Woo hoo! You're engaged - congrats! You are probably proudly sporting that new shiny rock and getting used to calling your boyfriend, "fiance". As exciting as getting engaged can be, it can also create a wave of stress over both you and your future hubby. The first step is completed, now it's time to actually start planning your big day and everything that goes with it!
Where should you start? Maybe it's with an engagement party under the stars with your favorite people, or maybe it's jumping right into dress shopping - whatever you choose to start with, we thought it would be helpful to give you gals a peek into our recommended wedding invitation timeline to ensure your big day is all that you'd like it to be - as stress-free as possible!
SAVE THE DATES
For Save the Dates, you'll want to contact us 8 to 9 months before your wedding day. This will allow for enough time for us to design and print your save the dates. Plan on sending your Save the Dates to your guests 6 to 8 months before your wedding (closer to the 8 month timeline if you have a lot of out-of-town guests, 6 months if most are local). For tips on keeping costs down (so you can spend it on your honeymoon, duh!) visit our blog on how to save on custom wedding stationery.
INVITES AND ENCLOSURES
For Wedding Invitations and Enclosures, you'll want to contact us at least 6 months before your wedding. This will allow enough time for us to design your invite, select the perfect paper and other materials, and coordinate printing. Plan on sending your invitations 2 to 3 months before your wedding. As a rule of thumb, send your wedding invitations 2 months before your wedding IF you've sent a save-the-date. If you haven't sent out save the dates, send your wedding invitation 3 months (or even a little more) before your wedding.
REHEARSAL DINNER INVITATIONS
For your Rehearsal Dinner invitations, you'll want to contact us 2 to 3 months before your wedding to allow us time to design and print your invitations. Plan on sending out your Rehearsal Dinner invitations 2 weeks after your formal wedding invitations.
DAY OF WEDDING MATERIALS
For items like escort cards, programs, food menus, and wedding signage, plan on inquiring and ordering with us at least 2 to 3 months before your wedding.
photo credit: Crystal Rose Photography
THANK YOU CARDS
For Thank You cards, you'll want to place an order with us at least 1 month before your wedding. Plan on sending out your thank you cards within 1 month of your wedding for gifts received before your big day and 2 to 3 months after your wedding for gifts received day-of.
OTHER WEDDING RELATED PARTIES
For your other wedding related parties such as Engagement parties, Bachelor/Bachelorette parties, bridal shower, etc., plan to place an order with us at least 2 months in advance before your planned party.
**Note, we can design literally anything and everything you have in mind regarding your wedding festivities! We've done everything for our couples from sweet and unique ways to ask your bridal party to join you on your big day (wine bottle labels pictured below!), name tags for guests, to photo booth signage/props, you name it, we're here to make your wedding something you and your guests will remember forever!
photo credit: We, the Light Photography
If you are currently engaged and thinking, "wow, I've already missed some of these important dates!", no worries! Send us a note as soon as possible and we will try our best to put something together for you ASAP. When it comes to our wedding sector, we are experienced in rush orders :)
We'd be absolutely honored to be part of such a special day in your life!
Happy Wedding Planning!
PBC
Be sure to save our Wedding Paper Timeline info graphic
listed below to help you with remembering important dates!
