Planning a wedding means making hundreds of decisions, and most of the important ones happen well before you ever order a single envelope. This guide walks you through every task, in the right order, so your stationery goes out on time, with the right names, to the right number of people.

Here at Paperlust we have a board of articles we want to write about. At the top of the list: ‘Themed Weddings From the Invitation Out’. But where do we start? There are so many decisions to make before we even get to the invitation. Maybe we got ahead of ourselves.

We’ve gone back a little bit to the very start of a wedding planning checklist. This isn’t gospel: you’re going to have to fill in the details but it’s a good place to start. We’ve also left off the detailed checklist for the day because, really, you know how you want to wake up the morning you’re getting married and it’s up to your family to tell you they told you so when you’re still chasing little things an hour before the ceremony. Follow the checklist and you should be alright.

PRIORITY DECISIONS

THE DATE

This speaks for itself: you can’t arrange anything without the date. It will also mean that you can break down your checklist into a timeline for when things need to get done.

THE BUDGET

It’s hard to decide about things like the budget without being sure about your other wedding details. If you set your limits before making the other decisions, you’re less likely to go over budget. Or if you do, you can say you started out with the very best intentions.

PRIORITY DETAILS

THE SIZE

The size of your wedding is the next big decision because it will impact the decisions that follow (venue, invitations, menu, EVERYTHING!)

So start asking yourself, how large do you want your bridal party to be? (You’ve probably gone too far when you’ve started adding second and third cousins to the list). How many guests do you want to invite? Are you going to invite everyone to both the ceremony and the reception? Or is it an intimate ceremony with friends and a huge party with friends afterwards more what you had in mind?

Start your list and don’t forget to double check with your mum and the soon-to-be in laws that no one has been left off. (Or decide now that this is your wedding and bear the consequences of complaints and questions in your ear until the next big event takes people’s minds off things).

THE THEME AND COLOUR

To make sure there is consistency from start to finish (the invitation to the day itself) and so you don’t have to go back and change things, choose your theme now. If you’ve got a little time, you might take a month or two to find some inspiration, like Spanish wedding ideas, beach wedding ideas, beach wedding invitations, or fun festive colour wedding ideas.

Or if you’re on a shorter time frame, start with a colour and work outwards from there. Colour or theme choices can easily spiral out of control, so take a deep breath, and consider two things: what do my fiance and I want? What have we both always liked? Maybe he says he wants to be wearing a tuxedo, every inch of his body dripping luxury and expense. You say you’ve always imagined getting married outside, maybe in a garden under a flower arbour. Neither of you have thought much beyond that. Here is where all your conflict resolution and the hours of practicing compromise comes into play. You’re going to meet in the middle of casual and formal but there’s still room to move. Narrow it down with a colour or two.

Once you’ve chosen that perfect theme think about what’s appropriate for your venue, does your parent’s back yard really suit the casual chic reception you’ve both agreed to? So it’s an outdoor ceremony and a sit down, formal wedding reception. You might be dropping pins back and forth when you find places you like but it’s going to come down to the pointy end: details, details, details.

PRIORITY BOOKINGS

Okay, while making your decisions, keep in mind three things:

• What time of year you’re getting married

October-November is the most popular time of the year to get married. This means that prices will be quite high and some companies won’t be available. If you’re planning well ahead of time, you’ll probably scrape through. It also means that seasonal things might not be available (so that’s food or flowers).

• Your budget

There are too many horror stories of weddings blown out of control not to mention the budget again. You’ve got to remember your limitations while you’re making these decisions.

• You’re not going to be able to please everybody

Maybe that’s something to keep in mind for every part life but it especially applies to your wedding day when your parents have been invested so much in you, your family has supported you through the growth of this relationship and your friends have been there every step of the way. In a lot of ways, a wedding is as much for them as it is for you.

So the priority bookings are

The wedding and reception venues

You’ve decided on the size, your budget and your theme. Now you have to find somewhere for both the ceremony and the reception.

The celebrant

Whether you’re having a religious or a secular wedding, you need someone to marry you. We can’t all have family friends who are priests or celebrants to officiate, in the lead up to the big day you’re probably going to get to know your celebrant pretty well though. Organise your celebrant early so the wedding itself can go ahead. Even if the venue gets burnt down on the day, you’ll have the essential part: someone to perform the wedding rites.

The caterer

Sometimes your venue will supply a menu, sometimes it won’t. There will be limitations to what and who is available, depending on the time of the year that you’re getting married, so keep that in mind. If your reception is somewhere regional, remember to check that caterers are available to come to that area or book local. Also check that they’re able to supply crockery and cutlery, and if they have other table settings that are available (might save you some worry down the road).

The music and entertainment

There are no fixed rules to music and entertainment these days. If you’re having an intimate reception with only a few people, a playlist is a pretty easy way of providing music. You can even have some fun by taking song requests from guests when they RSVP (maybe try three songs in case there’s some doubling up). Or maybe your best friend is a musician and she wants to perform for you. Easy.

However, if you’re having something a bit bigger than that, you’re faced with the decision of band or DJ. Keep in mind outsourcing is a great way to avoid constant song choices because the people on the dance floor don’t like what’s on. Book well in advance to make sure you get the artists you want.

THE DETAILED DECISIONS AND BOOKINGS

Okay, so the big things are out of the way now. From here, with your size and theme in mind, you get to add the colour and detail.

The invitations and wedding stationery

The invitations and wedding stationery are essential if you want people to be there with you to celebrate. Breaking it down, the three essential pieces in the wedding stationery is the invitation suite (your engagement invites, invitation, information and RSVP cards), place cards or table plan and thank you cards.

Save the date, wedding programs and menu cards tend to be optional. If you’re getting your invitations custom designed, a lot of services will allow you to pick and choose the cards that you need, with a similar design to tie all the cards together. What’s important is that you decide on what kind of invitation you want at the beginning of your wedding planning, formal or casual wedding invitations, elegant wedding invitations. Really, whatever you think is the best wedding invitation for you!

If you’re planning well in advance, a save the date card will be essential to give guests time and notice, and if you are throwing an engagement party, the engagement invitation is vital to arrange travel plans. On the other hand, if you’ve only got a few months to get things together, you can avoid the save the date card by simply sending out the invitation.

It’s essential that you receive the RSVP cards within four to six weeks before the date so that you can fill in the finer details. If you haven’t decided on your menu at this point and can’t give your guests specific choices, at least give them space here to let you know about dietary requirements.

HOT TIP: Don’t forget to proof read your invitation and wedding stationery (mistakes are much easier to fix before they’ve come back from the printer!).

The wedding website (optional)

The wedding website is a recent trend that groups together all the things that tend to come up during the planning of a wedding. Its primary use is to receive digital RSVPs but it’s also a great way to provide extra information or updates for guests. Post wedding, it’s a good way to share pictures of the day and other information that people probably want to be keeping their eye on.

It shouldn’t be the sole way of communicating with guests though. Paper invitations aren’t simply tradition: a hard copy invite is both a wonderful paper object and provides the initial information that will lead people to the website.

Not technology savvy? Don’t worry too much, your website doesn’t have to be complicated. As long as it fulfils the basic requirements of allowing people to RSVP, ask questions and navigate to the must have information. Consider hiring someone so you don’t have to worry about yourself, or pop on a free host website like WordPress, squarespace or Tumblr (depending how brave you’re feeling with those limited tech skills).

The wedding order of service

The printed order of service is always optional, but it’s essential to plan your day in advance so that you don’t leave anything out. Depending on the kind of planner you are, this might be listed from when to wake up to when your hair needs to be done to how long you want to wait before the ceremony. Or it might just be a list of the key parts of the day and when you hope to be there.

