When to Send Your Wedding Invitations
Invitations are the first impression of your wedding, and you can never underestimate the power of a first impression. If you are hoping to impress your guests from the very first moment, or to provide an undeniable reason they shouldn’t miss your wedding, the invitations are an excellent place to start. But when should your invitations ideally land in your guests’ mailboxes?
Well, the easiest answer is that your guests should have the invitations about three months ahead of your wedding date. But it’s a loaded question, because you have to work backwards quite a bit from this date to guarantee enough time for your guests to RSVP and make plans.
Your guests should have already received a save the date, so they’re aware the wedding is happening, giving you time to perfect the invitations and make them the perfect representation of the wedding to come. If you’re getting married locally, the save the dates can be ordered about eight to nine months in advance of your wedding and sent shortly after that so guests know to mark their calendars.
Custom Stationery
If you’re working with a custom wedding stationer, the process can take longer because of the attention to detail and the in-depth printing processes. You should begin working with a stationer at least six months in advance, however many stationers could book up very early, so if you want custom invitations, try to inquire as early as you can when you find a style you resonate with. When ordering custom invitations, you always want time for the stationer to provide their excellent designs and to go through a few rounds of potential changes before arriving at a final product.
Click here to read five reasons to work with a custom stationer!
Destination Weddings
If you’re getting married at a destination where most guests will have to plan travel, especially somewhere international, you want to pack in some extra time. Save the dates should be sent 8-12 months ahead of the wedding date so guests are aware they may have a trip ahead of them in the incoming year. Then plan to send your wedding invitations at least four months in advance of your date, and even earlier if details are finalized in time.
Ordering Invitations
There are countless options for getting invitations and save the dates printed, and each option has its own timeline and process. If you work with a custom stationer, you likely will have this step taken off your plate, as most stationers either print in house or work with preferred printers. Then, all you have to do is sign off on designs and await the final product!
If you opt to be more involved, however, you may have to shop around some designs and printing methods, factoring all of those into your timeline for invitation arrival. Some printers can turn around projects within a week, while others may take up to three weeks. Shipping is another timing factor to keep in mind, as not all cities and towns will have a local print shop that can take on your order.
Learn more about various printing methods for stationery here.
Once your stationery arrives, the final steps are to assemble everything, purchase postage, and send! All of these final steps can be taken care of by a luxury custom stationer if you choose to go that route and take more off your plate while planning a wedding. Then your wedding invitations will be well on their way to guests’ homes to provide a stunning first impression of your big day!
