What should we consider when it comes to our wedding stationery?
YOUR WEDDING INVITATIONS…
Sometimes overseen by a lot of wedding couples, but your wedding invitation is your guests first look into your wedding! Your invites should be a little snapshot into your special day and should reflect your theme for the day perfectly. And so offering your guests a sneak peek into what to expect on your big day - it’s a great time to WOW!
MORE THAN JUST AN INVITE!
Once you’ve worked with your stationery supplier to create the most perfect ‘first look’ into your wedding through your Save The Dates and Wedding Invitations, you can then incorporate it into the rest of your day.
This may include:
Save The Dates
Wedding Invitations
Welcome Sign - great for the personal touch when guests arrive at the venue
Table Plan - every wedding needs a table plan so everyoen knows where they are sat during the wedding breakfast and speeches
Table Names/ Numbers - needed so guests can easily identify their table
Order of the Day Sign - not necessary but they are a nice touch to allow guests to have a rough idea of timings of the day and when they are expected
Place Cards - 100% a necessity so that each guests can easily identify their seat at the correct table
Menus - I’d only suggest menus if everyone is eating the same meal, if guests picked from a choice menu, you will likely need to put their menu choices on to their name card so they remember what they ordered
Maybe even:
Guest Book Signs - it’s nice to tie all signage together in the same design to create fluidity
Confetti Packets
Sparkler Cards
Thank You Cards - a lovely little to send out to thank your friends and family for their kind cards and gifts, why not have your photographer take a photo of you to add to them
WHEN SHOULD WE SEND OUT OUR SAVE THE DATES/ INVITES?
Save the Dates
I would suggest save the dates should be sent out about 12 months before your wedding date. Most people these days, plan holidays a good year or so in advance so this allows them to get your date popped into their calendar and gives them plenty of notice to plan holidays and book time off work etc around it.
Obviously, if you’ve booked your wedding with less than a year to go then send them out as soon as you can.
Wedding Invites
If you google when to send your wedding invites out, you will see it comes up with approximately 6-8 weeks before the wedding date. However, this I would say, is far too late because most venues (we do anyway) will want a final meeting with you approximately 6 weeks before your wedding to run through the order of the day, wedding details and also your final numbers.
I would say that sending your invites out 3-6 months before your date is more realistic. This will give your guests plenty of time to respond and then leaves you with a nice buffer to chase their RSVPs - because lets face it… we all forget to reply to things every now and again!
For destination weddings, you may want to send them out even slightly eearlier along with an extra insert with information about the area/ hotels you’d recommend to stay and any other key dates surrounding the wedding over there such as hen & stag nights you might be having over there.
WHEN SHOULD I REQUEST THE RSVPS TO BE SENT BACK BY?
RSVPs
In your invites, you’ll be wanting to include an RSVP for your guests to let you know if they are coming or not. Like I mentioned before, most venues will want final (or near enough final) guest numbers about 6 weeks before so make sure you put an RSVP date that is at least 8 weeks prior - giving you a 2 week buffer period to chase ones you are yet to receive. Trust me when I say it, you’ll need that buffer haha.
Don’t forget, if you’ve included a choice menu in your invites, please make sure you get your guests menu choices back with their RSVP in plenty of time!
HOW DO I PICK MY WEDDING STATIONERY DESIGN?
Pinterest and Instagram are your best friends here (and for all your other wedding planning needs not just your stationary!) You’re most likely already set on a theme for your day, even if it’s just an outline of one so I’d suggest starting with this and seeing what styles you like and what’s on trend in the world of wedding stationery.
Style
You may decide to go with an ultra modern design, maybe with lots of texture, some velum, wax stamps or fine gold thread (super on trend BTW!)
You may however want a more traditional style with lots of beautiful handwritten calligraphy, an illustration of your wedding venue or intricate laser cut lace details. Honestly there are so so many stunning designs out there to take inspiration from that you’ll be spoilt for choice!
Once you’ve settled on a feel for your stationery, you’ll need to decide how to present it. Will it all be in a one piece, fold out design? Individual pieces bundled together in a beautiful package wrapped in a bow or sealed with a wax stamp. Will your design replicate a plane ticket for your destination wedding?
Most importantly, do your research and make sure your stationary portrays not only your wedding theme but you both as a couple and your style perfectly! And FINALLY… remember to have fun with it!!
Some of the designs featured here are by a small business based in Lancashire that we love called Let Love Sparkle Design.
Join us over on Instagram for some more Wedding fun…
Katie
Wedding Coordinator
Our lovely Katie comes from a fashion background, so not only very creative and organised but super passionate about weddings. A winning combination!
She loves it when couples push the boundaries and try different ideas for their weddings, so don’t be scared to ask her to create any weird and wonderful concepts you mayhave!
What is Katies favourite part of a wedding? “When the wedding couple come out of the ceremony room once they are married, they are so happy and it’s lovely being one of the first people to congratulate them!”
What else should we know about Katie? She is a Mum & Grandma to some very cute kitties!