The order of service itself is what the guests will see. Do you need one? It depends if you’re asking for participation in the ceremony or there is a lot of movement from one place to another that you don’t want to be communicated in your uncles booming voice. They’re often a nice keepsake of the ceremony and provide a space for additional information about you as a couple. Here is the perfect place for those photographs and keepsakes of your relationship that you’ve been wanting to share with people.

The menu and drinks list

Your venue may provide a menu and available drinks. There will still be decisions you need to make about the menu though: buffet, sit down, fixed menu or various options. For drinks: open bar? Spirits? Or a selection of a few of the well-known favourites. A wine list might not be appropriate for your beachside barbecue, but it will be exactly what you need if you’ve chosen a formal sit down dinner. Drinks are important to consider if you want to add something special to supplement the bar, or even just to make sure your budget doesn’t blow out too far.

The important thing is to consider what’s available given the time of year and venue, and how much you’re going to need with the amount of guests that are coming. You’ve sent out the invitations so you have a rough estimate and you’ll be able to confirm later to the date when you’re sure.

The decision for food and drinks is important if you’re sending out menu cards or getting menus printed with your invitation stationery set. Read the menu card wording if you’re not sure about the wording.

The cake

While you’re looking at the menu, it’s probably a good idea to start considering your desserts and finding a bakery that supplies wedding cakes. Maybe you’re not really a cake person or there’s too much risk of allergies with your guests, so you’ll have to consider other kinds of sweets. There should still be something to sink a knife into though (where’s the fun if you can’t kiss the nearest boy if the knife comes out dirty?).

Organise the desserts and then you can cross it off the list.

Her dresses, shoes and accessories

Maybe on your personal to do list, this is a lot higher than we’ve got it here. We’ve found that timing the wedding dress can be difficult, too early and there’s the risk of growing out of it, too late and there isn’t enough time to make necessary changes. Start by looking around. Don’t be rushed into anything. Be certain of your decision. Then your decision for your other accessories will just follow.

The bridal party dresses should be organised at the same time. Let’s be honest, getting together with the girls and making a day of it will probably make it more fun than stretching it out over group messages and worrying about how stressful all these decisions are. Once this is done, you can start looking at other things.

His suit, shoes and accessories

The amount of planning this needs (for colour, suit, shirt, tie, belt, cufflinks, socks, shoes, etc.) all depends on the groom. A new suit is going to need alterations so give enough time for the changes and possible changes to those changes: a few weeks ahead of time and there won’t be any niggling doubts. Maybe he already has a belt, cufflinks, socks and shoes, but these are fun details that are less exciting if they’ve been worn a hundred times before. Unless he’s training to go up a weight size, you should be able to get things organised early.

Of course, the same rules also apply for the groomsmen’s formal wear.

The rings

We’re not saying that the rings are likely to be forgotten given everything else on your mind, it’s just that they’re better to have on the list so you can be sure. While a lot of women might be conflicted about the engagement ring (I don’t see a ring on his finger?!), the wedding ring is a shared symbol of commitment. They aren’t temporary trappings of the day either, so start talking to a jeweller as soon as you possibly can, especially if you’re getting them custom made.

The photographer

Even in this age of high quality camera phones, you want professional photographs to mark your big day. This is another booking you should probably make early to avoid missing out on who you want (especially if you’re getting married during a high wedding season).

If not, there are always alternatives (in fact, the very early noughties trend of disposable cameras on every table is making a comeback), but keep in mind an overexposed Instagram filter isn’t going to look the same as professional photos ten years from now.

The flowers (optional)

This is one of our favourite parts: flowers! While the traditional role of the bouquet might be a little outdated for you, flowers add colour and interest as decorations.

DID YOU KNOW? The carrying of a bouquet by the bride is meant to represent her fertility, while the throwing of the bouquet evolved from an old English tradition of female guests tearing the dress and bouquet to borrow good luck, the bride would only escape the crowd once she’d thrown the bouquet.

If you consult a florist they’re going to warn you about seasonal limitations and give you great advice on what flowers go well together. Plan your order ahead but you’re not going to be able to receive them more than a day or two ahead, otherwise they’ll wilt.

Maybe you’re opposed to cut flowers. Consider decorative potted plants around the venue or even as a thank you keepsake for guests (succulents are very much in vogue at the moment, try a cactus for your black thumbed friends and if they’re able to keep them alive, they’ve got something to remind them of you for a long time to come).

The decorations (optional)

Whether its table decorations, bunting, garlands, wall features, lighting or whatever you’ve found on the deepest and darkest boards of Pinterest to add colour and interest to your venues, organise them ahead of time to avoid running around on the day for last minute extras. Make sure they’re appropriate to the theme and avoid the kind of things that don’t really have any use on the day (decorative bunting is very different to an overabundance of silver, sparkly streamers on every table).

The seating arrangements

Putting off the most tedious details until last always works well. If you’ve chosen to have an informal wedding outside with unrestricted seating, then you’ve done well. Otherwise, you’re going to have to organise seating arrangements for all your guests to ensure that you have a place for them at the reception. (Try crossing this off the list early to save some tension, or put it on the list of things to delegate early on).

The hair and makeup (optional)

Ask friends if you’re not sure about who to go to for hair and makeup, you’ll definitely find someone who knows a good hair and makeup professional. Look into it well ahead of time in case your first choice is unavailable and so that you can try a test run to confirm that they’re able to do what you would like.

The thank you gifts for your bridal party and family

How to say thank you to the friends and family that have supported you in the lead up to your big day (and probably for a long time before that)? Consider this well ahead of time and you can give personalised thank you gifts to everyone that had helped out. Left to the last minute and you might cut off your options.

The thank you gifts for guests

While you might not want to do anything too extravagant for the guests that came to the ceremony and reception, they still need to be thanked for joining you on the day. Maybe this isn’t going to be as personalised as the gifts you gave to the bridal party, you can still make it something fun at each plate on the tables. We mentioned before potted plant party favours; there’s always a tasty treat for the ride home; or a hangover cure for the morning after. Whatever you decide, it’s better to decide a few weeks out from the day in case you need to be packing hundreds of party bags. Sending a thank you card is essential for all guests to thank them for coming.

DON’T FORGET

• To confirm your bookings a few months ahead of time and then a few weeks out from the wedding

Unexpected things may come up so make sure that you’ve done everything you can to avoid major problems. Double checking the details can be a good way of doing that.

• To get your dress fitted within the fortnight of the big day

We didn’t want to focus on the dress but it’s one of the things you need to double check and confirm closer to the date so we can’t really leave it off.

• To organise and make bookings for post-wedding accommodation

Once upon a time this would have been called a honeymoon. Maybe you don’t have the extended period of time to celebrate your new life with the person you love (or you’ve been living together for a while now so there’s nothing especially exciting about being stranded somewhere in a bed together), but you’re taking a couple of days to mark the occasion. There are details for that too so don’t forget to organise that as well.

• To double check those RSVPs

You’ve made the place cards. Now double check that everyone who has returned the RSVP card has a place. You don’t have to chase down people who haven’t responded. It might be good to

• To pick up the rings

Okay, so there are too many romantic comedies where the rings get waylaid and disaster ensues. This seems to be related to trusting them to brother-in-laws or younger siblings. Best way to avoid disaster? Do it yourself. Some things are low-risk to delegate. Others are best kept in the safest possible hands. Yours.

