Timing is everything with wedding stationery. Send too early and guests forget. Send too late and they have already made other plans. Here is a simple timeline that works for most US weddings, with a few adjustments for holiday and destination dates.
12 to 9 months before: choose your stationery style
Once your date and venue are booked, it is time to pick a look. Choosing one collection now means your save the dates, invitations and day-of signs will all match. Look at your venue, season and color palette, and pick a design that suits all three.
8 to 6 months before: mail save the dates
Save the dates usually go out six to eight months before the wedding. They only need the essentials: your names, the date and the city. If you have a wedding website, include the address.
For destination weddings, aim for eight months to a year. Guests need time to book flights, request time off and budget for the trip. Mountain and lodge weddings often fall into this group too, so a suite like our Watercolor Blue Mountains & Forests collection is worth ordering early.
5 to 4 months before: order invitations
Order your invitation suite around four to five months before the wedding. This leaves time to proofread every name and date, order a single printed sample if you want to see the paper, and fix any mistakes before the full order.
Before ordering, confirm your ceremony time, reception venue and RSVP deadline. Changing these after printing is expensive and stressful.
8 to 6 weeks before: mail invitations
Mail invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding. Set your RSVP deadline three to four weeks before the big day. That gives you time to chase late replies, send final numbers to your caterer and finish your seating chart.
Take one fully assembled invitation to the post office to have it weighed. Square envelopes, wax seals and thick paper can all need extra postage.
3 to 4 weeks before: RSVPs come in
Track replies as they arrive. A week after your RSVP deadline, follow up kindly by phone or text with anyone you haven’t heard from.
2 to 4 weeks before: order day-of pieces
Once your guest list is final, order escort cards, place cards, table numbers and menus. Signs can be ordered a little earlier since they don’t depend on names.
Within 3 months after: send thank-you cards
Aim to send thank-you notes within three months of the wedding. Many couples write a few each evening so the task never feels overwhelming.
Planning a holiday wedding?
December weddings compete with holiday parties, travel and family plans. Send save the dates a little earlier than usual and ask for RSVPs before Thanksgiving. Our winter suites, including the Festive Burgundy Christmas collection, are designed with this busy season in mind.
Quick reference
- Save the dates: 6 to 8 months before (8 to 12 for destination)
- Order invitations: 4 to 5 months before
- Mail invitations: 6 to 8 weeks before
- RSVP deadline: 3 to 4 weeks before
- Thank-you cards: within 3 months after
