needs to know final numbers by a certain date, be sure to factor that in too.

On the Day Stationery

On the Day items – such as your table plan, welcome sign, order of service, menus, and place names – should ideally be ordered about 3 months before your wedding. If you’re ready with all the details, I can proceed even sooner. Don’t worry if some final details, like your seating plan, aren’t finalised at this stage. I can still begin work and incorporate any last-minute updates later. The sooner you get the in touch the better but please do not stress I will not print these until 3 weeks before the big day so any last minute table plan amendments can be made.

I ask that you sign off on these designs at least 21 working days before your wedding day.