This checklist is a good place to start with planning a wedding. Print off the checklist and make notes as you go so that you don’t leave anything out (there’s even space to add the things we might have forgotten). Happy wedding planning!

The Complete Pre-Invitation Wedding Planning Timeline (12+ Months)

Modern weddings take longer to plan than ever before. Popular venues now book 12 to 18 months in advance for peak-season dates, and with so many vendors to coordinate, couples who start early arrive at their invitation order with everything confirmed. The timeline below maps every key task to the right window, with stationery milestones clearly marked.

12+ Months Before the Wedding

This is the foundation phase. Every decision you make here shapes everything that follows, including how many invitations you order.

• Set the date. Your date determines season, availability, and lead times for every vendor and every card you print.
• Establish your total budget. Allocate a stationery budget early (typically 2-3% of total spend) so it doesn’t get squeezed when venue and catering costs rise.
• Start your guest list. A rough count now, even a range like “80-120 people”, helps you book the right venue and get accurate stationery quotes later.
• Book your venue. Venue availability is the single biggest driver of your wedding date in peak season. Lock it before confirming anything else.
• Book your photographer. Great photographers book out 12-18 months in advance. Engagement photos taken 6-9 months out can be used on save the dates.
• Book your officiant/celebrant. Religious officiants, sought-after civil celebrants, and destination wedding officiants all fill up fast.

9-12 Months Before the Wedding

With the venue and key vendors locked, this window is where your guest list sharpens and your stationery design direction begins.

• Finalize your core vendor list. Caterer, florist, band or DJ, hair and makeup, vendors in this tier typically book 9-12 months out for popular dates.
• Lock your guest count. You don’t need the final name-by-name list yet, but you need a firm number. This count drives your invitation quantity, your save the date order, and your venue deposit confirmation.
• Take your engagement photos. Book these 6-9 months before the wedding so you have polished, edited images ready to use on photo save the dates.
• Choose your stationery style. Browse print methods and design directions. This is a good time to order a $5 Paperlust sample packit includes seven designs across different print methods so you can feel the difference between digital, letterpress, and flat foil before committing to an order.
• Order save the dates. Most couples send save the dates 8-12 months before the wedding. For destination weddings or holidays that require travel, aim for 12 months. For local weddings, 6-8 months is acceptable. See our full guide on save the date etiquette for timing by wedding type.

6-9 Months Before the Wedding

This is your design window. Most couples spend 4-8 weeks in the invitation design phase, so starting at 6 months out leaves comfortable buffer before your mail date.

• Start your invitation suite design. Browse designs, shortlist your favorites, and begin customizing wording. At Paperlust, a designer proof arrives within 1-2 business days of placing your order.
• Confirm wording with both families. Names, titles, and ceremony wording are the most common sources of last-minute changes. Lock these before final approval.
• Set up your wedding website. Your invitations can include a QR code or short URL linking to your site for accommodation details, RSVP instructions, and your registry.
• Finalize your guest list with full addresses. Begin collecting physical mailing addresses now. Digital tools like Paperlust’s Address Manager let you import lists from Excel or share a link to collect them directly from guests.
• Consider your full stationery suite. If you want menus, programs, place cards, and signage to match your invitation design, brief all pieces at the same time so they’re designed cohesively. A full stationery suite overview is in our wedding stationery suite guide.

4-6 Months Before the Wedding

Your invitation order window. Most couples send invitations 6-8 weeks before the wedding (10-12 weeks for destination weddings). Working back from your mail date with production time factored in puts the order deadline in this range.

• Lock your invitation design and approve your proof. The proof includes all text, layout, and colors. Read it aloud at least twice. Have someone outside the planning process read it too.
• Place your invitation order. Orders over $350 USD ship free via DHL Express (2-4 business days US transit after dispatch).
• Order any matching pieces. RSVP cards, information cards, and envelope liners should be ordered at the same time as invitations so they arrive together.
• Confirm your RSVP deadline. Set your RSVP date 3-4 weeks before the wedding. This gives you time to chase non-responders and confirm final numbers with your caterer.
• Pre-address envelopes. Hand-addressed or calligraphy-addressed envelopes take longer than you expect. If you’re doing it yourself, allow at least a week for 100+ envelopes.

Building Your Guest List Before You Order: Why the Count Matters

Most couples underestimate how tightly their guest count is tied to their stationery order. Getting this wrong in either direction costs money.

Why ordering too few invitations is expensive

Printing is structured around quantity tiers. A second small run of 20 invitations often costs nearly as much as the original order of 100 because setup costs are fixed. Order 10-20% more than your confirmed guest count to cover last-minute additions, keepsakes for family, and your own copy for the wedding album.

Why ordering too many invitations wastes your budget

On the other side, ordering 200 when you’re inviting 80 households ties up real dollars in paper you’ll never use. A household count is different from a guest headcount, one couple, one invitation. Work with household counts when placing stationery orders.

How to finalize your guest count before ordering

• Draft your list in three tiers: must-invite, hope-to-invite, and if-space-allows
• Confirm with both families that no one obvious has been left off the must-invite tier
• Convert headcount to household count (couples = 1 invitation, families with children = 1 invitation)
• Add 10-15% buffer to your household count for the reasons above
• Lock this number before you open a design tool

When to Order Save the Dates vs Invitations: The Decision Guide

The most common stationery question we receive: “Do I need save the dates, and when should I order them?” The honest answer depends on your wedding type, your guest profile, and your planning timeline.

When you should definitely send save the dates

• Destination or travel-required wedding. Guests booking flights and accommodation need as much lead time as possible. Send save the dates 10-12 months out.
• Wedding on or near a major holiday. Long weekends, peak summer travel dates, and school holiday periods mean guests have competing commitments. Send early.
• Large guest list with many out-of-towners. If more than 30% of your guests need to travel, save the dates help them plan before your formal invitations arrive.
• Short engagement (under 9 months). When your timeline is compressed, a quick save the date buys guests time while you finalize invitation details.

When you can skip save the dates

• Small local wedding (under 50 guests, all within driving distance)
• Ceremony and reception on the same day in the same city as most guests
• Elopement or micro-wedding where you’re managing RSVPs personally
• Wedding more than 15 months away (send the invitation itself closer to the date)

The timing comparison table

For a complete guide on invitation mail dates, including a month-by-month calendar for 2026 and 2027 weddings, see our wedding invitation timeline guide.

Design tip: coordinate your save the date and invitation suite

Save the dates and invitations don’t have to be identical, but they should feel like they belong together. Consistent typography, color palette, or print method (for example, both using flat foil in rose gold on the same paper stock) creates a cohesive impression when guests open each piece. Browse coordinated save the dates and wedding invitations to find matching styles.

The Pre-Send Invitation Checklist: Before They Leave Your Hands

You’ve approved your proof, received your order, and assembled your invitations. Before anything goes in a mailbox, run through this checklist. These are the errors that couples discover after mailing, and every one of them is preventable.

Proofreading

• Read the invitation text aloud, slowly. Your brain autocorrects errors when reading silently.
• Check the date for day-date alignment (for example, “Saturday, October 11, 2026”, October 11, 2026 is a Sunday, not a Saturday).
• Verify the venue name is spelled correctly. Check against the venue’s own website.
• Confirm the address is complete (street number, suburb/city, state/zip).
• Verify ceremony and reception times are accurate and in the correct order.
• Check that RSVP details are complete: email, website URL, or card included.
• Confirm the RSVP deadline date.
• Have someone not involved in the planning read everything as a fresh set of eyes.

