Overwhelmed with all the information out there about wedding stationery? In this post, I’m breaking down my top 5 tips for dealing with wedding stationery so you can tackle your invitations quickly and focus on checking off the rest of the items on your wedding planning to-do list.

1. Timing is everything

The best time to mail your invitations is 6-8 weeks before your wedding date. If you’re planning a destination wedding, have many out of town guests, or your wedding is on a holiday weekend, mail 10-12 weeks before the big day.

Send too early and you risk guests forgetting to RSVP, or not knowing their availability that far in advance. Mail too late and guests won’t have enough notice to make travel arrangements (and you’ll be scrambling to finalize a headcount and seating assignments).

Bonus Tip: If you really want to give your guests advanced notice, opt for save the date cards sent 9-12 months prior to your wedding.

Looking for help figuring out when to order? View this post on wedding stationery ordering and grab a free wedding stationery timeline.

2. Know your numbers

When it comes to weddings, knowing your numbers is key to staying stress-free and on budget. Many wedding-related costs are based on your guest count, and invitations are no different.
Not sure how many invitations you need? Your invitation count will NOT be the same as your guest count. Remember, you’ll send one invitation per couple or household, not one per person.

Need more help figuring it out? Visit this post for a quick way to estimate the number of invitations you need.

3. Stationery 101

Now that you know when, and how many, it’s time to figure out “what”- that is, what pieces do you need. The invitation and the reply card are the essential pieces to an invitation suite, but that’s just the beginning. Don’t worry, I’ve put together a guide on what pieces go in an invitation suite so you can decide exactly which ones you need!

4. Whose wedding is it, anyway?

It would be a shame to send out invitations that were missing a critical piece of information – like the bride’s name, or the ceremony location. Make sure you cover all the important details (and proper wedding etiquette) with my handy invitation wording guide.

5. Make a great first impression

Your invitations set the stage for your entire wedding day, and the envelope is the opening act. Pay a little extra attention to your envelopes, and your guests will be anticipating something exceptional before they’ve even seen the invitation. Envelope liners, hand calligraphy, and wax seals are just a few ways you can dress up your envelope. Visit this post on envelopes to ensure your invitations make a lasting first impression.

Hopefully, these tips will take some of the stress out of your wedding stationery planning! Looking for more advice on your wedding invitations? Find these tips and more in The Wedding Stationery Guide by Banter & Charm.