First of all, congratulations!! We are SO excited for you and hope that this little overview brings peace in planning your dream wedding! We know all the wedding checklists and timelines can be overwhelming so here’s a quick breakdown of the overall wedding paper process (& things you might have not thought about yet)
Save the Dates
Mail 6-10 months before your wedding - depending on how long your engagement is. Before you print your save the dates:- Book your venue
- Finalize your date
- Make your guest list
- Optional: take engagement pictures
Remember the main purpose of the Save the Date is for the guests to #1 - know your wedding date and #2 - make travel accommodations if needed.
Wedding Invitations
Begin designing 4-6 months before wedding (depending on process and customization)Mail 8 weeks before wedding
Have in mind what you would like:
- Double vs single envelopes
- Any embellishments (ribbon, wax seal, envelope liner, belly bands, etc.)
- Online RSVPs or mailed response cards?
Don’t forget to go ahead and order thank you notes to get a jump start!
Day-of Items
Here is the fun stuff.. Typically ordered 2-3 months before the weddingAll of this is completely optional - or you may choose to only get a few things… it’s your day and budget!
- Welcome boxes
- Itineraries
- Wedding programs
- Welcome signs
- Guest book sign
- Reserved aisle signs
- Koozies
- Cups
- Napkins
- Matchboxes - a fun favor trend we are loving
- Reserved signs for tables - ex: "Reserved for the family of the Bride"
- Food signage
- Bar menu
- Placecards (for seated dinners)
- Table Numbers (for seated dinners)
In summary:
Save the dates- Order 10-12 months before wedding
- Mail 6-10 months before wedding (basically the sooner the better)
- Order 4-6 months before wedding
- Mail 6-8 weeks before wedding
- Order 2-3 months before wedding
Download our free timeline here to get all of this in a pdf to save for future reference!