Addressing and envelopes

• Verify every guest name is spelled correctly, this is especially important for names from different cultural backgrounds.
• Use formal names on outer envelopes (full names, titles where appropriate).
• Confirm plus-one invitations are addressed correctly (“and guest” or the partner’s name).
• Double-check that each envelope contains the correct invitation (particularly important for invitations with different inserts for different guest groups).
• Verify every address is current. Collect updated addresses rather than relying on a contact list that might be 2-3 years old.

Postage and assembly

• Weigh a fully assembled invitation before buying stamps in bulk. Multi-insert suites with wax seals, envelope liners, and thick stock can exceed standard letter weight.
• Take one assembled invitation to your local post office to confirm the correct postage rate.
• If using wax seals on outer envelopes, check with your post office whether hand-canceling is required to avoid machine damage.
• RSVP cards go inside with a pre-addressed, stamped return envelope (etiquette standard for formal invitations).
• Assemble a test set before doing the full run, tuck order, envelope closure, and insert orientation all deserve a dry run.

Mailing logistics

• Mail in person at a staffed post office counter rather than dropping in a box. This reduces handling damage and ensures correct postage.
• Keep a copy of your guest list with mail dates noted. Follow up with guests who haven’t responded within 2 weeks of the RSVP deadline.
• For international guests, mail 2-3 weeks earlier than domestic invitations to account for transit time.

Wedding Planning FAQs

How far in advance should I start planning my wedding?

Most couples benefit from at least 12 months. This gives you enough time to book a venue before peak dates fill up, allow engagement photos to be taken and edited before save the dates are ordered, and complete the invitation design and approval process without rushing. If you have less than 12 months, focus on venue, photographer, and officiant first, then compress the stationery timeline accordingly.

What is the first thing to book when planning a wedding?

Your venue. Venue availability sets your date and controls what other vendors are available in your area on that day. Photographers, caterers, and live music acts follow, all book from a limited roster of available dates, and popular vendors fill up 9-12 months in advance for peak-season Saturdays.

When should I order wedding invitations?

Order invitations 4-5 months before the wedding date. This gives you time to receive the order, address envelopes, and mail with 6-8 weeks lead time for guests (10-12 weeks for destination weddings). At Paperlust, proofs are delivered within 1-2 business days, and orders over $350 USD ship free via DHL Express with 2-4 business days US transit.

Do I need save the dates if I’m sending invitations?

Not always. Save the dates are most important for destination weddings, travel-required guests, peak holiday dates, and large weddings with many out-of-towners. For a local wedding where most guests live in the same city, invitations alone sent 8 weeks out are standard. If in doubt, save the dates are relatively affordable and the cost of sending them is far less than guests who can’t attend because they didn’t have enough notice.

How many wedding invitations should I order?

Order by household, not headcount. One couple = one invitation, one family = one invitation. Take your household count and add 10-15% buffer for last-minute adds, keepsakes, and your own record. Ordering a small second run is often nearly as expensive as the original order due to fixed setup costs, so it’s better to over-order slightly up front.

What do I need to finalize before ordering invitations?

Lock in: your full names and how they should appear, your venue name and complete address, the ceremony date and time, the reception time and address (if different), your RSVP deadline, your RSVP method (card, email, or website URL), and whether any guests need accommodations or travel information included as an insert. Having all of this confirmed before starting the design process avoids proof revision rounds that add time to your timeline.

What is the correct wording for a formal wedding invitation?

Traditional formal wording follows a specific structure: the hosts’ names (parents of the couple, or the couple themselves) followed by the request line (“request the honor of your presence” for religious ceremonies, “request the pleasure of your company” for civil ceremonies), the full names of the couple, the date written out in full, the ceremony time, and the venue name and address. For more complete wording examples across every style from formal to casual, see our full wedding invitation wording guide.

What should I include in my wedding invitation suite?

The core pieces are: the invitation itself, an RSVP card with return envelope, and an information or details card with accommodation, transport, and any other event information. Optional pieces include an envelope liner, a belly band to hold the suite together, wax seals, and for formal or multi-venue weddings, a separate ceremony and reception card. Save the dates, menus, programs, place cards, and thank you cards round out the full stationery timeline. Browse the full Paperlust invitation suite for design options across every style.

Can I include a wedding website on my invitations?

Yes, and it’s now standard practice. Include the URL on a separate details card or at the bottom of the information card, not on the invitation itself, which should remain clean and focused. A QR code printed on the details card is a clean way to make the link easy to access. Include your wedding website URL on your save the date as well, since accommodation booking and RSVP collection can start early.

How long does it take to address wedding envelopes?

Longer than you expect. Hand-addressing 100 envelopes with return address calligraphy and inner envelopes takes 6-12 hours depending on your pace. Give yourself at least a week for large guest lists. Alternatives include digital address printing, which is faster and consistent, or ordering pre-addressed envelopes through your stationery printer. If you want calligraphy, book a calligrapher 4-6 months out, good ones fill up quickly.

What is the difference between flat foil and letterpress for wedding invitations?

These are two distinct print methods with very different looks and tactile qualities. Flat foil uses metallic foil applied directly to paper, it creates a mirror-bright metallic finish with no impression in the paper. It’s available in gold, rose gold, silver, copper, and specialty finishes like holographic. Letterpress presses inked type and designs into thick cotton paper, creating a visible debossed impression. It’s known for its handcrafted, tactile feel. Both are available at Paperlust across a range of paper stocks. For most couples, the choice comes down to whether they want shine (flat foil) or tactile depth (letterpress). See our stationery guide to explore both.

What’s the latest I can order invitations and still mail on time?

Working backward from a 6-week guest lead time for a local wedding: order invitations 10-11 weeks before the wedding. This allows 1-2 business days for proof delivery, 1-2 rounds of proof revisions if needed, production time (8-10 business days for digital, up to 20 business days for letterpress), shipping transit (2-4 business days DHL Express for US orders over $350 USD), and 1-2 weeks for envelope addressing and assembly. If you’re cutting it close, digital print is the fastest method. Letterpress and other specialty methods require more lead time.

The post Wedding Planning Checklist: Complete Pre-Invitation Guide appeared first on Paperlust.

Tonia says that recently brides have wanted colours and more looseness in their bouquets, a reflection of the popularity of bohemian chic themed weddings and the more casual walk down the aisle towards the married future.

The bouquet we order turns out to be a bit of a challenge: we’ve come without a specific brief. Looking around the store, we ask for colour and seasonal blossoms (after begging and being gently refused a pink pineapple at the centre of our tropical bouquet. ‘It’s probably more appropriate for a table setting.’ I finally concede). We settle for citrus fruit to add bulbous thickness through the middle.

Tonia’s preparation is smooth with experience. She holds the growing bouquet in one hand, while she strips the tulip stems of leaves with the other and tells us how the shop has recently changed ownership. Jai is likely to stay for a while. He used to work behind the counter with her, now he’s the boss. Talk quickly devolves into how much Tonia loves her job. The whole time she hasn’t stopped smiling and I tell her I’m ready to give up everything to become a florist. ‘Don’t get me wrong,’ she says, ‘I love my holidays too.’

The bouquet has rapidly grown into a loose ball of bright colours. And that’s the thing about going to a flower boutique like Poho, especially one that has experience in providing flowers for the bridal bouquet and decorative flowers for the day, they know exactly what they’re doing. While I want to add every exciting flower and colour, Tonia gently eases me back. ‘We generally stick to a monochromatic colour palette.’ Then she adds from there. The only time she stops, suddenly unsure, is to decide whether to add purple. ‘I like it.’ Sarah says firmly. Then it’s a question of what kind of purple of flower to add. Once they’ve settled on the perfumed sweet peas, the wrapping of the stem begins. A string keeps the bouquet together and a ribbon is tightly wrapped around the centre, leaving bare stems poking out the bottom, in keeping with the loose, dangling volume that is something of a house style at Poho flowers. A more traditional bouquet would be around the base of the flowers to the bottom of the stems in a ribbon that matches the brides dress. The ribbon at the middle of our bouquet marks a good place to hold the flowers.

