Tick-tock! Once your engagement is official, you are on the clock to snag the best vendors out there to ensure they are available for your wedding date. Invitation designers and stationers are on a bit of a different timeline than other wedding vendors, since all of the preparation is done before your wedding day. Unlike other wedding professionals, we are able to work with brides who may share the same wedding date, so you won’t need to worry about the possibility of being shut out. While there won’t be a mad dash to reserve your wedding invitations, there is still a timetable to take into account.
As a bride, you need to keep track of a lot of dates and information. To make the invitation process more fluid and less stressful, I began including a wedding timeline as a part of each custom invitation package, that is specific to each couple’s wedding. While there is an “ideal” amount of time for the invitation process, every couple has a different amount of time with which to work. Whether your wedding is in three years or three months, we will calculate a timeline for each step of the process from initial meeting to final mailing. Here is an example of one our timelines:
For those using order-ready invitations or working with another invitation designer, here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about invitations in regards to time:
When should save the dates be ordered?
Once you have your venue chosen and the contract is signed, your date is set and you can start ordering your save the dates! Even if your wedding is a couple years away, family and friends will be excited to hear about your engagement and will be happy to put your wedding date on their calendar.
When should invitations be ordered?
This will vary, depending where you are ordering them from, but a good rule of thumb is 4-5 months prior to your wedding date. It’s best to order invitations from a company that offers samples (especially when ordering online), because they may look different on screen than they do in person. It doesn’t happen often, but in the event that there is a mistake with your order, it’s a really good idea to leave yourself some extra time in case your invitations need to be reprinted.
When should I mail my invitations?
Invitations should be mailed 6-8 weeks before your wedding date, if your wedding will be local. Mail them 10-12 weeks before, for a destination wedding, to allow your guests time to arrange their travel plans. If you are planning to have an “A” and “B” list of guests, push everything back by 2 weeks, so you aren’t sending late invites to your “B” list.
When should my RSVP date be?
Your reply cards should be returned to you anywhere from 2-4 weeks before your wedding.Your venue will give you a deadline for when you need to provide them with a final headcount, but also leave yourself time to track down guests who haven’t responded. You will also need time to determine table seating and to write your guests names on your place cards/escort cards. If you are having each name printed on your cards, the printer will need 2-4 weeks to have them printed and delivered, so plan accordingly.
When should additional wedding stationery (i.e. ceremony booklets, menus, table numbers, etc) be ordered?
All other wedding stationery should be ordered 6-8 weeks before the wedding. A good time to place the order is when you are mailing your invitations. If you are having your stationery custom-designed, leave some additional time (2-3 weeks).
Please contact us if you have any other questions about your invitations, or leave them below in the comments section.