When to Book and Mail Your Wedding Stationery
In this post, I will share with you some insight as to when you should book and mail your wedding stationery.
A Whimsical Tropical Save the Date
If you would like a cohesive look throughout your wedding stationery, then it’s best that you choose one wedding stationer for all your paper goods, from your save-the-dates to your invitations to your wedding day paper and signage.
When should I book my save-the-dates?
I recommend reaching out to me for your save-the-dates 10 to 11 months before your wedding day (add at least two months for destination weddings). This will give us adequate time to go over your wedding vision during our design consultation, and allow time for design, printing, and assembly.
What is considered a destination wedding?
Destination weddings can take place in different cities, countries, or remote locations. What defines a destination wedding is that both the couple and their guests travel to the wedding location, often staying overnight or the weekend. For example, a couple living in Miami but getting married in Key West would be a destination wedding even though these cities are within the same state. These weddings are usually planned to make the most of the location's scenery, historical landmarks, or unique vibe, creating a memorable experience for all guests. To make sure your guests have ample time to make their travel arrangements, I recommend reaching out to me 12 months before your destination wedding for your save the dates.
When should I mail my save-the-dates?
I will mail your save-the-dates 8 to 9 months before your wedding day (add at least two months for destination weddings). One of the great perks of hiring me as your stationer is that I take care of mailing your save-the-dates and invitations to your guests so you have one less thing to worry about. No need to calculate the correct postage or worry about wording etiquette. All my custom packages include addressing, assembly, postage, and mailing.
When should I book my wedding invitations?
We should discuss your wedding invitation vision 7 to 8 months before your wedding day (add at least two months for destination weddings). If you have already worked with me for your save-the-dates, we will have an idea of what you have in mind design-wise. Usually my couples like to make their wedding invitations extra special and memorable by opting for embellishments, such as ribbon, wax seals, and calligraphy addressing. Getting started on invitation designs 7 to 8 months before your wedding day will give ample time for design, printing, and assembly.
When should I mail my wedding invitations?
To make sure your guests receive their wedding invitations in hand with enough time to reply, I like to mail your invitations 3 to 4 months before your wedding day (add 3 weeks for guests outside of the USA). I am on the conservative side of the timeline because the postal service can be unpredictable and slow, and it is really important to me that all your guests receive their invitations in time for you to receive those RSVPs so we can get started designing your day-of paper and signage.
When should I book my wedding day paper and signage, such as menus, seating charts, and place cards?
I like to discuss your wedding day paper goods 2 months before your wedding day (or 2 to 3 months before a destination wedding). This way, as soon as you begin receiving your guests’ replies, we should already have designs in place. Once all your attending guests are confirmed, I will complete the designs and start the printing process. Most items, such as menus and place cards, will be mailed directly to the couple or wedding planner. Items that are too large to mail, such as a seating chart or welcome sign, I will send to print to a trusted printer that is local to the couple, planner, or venue for pick up.
In conclusion, coordinating the timing of your wedding stationery is the pathway for a smooth and stress-free experience. By booking your stationer early and following my recommended timelines for save-the-dates, invitations, and wedding day paper, you can rest assured that everything will be handled promptly and efficiently. I'll take care of all the details, including postage and mailing, ensuring everything stays on track and give you time as a couple to focus on other parts of your wedding planning.