I’m surprised by the weight of it once it’s been wrapped and tied again with another ribbon around the paper (I have a new found respect for the co-ordination and grace of women in high heels and dressed in their best, with the weight of the whole day on them, as well as a bouquet of flowers as they walk down the aisle).

Wrapped in paper with water soaked tissue at the bottom, the bouquet fades during the day. At home in water the stems stand upright to life once again. The care and life expectancy will vary from flower to flower. Generally speaking, you’ve got one or two days after they’ve been cut for your bouquet, though they’ll still be standing well in a vase of water.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

• Your florist will need to know when, where and the quantity of flowers they need to provide;
• What kind of flowers you want. If you have a theme and a brief, they’ll love you to bits. If you’re not sure, most boutiques will be happy to have a chat, maybe called ahead to let them know that you’ll be taking up their time;
• Ask about care instructions for your flowers and bouquet to make sure they can last as long as possible;
• You’re paying for quality and a weight off your mind.

But maybe you’re more like me and you prefer going down to the flower market in the morning and chewing through your breakfast while you pick out the flowers that you want to be carrying down the aisle later that day. Whether it’s putting together your own bouquet or arranging table settings, I imagine there’s something quite therapeutic about keeping your hands busy with something living while your mind able to race ahead.

There are some cons to doing it yourself though. Without a florist, you’re doing away with years of expertise. That beautiful stroll to the markets isn’t going to end well if you get there and the flowers you want are out of stock. You’ve got to weigh up for yourself if you really have the time amongst everything else you have to do, to do this yourself as well. There’s also no guarantee that purchasing a small amount of flowers from the markets is going to be that much cheaper than working with a florist.

Still want to build your own bouquet? Here’s a DIY Flower Bouquet Guide for a more formal wedding bouquet.

Choosing your flowers

Remember that flowers are seasonal so their availability and quality will vary depending on the time of year. Make sure to ask your vendor about flower care specific to the kinds of flowers you purchase.

Another thing you might like to consider, if you’re interested in perfecting all the little details, is the meaning that are sometimes attributed to flowers. Our own little bouquet was probably sending out some mixed messages: the red tulips are said to be a declaration of love (so we were doing okay), but while the sweet peas are generally considered to represent a kind of pleasure, they also indicate a goodbye or gratitude for a lovely time that’s coming to an end (hmm…).

A traditional bouquet will probably include roses or chrysanthemum. The meaning of these flowers tends to vary between colours.

The white rose signifies purity, while the yellow represents friendship, red passionate love. Combined, red and white flowers are said to signify unity.

In contrast, the white Chrysanthemum signifies truth, yellow means a secret admirer, red signifies sharing.

Traditionally, the wedding bouquet was much simpler, using wildflowers and herbs that represented fertility.

Watch out for the 80s comeback of Baby’s Breath. As a head piece, in a bouquet or in table arrangement, it’s said to represent festivity.

Choosing your colour

When it comes to colour, a lot of it has to do with taste: what do you like? What colour is appropriate for the style of your wedding? Do you want to be using colours that have significance?

In the end, some colours just go together better than others. Remember, Tonia at Poho said they usually try to stick to a monochromatic colour scheme.

Instructions

To start, you will need floral shears, floral tape, bouquet pins and some kind of bouquet wrap, which would be a basic kind of tape that will be covered later with decorative ribbon.

1. Remove foliage from the stem. Don’t forget the thorns if you’ve gone for classic roses
2. Cut the stems to roughly the same length. Try between 25cm and 35cm
3. Use 2-4 flowers as a base or anchor by bunching the stems together and wrapping with floral tape. Make sure to leave 3-4cm of exposed stem below the flower, and 10-12cm from the bottom of the stem
4. Build the bouquet by adding flowers around the anchor, as you like. Keep in mind the size as you wrap the flowers to the base
5. When you’re happy with the size and structure of the bouquet, wrap with floral tape from the 3-4cm gap below the flowers, to the base
6. Use the floral tape as a guide to wrap the ribbon or fabric you’re using as a bouquet wrap, and pin into the tap and stems as you wind down

And so you have a very special, custom wedding bouquet!

The problem with doing it yourself is partly the mess, but mostly the risk that your DIY handy work isn’t quite the same standard as a professional florist. Try a test run while you’re still in the planning phase and see if creating your own wedding bouquet is really worth the possible trouble.

In the end, the trick to flowers is making sure they complement everything else you’re trying to achieve on the day. Stick to the golden wedding planning rule: do what’s right for you, and everything should work out from there.

The post The Wedding Flower Bouquet: DIY vs. Professional Florist appeared first on Paperlust.

This is probably the first time you’ve planned a wedding so it’s hard to know what you need and what you don’t with everything you’re doing. Every bride has faced the question: which wedding stationery cards do I actually need? Here we separate the essentials from the not so essential and consider the alternatives.

The Save the Date, Non-essential (conditional)

sourced: Paperlust

We’ve talked a little bit about Save the Dates before, and the breakdown is that they’re non-essential unless you’re having a destination or overseas wedding. We’ll add one more condition to that: weddings that occur during high-season.

When the weather warms up, brides seem to prefer to come out. This might mean that your wedding is going to cross over with friends, or friends of friends. An early save the date cards means you’ll get in there first and give everyone plenty of warning about the date and venue in case they have to plan a driver to taxi them between events 27 Dresses Style.

The wedding invitation, Essential

sourced: Paperlust

This one kind of speaks for itself… The wedding invitation online is THE reason you’ve been trawling through Pinterest and taking sneaky photos of stationery you like.

The sticky bit with the wedding invitation is the wording. Find yours the easy way, but maybe that doesn’t answer all your questions, so try here.

The key thing to remember is story telling basics: WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, and hopefully your guests will be able to get to the why of it by themselves.

By keeping it minimal, the wedding invitation becomes a beautiful object and you can decide whether you need to provide additional information through another card.

Affordable wedding invitations are fairly easy to find, it’s the extra cards and details like individual guests names, which start to rack up the costs.

If you are looking at what to write in your wedding card, click here.

The RSVP card, Essential (conditional)

sourced: Paperlust

The RSVP is essential in so far as, you need to know which guests are going to attend. The card itself though is up for a debate. The suite of cards is as much tradition as anything. If you’re having a formal wedding, a RSVP card is part of the entire experience. If it’s a little bit more casual (and definitely if it’s not too big), consider a digital RSVP option. Rather than just an email address for your guests to send a yay or nay, a wedding website is a savvy way to use technology, save the environment and possibly automatically organise the information coming in.

The RSVP is used for more than just letting you know who’s attending though. Used well, you can double check food allergies or intolerances, get menu preferences and get some novel responses like song choices for the dance floor at the end of the big day. These are the kind of the things you don’t want to forgo so the RSVP is definitely essentially. What’s up to you, is how you choose to receive your guests responses.

The Information and Directions card, Non-essential (conditional)

sourced: Paperlust

The information and directions card is non-essential because your wedding may be relatively straight forward: it’s just a gathering of you, your closest family and friends in your home town so no one is flying in or out, there are no big accommodation worries and transport isn’t going to be a big issue.

