Guide To Ordering Wedding Invitations: What You Need To Know

Planning a wedding can be stressful, especially when it comes to sending out invites. The general rule of thumb is to send out your wedding invitations around six to eight weeks before your wedding date. However, there are many factors to consider when ordering wedding invitations, such as printing options, addressing services, and custom designs. To avoid rush fees and the added stress of mailing wedding invitations late, it is recommended to start searching for a stationer as early as possible, ideally around six to nine months before the wedding. This will give you enough time to add special touches, such as envelope liners, and allow for any unexpected delays. Sending out save the dates four to six months before the wedding is also a good idea, especially for destination weddings, to give your guests enough time to make travel arrangements.

Timing is key: send invites 6-8 weeks before the wedding

Wedding invitations should be sent out around six to eight weeks before the wedding. This timing ensures that guests have enough time to reply, make travel arrangements, and purchase gifts. It also gives the couple ample time to finalise their wedding planning details, such as the seating chart, menu selections, and cake size.

If your wedding is a destination wedding or falls on a holiday weekend, it is advisable to send out invitations even earlier, approximately 12 weeks in advance. This will allow your guests to make the necessary travel arrangements without feeling rushed.

Additionally, it is important to consider the time needed for printing and assembling the invitations. The printing process can take up to six weeks, and if you plan to add any embellishments, such as envelope liners, you will need to allow extra time. Therefore, it is recommended to order your invitations six to nine months before the wedding. This will help you avoid rush fees and give you a wider range of options to choose from.

To summarise, sending your invitations six to eight weeks in advance is key to ensuring your guests have enough time to plan and attend your wedding, while ordering them six to nine months in advance will give you the flexibility to create your dream invitations without feeling rushed.

Allow 4-6 months for design and production

When it comes to wedding invitations, it's crucial to allow ample time for their design and production. Rushing this process can lead to oversight of important details, typos, or even approving the wrong quantity. Here are some reasons why allowing 4-6 months for this process is essential:

Proofreading and Error Correction

Taking your time with proofreading is vital. Rushing through proofs might cause you to overlook typos or errors, which can be costly and time-consuming to fix at a later stage. A fresh pair of eyes can help catch any mistakes, so consider asking friends or family members to read through the proofs as well.

Custom Designs and Specialty Printing

If you're opting for custom-designed invitations or specialty printing options like letterpress, thermography, or foil, starting the process earlier is advisable. These options often require more time for production and may involve additional steps or materials.

Assembly and Embellishments

Allowing 4-6 months gives you sufficient time to assemble the invitations, especially if you plan to include embellishments such as envelope liners. This extra time ensures you're not frantically putting everything together at the last minute.

Addressing Envelopes

If you're not using envelope printing services or sending them to a calligrapher, addressing the envelopes can take longer than expected. Allowing extra time ensures you're not rushing this task, which is an important part of the overall presentation.

Unexpected Delays

By starting 4-6 months in advance, you build in a buffer for any unexpected delays. Printing times can vary, and you may encounter unforeseen issues. Having this extra time ensures you can manage any surprises without affecting your final deadline.

Peace of Mind

Last but not least, allowing ample time for design and production reduces stress and gives you peace of mind. Wedding planning can be hectic, and knowing that your invitations are under control will make the process more enjoyable.

Order 6-9 months in advance

Ordering your wedding invitations 6-9 months in advance is ideal. This is the sweet spot, as it gives you enough time to research and make the right choice. It also allows you to avoid rush fees and the stress of mailing wedding invitations late.

If you are planning to send out Save the Dates, these should be ordered and sent to your guests 4-6 months before the wedding. This gives your guests enough time to make travel arrangements and accommodations. Save the Dates are especially important if you are having a destination wedding.

When you order your invitations, you can also take the envelopes home and give them to a calligrapher to print the return addresses. This can take a long time, so it's good to get a head start. If you plan to address the envelopes yourself, make sure to allow extra time for this.

Ordering 6-9 months in advance gives you plenty of time for design and production. It can take up to six weeks just for the printing, and you may want to add embellishments like envelope liners. If you are ordering a custom design or planning a destination wedding, it's a good idea to start your order about a month earlier.

You should also finalise the wording on your invitations at this time. This includes the time and location of the ceremony, the hosts, your and your future spouse's full names, and RSVP information. You may also want to include details about post-wedding activities, which can be printed on separate enclosure cards.

Send 'save the dates' 4-6 months before

Sending out save-the-date cards is an optional step in the wedding invitation process, but it is a fun way to get your guests excited about your big day and is especially helpful for those who need to make travel arrangements or if accommodations near the wedding site are limited. Save-the-dates are typically sent out 4-6 months before the wedding, or even earlier if you're planning a destination wedding.

Save-the-date cards do not have to match your official wedding invitations, but ordering everything from one stationer can save you money and make the process easier. It is recommended to start scouting stationers 9-11 months before the wedding and to aim to order your invitations about 4-5 months out, so they're ready to mail 8-10 weeks before the wedding. If you're having a destination wedding or getting married during a holiday, send out your invites even earlier (12 weeks before the wedding).

It is important to note that sending out save-the-dates too early or too late can be inconsiderate and may hurt your guest attendance. Save-the-dates should be sent out only to those whom you definitely plan to invite to your wedding.

Finalise the guest list 7-8 months before

Finalising the guest list 7-8 months before the wedding is an important step in the wedding invitation process. This is the time when you should be ordering your invitations, as they will need to be sent out 6-8 weeks before the wedding. Ordering your invitations 7-8 months in advance gives you plenty of time to choose the design, wording and any embellishments you may want to include. It also allows for any printing errors or delays in shipping.

When finalising your guest list, it is a good idea to gather everyone's mailing address. This will save time later when addressing the envelopes. It is also worth noting that you do not need to send an invitation to every guest. For example, couples living together will only need one invitation. However, it is always a good idea to order extra invitations, just in case.

If you are planning a destination wedding or sending invitations to international guests, it is advisable to send out your invitations 12 weeks before the wedding. This will give your guests plenty of time to make travel arrangements. It is also a good idea to give these guests a heads-up by calling or emailing them with the details.

If you are ordering custom-designed invitations or using a specialty print process, such as letterpress or foil, you may need to place your order even earlier. These types of invitations can take longer to produce, so it is best to start planning as early as possible to avoid any last-minute stress.

Frequently asked questions