The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Stationery: What to Order and When

Your wedding stationery is more than just paper and ink – it’s the very first glimpse your guests will get into the style, tone, and feel of your big day. From save-the-dates to invitations, each piece plays a role in building excitement, sharing important information, and setting the stage for the celebration to come. That’s why we’ve created this complete wedding stationery timeline to guide you through each step, from save-the-dates to thank-you cards.

Whether you’re planning your wedding here in Austin, TX or from hundreds of miles away, the trick is knowing what you actually need and when to order it – so you can avoid last-minute stress and ensure every piece feels cohesive with your overall wedding design.

Here’s what you’ll discover in this blog:

• The core stationery pieces every couple should plan for
  
• When to order save-the-dates, invitations, and other essentials
  
• Printing timelines for different styles and finishes
  
• Impactful stationery details you may not have thought of
  
• How to tie your stationery into your wedding aesthetic
  
• Common etiquette tips and timeline pitfalls to avoid

Core Wedding Stationery Pieces

While stationery can be as minimal or elaborate as you want, these are the foundational pieces most couples include:

• Main Invitation – The star of your stationery suite, sharing all the must-know details.
  
• Details Card – Perfect for hotel blocks, transportation info, or your wedding website link.
  
• Response Card (RSVP) – Can be mailed back or direct guests to an online RSVP form.
  
• Mailing Envelopes + Stamps – The finishing touch that gets your invitations into guests’ hands

When to Order Save-the-Dates & Invitations

To keep your planning smooth and stress-free, follow this general timeline:

• Inquire: 10-18 months before your wedding day
  
• Mail Save-the-Dates: 6-10 months before your wedding day
  
• Mail Invitations: 2-3 months before your wedding day

Starting early not only secures your spot on our calendar, but it also gives you plenty of time to finalize design details without feeling rushed – so you can actually enjoy the process of creating your stationery!

Printing Timelines

Printing times vary depending on design complexity and print style:

• Letterpress Printing: 1-2 weeks
  
• Digital Printing: Often within 1 week
  Keep in mind-this is just the production time. You’ll also need to factor in design, proofing, and mailing.

While the actual production time can be quick, it’s important to remember that design and proofing happen first – and mailing takes time, too. Building in a cushion for these steps ensures your stationery arrives to guests exactly when it should, without any last-minute rush.

Stationery Details That Make an Impact

Sometimes it’s the smaller details that make the biggest statement. One of our favorites? Non-machinable stamps. If your invitation has embellishments like wax seals or knotted ribbons that make it too thick for standard mail machines, these stamps ensure your suite is hand-cancelled and arrives looking perfect.

Designing Your Suite to Match Your Wedding Aesthetic

Since your stationery is the first design element your guests will see, we make sure it reflects your overall vision from day one. From colors to textures to custom illustrations, we use creative direction to weave your wedding’s style into every piece – so it all feels intentional and cohesive when your guests arrive.

Etiquette & Common Pitfalls

Invitation wording can feel overwhelming, which is why we provide a detailed stationery questionnaire to guide you. Whether you prefer a traditional format or a modern, casual tone, we’ll make sure it fits your personality while still covering the essentials.One of the biggest pitfalls? Waiting too long to order. The standard timeframe from inquiry to mailing is about 8-12 weeks, and that’s assuming quick client responses during the design phase. Last-minute requests create stress and limit design possibilities, so reaching out early is always the best move! The sooner you reach out to us to start the design process, and the quicker you can respond to us regarding selections during the design phase, the better!

Design the Perfect First Impression

Your wedding stationery is more than just information – it’s the start of your celebration. Whether you’re dreaming of a custom-designed suite or looking for ready-to-customize favorites, we’ll help you create pieces that set the tone for your wedding day in the most beautiful way possible.

✨ Let’s start planning your dream stationery!

Submit an inquiry to begin your fully custom order – we’ll handle every detail so you can focus on counting down the days until “I do.”