These cards are also non-essential if you have complete faith in your guests to search this information out for themselves. In reality though leaving this information out is likely to add to your workload later as friends and family contact you directly to establish this information. So while the information and directions card is courtesy on your part I’d like to argue it’s essential. You might find that these extra cards are pushing up expenses or you’re having qualms about the amount of important information you’re trusting to the postal services, but the option of a digital point of contact can resolve that..

The wishing well or registry card, (conditional)

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/173599760611081295/

Wishing well or registry information has no place on the wedding invitation. It’s also a grey area when it comes to wedding etiquette: do we still expect people to be giving gifts in this day and age? Providing the information is really up to you. At the end of the day it’s probably going to save you a lot of calls from curious aunts and friends. Check out our perfect guide to the wishing well poem.

If the amount of cards is stacking up and you’re reluctant to try providing digitally, combine the information, directions and wishing well cards, it might not be pretty but public transport directions rarely are. If it’s all in one place, guests are less likely to lose track of it and they won’t have to be thumbing through multiple pieces of paper to get to the bottom of things.

The menu card, Non-essential

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/408068416211188290/

There is debate amongst wedding planners, professional and amateur alike, as to whether guests need to know what free food and drink will be served at a wedding they’ve been invited to attend. We’ve decided its non-essential for three reasons,

1. Your menu may not be decided by the time you’re planning to send out your invitation set, so rather than stress to get it organised, give guests a general choice of meat or vegetarian in their RSVP (white or red meat if you’ve thought that far ahead) and leave room to note other food requirements.
2. Unless there is something particular in the menu that you’re hoping to excite in your friends, work on the rule of need to know: does everyone need to know the information months out from the wedding? Probably not.
3. It’s a free meal.

A formal dinner that is celebrating the wonder that can be food, is another thing entirely: a large part of the wedding stationery is being consistent not just thematically between the cards, but in the tone that you’re trying to establish for the big day.

The menu, Essential

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/439945457320204434/

Note the distinction between the menu card and a menu: the menu card is a card sent out with the invitation, RSVP and other information that provides the food and drinks details before the date; a menu is details of food and drink provided on the day.

The menu in this case can be provided per seat to each individual or as a shared slip of paper. There are also alternatives to printed menus, which we discussed in our Menu Wording but the general verdict is that a menu should be provided in some form on the day so that people know what they’re getting.

The menu is also a good place to provide ingredients or warnings in case anyone has slipped through the radar when it comes to dietary requirements.

It’s not just the food though: make sure it’s clear what beverages will be available, preferably in the form of a big sign by the bar that’s visible from across the room.

The order of ceremony or the wedding service card, Non-essential (but probably a good idea)

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/319333429804334123/

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/555631672749042127/

This is the detail for the day that guests can pick up before the ceremony and follow through the course of events until the end of the night. It is not absolutely necessary. Your loud brother can probably do the same thing as MC. The reason it’s a good idea is to make guests feel like they know what’s going on and they can make sure they’re participating in everything they possibly can (by which I mean well timed toilet breaks rather than plans to duck out as soon as the cake is cut).

The wedding service card is important to consider if you’re having a traditional church wedding or asking guests to join in responses or songs. Given that not everyone will be familiar with every part of the wedding ceremony, it lets them get involved.

Table place cards or seating chart or both– Essential (conditional)

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/93027548526800755/

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/328059154083622805/

If you’ve made seating arrangements then you need to let your guests know where you’d like them to be seated. There are two options: table place cards or a wedding seating chart displayed on a board for guests to play their own game of Where’s Wally.

Alternatively, there is always the safe bet of choosing to use both.

Table place cards can be fun, although decorative details can start to add up. The expense of place cards lies in the varied printing of individual guest names. If you’re worried, think of alternatives to just simple place cards or ways you combine multiple things into one so that it’s novel and interesting for each guest.

Other: The Wedding Website and couples email– Non-essential (but pretty handy)

(Note: this is not the tacky email invite to your wedding although there are increasingly good online wedding invitations in Australia that can be customised in the same way as your printed cards).

So the wedding website is a relatively new trend (by which I mean, not everyone’s cup of tea), which has been adopted by savvy couples to provide guests with a definitive place to go to for information about the wedding, to keep in contact and come back to afterwards for photos from the day. If it’s left up long after the wedding and continues to be updated, think of it as shared, couples Facebook page or a Facebook event page.

The wedding website means that a lot of other cards in the wedding stationery set are non-essential. The trick is to maintain the chic sophistication you want to carry over from your save the date or wedding invitation. This can be hard if you’re doing it yourself so it might help to find someone who’s technologically adept enough to fulfil your needs (there are definitely agencies out there willing to help) but this is likely to set you back when it comes to the budget.

The other problem with a digital addition to your wedding stationery set is whether everyone you have invited has access to the internet and the skills to navigate the information you’re providing. Weigh in the balance how many people you’d need to contact individually to give them information and get their responses: maybe it’s just a few and it still makes sense to try something digital for the majority of your other guests.

At this point in time maybe the wedding website isn’t the single solution, just a good way to complement your printed cards.

In accompaniment to the website is a personal email account as a couple to be used for everything related to the wedding. Even if you’re not considering a personal website, it may be a good idea for the general wedding planning process. That way, you’re not clogging up your everyday address or confusing anything with work information and you know exactly where to find everything.

Once you’ve decided what cards you need, you then need to consider the quantity, the theme or colours, the type of print you like and the written copy that belongs to each card.

We’ve dug out help for all of this before with inspiration for colour and themes like the Gatsby Effect, and lists of the “best ofs” like our letterpress wedding invitation designs, and help for Save the Date Wording. Then it’s a matter of choosing whether you’re going to choose a custom design service or find something that suits you in existing cards or even try a DIY wedding invitation (and this is just planning for the wedding stationery?!).

Everything beyond the invitation. Custom stickers, labels, and venue signage at Paperlust Print Shop.

The post Wedding Stationery Breakdown: The Essential vs. Non-Essential Cards appeared first on Paperlust.

Save the date cards are not always necessary, but they are one of the pieces of wedding stationery many couples don’t want to skip. You want to let people know you’re getting married, but isn’t that what a wedding invitation is for? Well, not entirely.

Why a Save the Date Card?

So generally, the save the date is something simple sent out well in advance of the big day to give guests the opportunity to make travel and accommodation plans. This is especially important if they are traveling far for a destination wedding, or if the wedding falls on a holiday weekend when hotels book up fast.

That means a save the date may not be necessary if you are only planning a few months ahead and the invitations are going out soon anyway.

Still not sure whether you need one? Read through the scenarios below, we break down when save the dates are essential, when you can skip them, and what they accomplish that invitations alone cannot.

Convinced you need one? The next question is the send date: see our full guide on when to send save the dates for the 6 to 8 month rule and destination exceptions.

Destination wedding
You must have a save the date if you are asking people to travel, especially overseas, so they can organize their trip. For a destination wedding consider sending it out four to eight months ahead so guests have a chance to research flights, accommodations, and time off from work. Later, the wedding invitation will give them all the details of the day itself. It is a good idea to include basic accommodation and travel information with the save the date for the destination wedding card, rather than waiting for the invitation. The invitation can then focus on the day’s finer details.

Well planned
You have planned your wedding on a perfectly timed schedule and there is a three to four month window where you want to let people know you are getting married, but it does not really make sense to wait for the invitations to go out. This is the perfect time to send out the save the date. In this case, it is as simple as a card with the date and place, with a note that more information will follow. Maybe you are not much of a traditionalist and you do not really want to send a save the date. That is fine too, just make sure you are not asking anything of guests that they need time to plan for.

