FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
the ultimate wedding stationery guide.
ADVICE AND GUIDANCE
everything you will need to know when planning your wedding stationery.
This guide covers the most common wedding stationery questions.
Your wedding stationery will be the first taste of your wedding for your guests, it can set the entire tone for your day so it’s important you get it right. It can be a very overwhelming task as you choose when to send your invites, the design and the wording. This guide covers the most common wedding stationery frequently asked questions and aims to put your mind at ease.
FROM THE START
save the dates.
Should I send save the dates?
Save the dates are a great way to get your wedding date secured with family and friends. This is particularly important if you are having a long engagement or if your wedding falls at a particularly busy time of year.
For those of you having a destination wedding, it will allow guests to secure any time off work and start thinking about flights and accommodation. With this is mind, you may wish to include additional information in your save the date. We will come on to that shortly.
When to send save the dates for your wedding?
I usually recommend sending your save the dates at least 9 - 12 months before your wedding. If you are having a destination wedding this could be up to 12 - 18 months before.
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Remember this is just a guide, and you will need to factor in the design and print times. When working with a wedding stationer remember to ask how long their lead times are so that you can factor this in to your timelines.
What information to include in your save the dates?
It’s best to keep it short, provide enough detail that you cover the who, where and when.
Here’s my top 5 recommendations of what to include in your save the date:
Your names
The date
The location – you don’t have to provide the venue at this point
Let them know an invitation will follow
Where additional information can be found - if necessary
If you are looking to provide additional information at this stage, I would recommend setting up a wedding website which can cover additional information such as accommodation and travel recommendations.
If you are getting married on a significant date such as New Year’s Eve, you should consider including accommodation and taxi recommendations as early as possible as these can get booked up in advance.
Save the date wording
Save the date wording doesn’t need to be complicated. Using the 5 recommendations above your save the date wording could be as simple as…
‘Save the date
Sophia and Jacob
21.12.23
London
Formal invitation to follow’
How to send save the dates
A printed save the date is always the best way to the set the tone for your wedding. Using various paper textures and print methods you can create a luxurious and memorable first experience.
Alternately, some couples prefer to send an electronic save the dates, these can be sent through messaging platforms such as WhatsApp or email.
THE FULL SUITE
wedding invitations.
When to send wedding invitations?
When to send wedding invitations is one of the most common questions. I usually recommend sending your wedding invitations at least 2 - 3 months before your wedding. If you are having a destination wedding this could be up to 6 months before.
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Remember this is just a guide, and you will need to factor in the design and print times. When working with a wedding stationer remember to ask how long their lead times are so that you can factor this in to your timelines.
What information should I include in my wedding invitations?
We’ve covered when to send your invitations, but what information should you include?
An invitation suite traditionally includes 3 elements, the invitation, details and RSVP card.
Invitation
Name | Date | Ceremony location | Ceremony start time | Reception location
Details card
Accommodation | Gift list | Taxi recommendations | Wedding website | Dress code | Directions map | Weekend events (drinks night before wedding, breakfast/lunch day after)
RSVP card
How to RSVP (postal, email text etc.) | RSVP date | Dietary requirements | Menu options | Additional information – song request, wedding event attendance etc.
Wedding websites
You may want to provide more details than suitable for your printed invitations, this is where your wedding website comes in. As well as including all of the information above, here you can include additional information on accommodation and travel, links to hotels and an indication on budget etc.
How much time do you give guests to RSVP to a wedding?
Ideally you will be sending out your wedding invitations and RSVP cards at least 2 – 3 months before your wedding. Before deciding how long you should give your guests to RSVP it’s worth checking in with your venue and any other wedding suppliers such as caterers to find out when they need final numbers.
I would ensure that you aim to have final numbers at least 2 weeks before this date to give you some time to chase any outstanding responses. Six weeks is more than enough time to give your guests to RSVP to a wedding.
How many wedding invitations do I need to order?
It’s important to remember that you won’t be sending individual invitations out to every guest, you will more than likely be inviting families and couples.
I always recommend ordering around 75% of the total number of guests.
This takes into account invitations to couples and families but adds a buffer to cover:
Any last minute invites
Making a mistake when addressing the invite/envelope
Dropouts which lead to capacity for some additional guests to be invited
Spare for keepsakes
Extras for the day for your photographer to capture (you spend so much time getting the design right, you want the little details captured on the day)
It is much more cost effective to over order than to have to re-order. Most stationers have a minimum order quantity which is usually around 20 units – if you are a couple short, you may end up having to pay for 20. For more luxurious print techniques such as hot foil and letter press this may increase to 50.
How much do invitations cost?
The cost of wedding invitations will depend on a lot of different factors. The wedding stationer you choose to go with, the design, number of inserts, card specification and print finish. To learn more about typical costs working with Ink and Pixel, visit my pricing page which includes my starting costs and some ball parks for a typical invitation suite and on the day items.
FREE DOWNLOAD
avoid common wedding stationery mistakes.
5 things every couple should consider when planning their wedding stationery.
Avoid making common wedding stationery mistakes, download my free guide today. You'll be surprised how many people forget number 5!
FOR CONSISTENCY
on the day stationery.
When should I order my on the day wedding stationery?
Most couples don’t tend to think about their on the day wedding stationery until a couple of months before their wedding. This tends to be because they won’t have confirmation on final numbers, sometimes a couple of weeks before the wedding.
If you have worked with a wedding stationer on your invites you may have a received a recommended breakdown of all your timelines. If you are looking to work with a new wedding stationer, I would recommend reaching out as early as possible to ensure they have availability. The spring and summer months can be particularly busy, and you do not want to be disappointed. Some stationers may try and fit you in, but you’ll need to be prepared to pay a rush fee to cover the additional hours they may have to work.
What on the day stationery do I need?
There are plenty of opportunities throughout your wedding day where on the day wedding stationery is needed or can complement and elevate the overall experience.
Here is a list of some of the common on the day wedding stationery items:
Welcome sign | Order of service | Order of events | Table plan | Table numbers | Menus | Name places | Guestbook | Additional signage (cards and gifts, guest book, freshen up, cake (including dietary requirements), sparklers, his and hers cocktails, flip flops)
How much does on the day stationery cost?
Similarly to your wedding invitations, your on the day stationery will depend on a lot of different factors. The wedding stationer you choose to go with, whether you worked with them on your invites (they'll already know what you like) the design, number of items, card specification and print finish.
To learn more about typical on the day stationery costs working with Ink and Pixel, visit my pricing page which includes my some ball parks for a typical order.
WRAPPING IT UP
thank you cards.
When to send thank you cards?
Sending thank you cards with a personal message is a lovely way to thank your wedding guests for their attendance and gift/contribution. You are likely to want to include a picture from your wedding day and may wish to wait until you have received your wedding photos from your photographer. In general, I would suggest sending them within 3 months of your wedding date.
What information should I include in my thank you card design?
Most couples tend to include a photo (or a collage of a few photos), their new surname and the date they got married. Your stationer will be be able to provide guidance and lots of design ideas.
What to write in a thank you card
Your message in the thank you card is a great way to relive one of the best days of your life. It’s important that your writing style matches your personality and the tone of the wedding.
Here are a couple of ideas for you to consider:
Thanking them for being a part of your day
Try to include a moment during the day (or running up to the day) that they were included in
Thanking them for their gift of contribution – if they have given money let them know how you plan on using the money
Ideally both you and your partner should sign your name
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