Save the dates, invitations, menus, place cards… there’s a lot of paper that comes with planning a wedding. The good news? You don’t need to think about it all at once. I’m here to walk you through your essential wedding invitation timeline, so you know exactly when to order and send each piece, from save the dates to wedding day paper.

Save the inspiration, start the Pinterest board, and use this wedding stationery timeline to know what to tackle when.

12+ Months Before: Save Your Inspiration

No decisions needed yet – just start saving what you love!

Think beyond invitations, too! Colors, florals, your venue, artwork, monograms, typography, and anything else that catches your eye.

You don’t need to know why you like something. Save it anyway. As your stationer, I can help you find the common thread!

10–12 Months Before: Save the Dates

Once your date and venue are official, you can start your save the dates.

To begin your save the dates, you need the following:

• Wedding date
• Venue or location
• Approximate quantity
• Wedding website, if applicable
• Your favorite inspiration

Plan to mail save the dates around 8-10 months before your wedding, with extra time for destination weddings or guests who will be traveling.

4–6 Months Before: Wedding Invitations

Now for the main event!

Plan to begin your wedding invitations around 4-6 months before your wedding. This gives your stationer time for design, proofing, printing, addressing, and assembly.

Your suite might include:

• Invitation
• Details card
• RSVP card or online RSVP
• Additional events card
• Envelope liner
• Finishing details or custom artwork

Not sure what you need? That’s part of the process. As your stationer, I can help you build a suite that makes sense for your wedding.

Choosing between custom and semi-custom? Read Custom vs. Semi-Custom Wedding Invitations: What’s the Difference?

8–12 Weeks Before: Mail Your Invitations

It’s mailbox time!

Most wedding invitations should be mailed around 8-12 weeks before the wedding, depending on your RSVP deadline and how much travel your guests need to plan.

Before mailing, have one fully assembled invitation weighed at the post office. Paper weight, additional cards, and finishing details can all affect postage.

2–4 Months Before: Day-of Paper

Once your invitations are underway, it’s time to think about the details your guests will see on the wedding day.

This might include:

• Ceremony programs
• Menus
• Escort cards
• Place Cards
• Table numbers
• Seating chart
• Bar and cocktail signage

This is also the perfect opportunity to carry colors, typography, artwork, or your monogram from your invitations into the wedding day. Carrying those details into your wedding day paper is when the little details start to feel especially cohesive and that first impression becomes a lasting one.

Final Weeks: Add the Guest Details

Some things really do have to wait until the end.

Once RSVPs are in, you can finalize the pieces that depend on your final guest list and seating chart:

• Escort Cards
• Place Cards
• Seating chart displays
• Any personalized pieces, such as personalized menus

At this stage, the designs will already be finished – we’re simply adding the final names and numbers, then going right into production!

One Last Stationer Tip

Start earlier than you think you need to, but don’t feel like you need to have everything figured out before reaching out.

You don’t need to know your paper weight, printing method, exact invitation wording, or whether you need three cards or five. That’s what I’m there to help with.

Bring your date, your venue, your ideas, and yes, your Pinterest board.

I’ll take it from there.

Photos by: Kelsey Regan Photography