The international wedding
In a global society, it is more than likely that at least one of your guests lives overseas. Whether it is grandparents from the home country, cousins from interstate, or friends who have moved abroad to study or work, it is extremely common that several guests will need to plan an international trip. Many of these guests would love the opportunity to share your big day, but like everyone else they need time to organize flights and accommodation, particularly if it involves 30 or more hours of travel. If you expect that one or several guests fall into this category, send a save the date.

There just isn’t time
With only two or three months until your wedding day, you can save time and energy by sending out the wedding invitation at the eight-week mark with your other wedding stationery and skipping the separate save the date card.

The Basics

You have decided you do need a save the date card for your wedding. Who needs to receive one? What should you send? When do you send it? How do you word it?

Who to send it to
Send your save the date cards to everyone on the wedding invitation list. There is no point in sending one to people you have no intention of inviting, and there is no reason to leave anyone off the guest list if you plan to invite them officially anyway. Do not panic if you forget someone, the invitations will follow.

When
Save the dates should be sent at least three to four months ahead of time for a local wedding. Destination weddings and weddings where you expect a number of guests to travel from overseas should aim for four to six months in advance, depending on how far guests will need to travel.

What to send
Traditionally, the save the date card matches the wedding stationery suite that will follow in a few months. But there are alternatives, see the section below on digital vs. printed options.

How to word it
The save the date follows many of the same principles as a wedding invitation. The key is to:

• Maintain a tone that is consistent with the kind of wedding you are planning;
• Say who is getting married;
• Include where and when the wedding is, along with any specific details guests need to plan around; and
• Note that more information is to follow, so guests are not left wondering what to do next.

The best save the date cards are simple. Keep it to the basics: who, where, when.

Our Five Favorite Save the Date Designs

Stuck for save the date ideas? Here are some of our favorites. If you are looking for something themed, take a look at our beach themed wedding invitations for coastal inspiration.

Save the date 1

Something decorative on the front and text on the back, with a little geometric shape for relief. This is a great example of an understated, elegant save the date.

Save the date 2

Following on with some more geometric print, softened by the gold decorative font through the middle. The combination of fonts and simple decoration works beautifully.

Save the date 3

This simple, black and white save the date shows how letterpress can create visual interest on textured paper. It is also a great example of keeping the wording concise.

Save the date 4

Mostly text with a vintage feel, created by the warm colors and varied typeface choices.

Save the date 5

If you prefer something decorative, this subdued floral watercolor design is beautiful on thick, textured card.

Things to Remember

• Send the save the date to everyone on the guest list;
• As we mentioned in our Wedding Invitation Do’s and Don’ts, specifically address the people you want to attend by name, so there is no confusion about who is invited;
• If you are sending a printed card, maintain consistency with your wedding invitation stationery set; and
• Try not to include information on the save the date that you are going to repeat verbatim on the invitation, unless it is absolutely necessary, like the names, date, and location.

Alternatives to the Printed Save the Date Card

Magnets

Save your guests the trouble of hunting down a spare magnet for the fridge. At checkout you can add a pre-applied magnet backing (from $8 USD for 10), so any save the date design becomes a ready-to-display fridge magnet your guests will keep long after the wedding.

Postcards

Destination postcard

Standard postcard

A postcard with a photo of the destination on the front makes a lot of sense for destination weddings. Postcards work just as well for any kind of wedding, a photo of where you are getting married, or something more personal like a photo of the couple.

Photo strip

You get to have a little fun in a photo booth, and once it is scanned and printed, the wedding details go on the back. This format feels spontaneous and personal.

3 Wedding Scenarios Where Save the Dates Are Non-Negotiable

Some couples wonder if save the dates are really worth the extra stationery investment. For most weddings, they are genuinely helpful, but for these three scenarios, skipping them would be a mistake.

Destination and overseas weddings

If you are asking guests to travel internationally or even across the country, they need lead time to book flights, request time off work, and arrange accommodation. Sending a save the date 9-12 months out for an overseas wedding (or 6-8 months for a domestic destination wedding) gives guests a fair chance to plan without breaking the bank. Last-minute airfares are significantly more expensive, and popular accommodation near scenic venues books out fast.

The save the date for a destination wedding does not need to cover every detail. At minimum, it should include the wedding date, the general location (city or resort name), and a note that full details are coming. Many couples include a brief line about nearby accommodation options so guests can book early at lower rates.

Holiday weekends and popular travel dates

A wedding on or near a major holiday weekend (Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July) creates a logistical challenge for guests. Hotels and vacation rentals in many areas fill up months in advance around these dates. If guests do not know your date early, they may already have competing plans locked in by the time the invitation arrives.

Even for a local wedding, a holiday weekend means more guests are making decisions about family obligations, travel, or pre-existing events. An early heads-up via save the date gives them the best chance to prioritize your celebration.

Weddings with a significant share of long-distance guests

If a meaningful portion of your guest list lives more than a few hours away (family across the country, college friends in different cities, or international guests) save the dates do real work. They allow people to start comparing dates with partners, arranging childcare, and scoping travel options early, well before prices surge.

A good rule of thumb: if more than 20-30% of your guest list needs to travel overnight or further, send save the dates.

When You Can Skip the Save the Date (Honestly)

Not every wedding needs one. Here are situations where save the dates are genuinely optional, and skipping them is a reasonable choice.

Small, intimate weddings with a close guest list

If you are having a micro wedding or elopement with 20 or fewer guests, the people you are inviting are almost certainly people you speak with regularly. A phone call, a text, or a quick conversation does the same job. Formal save the dates add cost and lead time without much practical value when everyone already knows and is in close contact.

Short engagement or fast-moving timelines

If your engagement-to-wedding timeline is six months or less, save the dates and invitations will overlap uncomfortably. With only four months, for example, sending a save the date and then a full invitation within weeks of each other creates unnecessary paperwork for guests. At that point, send a compelling invitation with all the details at the eight-to-ten-week mark.

Casual celebrations with local guests

A backyard ceremony and barbecue with mostly local guests, little required travel, and no complex logistics is a case where save the dates are nice to have but not essential. If everyone is within a 30-minute drive and you have a flexible guest list (the kind where guests can attend or not without complicated RSVP math), you can likely skip the pre-notification step.

Weddings during low-demand seasons in low-demand destinations

If your wedding is on a quiet Tuesday in November at a venue with no competing demand nearby, accommodation and flights are not a concern. Guests who want to attend will have no trouble arranging it on short notice. This scenario is less common, but it does exist.

Save the Date vs. Invitation: What Each One Does

Couples sometimes wonder why they need two pieces of stationery for the same event. The answer is that save the dates and invitations serve genuinely different purposes, and confusing the two leads to either missing information at the wrong time or sending guests so much detail upfront that the invitation feels redundant.

The save the date buys time. The invitation closes the loop with everything guests need to actually show up.

One thing to note: once you send a save the date, you are committed to inviting that person to the wedding. Do not send one to someone who is on your “maybe” list. The save the date is an informal but real promise of an invitation to follow.

Want to know more about what goes on each piece and the etiquette around who receives what? Our save the date etiquette guide covers every rule in detail.

Digital vs. Printed Save the Dates: Which Is Right for You?

In 2026, couples have more flexibility than ever in how they notify guests. Both options are legitimate, the right choice depends on your priorities.

Printed save the dates

A physical save the date card is a tangible piece of stationery that guests can put on the fridge, pin to a noticeboard, or tuck into a planner. For couples who care about their stationery suite being cohesive and memorable, printed save the dates set the tone from the first touchpoint.

