Timeline Guide: When to Send Every Wedding Stationery Piece
Before the music begins and the vows are spoken, your wedding story begins with paper. Your stationery isn’t just information; it’s the prologue to your celebration. It tells your guests when, where, and how to gather, hinting at the magic that awaits.
To help you weave each chapter beautifully, here’s your complete guide to when every wedding stationery piece should be sent.
8-12 Months before: Save the Dates
6-8 Months before: Order your invitation suire
6-8 weeks before: Mail invitations
3-4 weeks before: RSVP deadline
2-4 weeks before: Rehearsal dinner invitations
1-2 weeks before: Day-of stationery
Day after to 3 months after: Thank you notes
Where the Story Begins: Save-the-Dates (8–12 Months Before)
Think of your save-the-date as the opening line of your love story — a gentle hint of what’s to come.
When to send: 8–12 months before your wedding date (up to a year for destination weddings)
Your save-the-dates give guests the first glimpse into your celebration. For destination weddings, holiday weekends, or gatherings that require travel, this early note of joy allows loved ones to plan and dream alongside you.
What to include:
Your names
Wedding date
City and state
A line such as “Formal invitation to follow”
Wedding website (optional but helpful)
Pro tip: Only send to guests who are certain to be invited.
Setting the Scene: Ordering Your Invitation Suite (6–8 Months Before)
Before your invitations can make their grand entrance, they must be designed. We ask for at least six months to take you through our creative process with the time and care it deserves.
When to order: 6–8 months before your wedding
This allows space for revisions, printing, and finishing touches, think hand-tied ribbons or the perfect envelope liner that feels like moonlight on paper.
What to keep in mind:
Custom designs take 4–6 weeks on average
Specialty printing (like letterpress or foil) requires extra time
Confirm venue and timing details before final proofs
Order 10–15% extra for keepsakes and last-minute additions
Pro tip: Begin even before your guest list is final. A calm design process beats a rushed one every time.
The Grand Reveal: Mailing Invitations (6–8 Weeks Before)
At last, it’s time for your invitations to make their debut. This soft fanfare announces tt’s happening!
When to send: 6–8 weeks before your wedding (3–4 months for destination weddings)
This window gives guests time to reply and prepare, without feeling so distant that the excitement fades.
What to include:
The main invitation
RSVP card with stamped, addressed envelope
Details card (lodging, attire, directions, or website)
Reception card (if needed)
Pro tip: Ask the post office to hand-cancel (hand-postmark) your invitations. This process involves a postal employee marking each stamp by hand rather than a machine, preventing potential damage to delicate envelopes from automated sorting machines.
The RSVP Crescendo (3–4 Weeks Before)
Your RSVP deadline is the harmony that keeps your timeline in tune. Check in with your wedding planner and caterer to best understand when they need a final headcount.
When to set it: 3–4 weeks before your wedding
This gives you time to finalize numbers, seating charts, and catering details while letting guests respond comfortably.
How to encourage replies:
Pre-stamp and address envelopes
Offer an online RSVP option
Number each card discreetly on the back (just in case!)
Pro tip: Expect to follow up — kindly but firmly — about a week after your deadline. Some guests just need a gentle reminder.
The Evening Before: Rehearsal Dinner Invitations (2–4 Weeks Before)
As the final rehearsal notes echo and laughter fills the air, your closest circle gathers for one last prelude.
When to send: 2–4 weeks before the rehearsal
What to include:
Host names (traditionally the groom’s family)
Time, date, and location
Dress code (if any)
RSVP details
Pro tip: For intimate dinners, a printed insert or personal email works perfectly. Save the formal invitations for larger events.
The Finishing Touches: Day-Of Stationery (1–2 Weeks Before)
These are the quiet heroes of your wedding day — the details that turn spaces into stories.
When to finalize: 1–2 weeks before the wedding
What you might need:
Ceremony programs
Menus and place cards
Table numbers
Bar and welcome signs
Seating chart
Pro tip: Assign a trusted planner or friend to handle setup so you can focus on what truly matters: savoring the day.
Happily Ever After: Thank You Notes (Day After to 3 Months After)
Long after the last dance, your gratitude continues the love story.
When to send:
Engagement and shower gifts: within 2–3 weeks
Pre-wedding gifts: within 2–3 weeks
Wedding gifts: within 3 months
What to include:
A heartfelt thank you, a mention of the gift, and a note about how much their presence meant to you.
Pro tip: Write together — or divide the list — and make it a cozy ritual. A candle, a cup of tea, and memories of the celebration will make the words flow beautifully.
For Every Kind of Celebration
Every couple’s story unfolds differently — so adjust the timeline to suit your rhythm.
Destination weddings: Add 4–8 weeks for travel planning.
Holiday weddings: Send save-the-dates early — 10–12 months out.
Small weddings: A shorter timeline works just fine.
Short engagements: Skip the save-the-dates and send invitations 8–10 weeks before.
Love in the Details
Planning stationery may seem like logistics, but it’s truly about storytelling — one envelope, one wax seal, one elegant line at a time. These pieces will live on in memory boxes and photo albums, reminders of how it all began: with intention, with artistry, and with love. So take your time, plan with heart, and let your stationery be the first whisper of your forever.