Paperlust save the dates start from $1 per card. You can choose from designs in digital print, flat foil (available in gold, silver, rose gold, copper, and other metallic shades), letterpress on Wild Cotton paper, white ink on dark stock, and metallic print. Orders include free white envelopes, and a designer proof is delivered within 1-2 business days. See the full save the date collection to browse by style, format, and print method.

For orders over $350 USD, DHL Express shipping is free (US delivery in 2-4 business days after dispatch).

Digital save the dates

A digital save the date is a designed JPEG or PDF file you send yourself via email, text, or social media. Paperlust offers digital save the dates from $35, available via customer service (not directly at checkout). You choose any design from the site, the designer finalizes your wording and layout, and you receive the file to send to your guest list however you prefer.

For more on how digital save the dates work and the best approach for sending them, see our digital save the dates guide.

Which should you choose?

Many couples do both, sending digital save the dates early, then following up with printed invitations for the tactile impact at the 8-10 week mark. This is a practical approach when you have a mixed guest list of tech-forward friends and older family members who appreciate paper.

10 Save the Date Wording Examples

A save the date does not need much copy, names, date, location, and a line about invitations to follow. But getting the tone right for your wedding style matters. Here are 10 wording examples across different styles.

For the full library of templates and guidance on what to include, see our dedicated save the date wording examples guide.

Classic and formal

Modern and minimal

Destination wedding

Casual and warm

Rustic or countryside wedding

Elopement announcement (after the fact)

Intimate wedding

Beach or coastal wedding

Holiday weekend wedding

Photo save the date

Note: photo save the dates let the image carry the emotion, the wording can be very brief. A single photo of the couple works beautifully.

Save the Date FAQs

Do you need to send save the dates?

Not for every wedding, but most couples benefit from sending them. They are non-negotiable for destination weddings, holiday weekend weddings, and weddings with a large share of out-of-town guests. For small, local, casual weddings with a short planning timeline, they are optional.

How early should you send save the dates?

For a local wedding, 4-6 months before the date is standard. For a destination wedding or one with many long-distance guests, 9-12 months in advance is recommended so guests can plan travel and request time off work.

What information do you put on a save the date?

Keep it simple: the couple’s names, the wedding date, the city or venue (city is enough if the venue is not yet confirmed), and a note that a formal invitation will follow. Do not include RSVP details, that belongs on the invitation.

Do save the dates have to match the wedding invitations?

Traditionally yes, but modern couples often mix complementary styles, same color palette or typographic family without being identical. What matters most is that the save the date gives guests an accurate impression of the wedding’s tone and formality.

Can you send a digital save the date instead of a printed one?

Yes. Paperlust offers digital save the date files (JPEG or PDF) from $35, available via customer service. You receive the finalized design file to send yourself via email or text. Many couples send digital save the dates first, then follow with printed invitations. For full guidance see our digital save the dates guide.

What is the difference between a save the date and an invitation?

A save the date is an early informal notice, names, date, location, more to follow. An invitation is the official event communication, with full venue details, ceremony time, dress code, and RSVP instructions. They serve different purposes and go out at different times.

Can you send a save the date before you have a venue?

Yes. If you have the date locked and a general location in mind, you can send the save the date with the city or region and a note that full venue details will be on the invitation. This is better than waiting and missing the early planning window for your guests.

Do you have to send a save the date to everyone you invite?

You should send one to everyone you intend to invite. Do not send a save the date to anyone who is not on your confirmed invitation list. Once a save the date goes out, the expectation of a formal invitation follows.

How much do save the dates cost?

Printed save the dates start from $1 per card at Paperlust. Total cost depends on print method (digital print is most affordable; flat foil and letterpress cost more per card), paper stock, and quantity. Digital save the date files are a flat $35 via customer service, regardless of guest list size.

Can any save the date design become a fridge magnet?

Yes. At checkout, you can add a pre-applied magnet backing to any design. The standard size is approximately 5.5″ x 4.2″ (140mm x 107mm). Self-adhesive magnet stickers are also available as a lower-cost alternative if you prefer to apply them yourself.

Are save the dates necessary for small weddings?

For micro weddings of 20 or fewer guests made up of close family and friends you are already in regular contact with, save the dates are optional. A personal call or message often does the same job. For anything larger or more logistically complex, save the dates are a worthwhile investment.

Where can I find save the date wording ideas?

Our dedicated save the date wording examples guide covers templates for formal, casual, destination, elopement, and every other style, with guidance on what to include and what to leave off.

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From the invitation design to the wedding day itself, Art Deco design is characterised by bold geometric forms, symmetry, high contrast colour and the industrial chrome of the brave new world (how appropriate for the event that marks the beginning of the next part of your life?!).

We thought we would take a look at Art Deco Wedding Invitations and break down the design. Be warned. You might just fall, irrevocably, in love.

SEVEN BEST ART DECO WEDDING INVITATIONS

(Invitation examples)

1. Sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/263671753160297817/

This gold foil press on white is perfect. Variation can be created across a wedding invitation stationery set with a change in foil or paper colour but how beautiful is the geometric pattern pressed in silver on blue?

2. Sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/263671753157118510/

Imagine you and your partners name in that bold typeface, framed by this wonderful geometric border (you were warned that Art Deco themed design would be dangerous! Here’s the reason why).

3. Sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/263671753157117674/

How great is this wedding invitation? Check the orange, green, black and white colour palette of this floral geometric design, punctuated by diamonds.

4. Sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/136093219965652856/

We love the floral design of this wedding invitation! Maybe it’s a little bit more 1920s than Art Deco, but aren’t the colours and shape gorgeous? The dome top of the central panel makes it feel like a stain glass window.

5. Sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/211880357443870461/

Again, there is the black and gold but with space to give the invitation a touch of elegance.

6. Sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/16395986116866310/

Paisley colours can be used to great effect. In this invitation design the muted greens and pinks are contrasted by the dark green.

7. Sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/52495151882046930/

Sources: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/171418329542516138/

Gold and black are common elements of Art Deco Invitation designs. Here, they’ve repeated the soft lines of the stylised leaves with bold circles.

FONTS

The weight and shape of Art Deco fonts can vary. Designer, writer and typographic consultant, Ilene Strizver, says ,

Art Deco type styles range from uncomplicated, low-waisted monostroke designs, such as ITC Anna, Bernhard Fashion, Busorama and Coquette, to more intricate, decorative type styles, such as Beverly Hills, Chic, Broadway Engraved, Gallia, ITC Mona Lisa Recut and Philco Deco The most ornate Deco designs feature double, triple or multi-lineal stroke details. Art Deco typestyles can be angular or curvy, elegant or playful, but all have the attitude of swank sophistication we associate with that period.

So, you can see, there’s enough room to play with what you like. The variety complicates the decision. These are great examples but how do you use them?

 sourced: http://www.fontscape.com/

sourced: http://www.fontscape.com/

If you’re getting a customised Art Deco wedding invitation set, your designer will tell you that these fonts are decorative so they probably won’t suit for all the text on your invitation.

There are some rules for choosing typefaces that go together, something like: sans serif should go with serif rather than fonts that are too similar to them. That kind of thing.

A simple sans serif partnered with an art deco font can’t really go wrong; the lighter weight and positioning below the Art Deco font means that it won’t distract from the beautiful decorative text.

COLOURS

The classic black and white photos from the 1920s always seem to be filled with white lace and paisley prints. Come night time, the photographs reveal sequins, embroidery, rising hem lines and boxed silhouettes for both men and women.

In our contemporary reimagining’s, the flat surface of those photos have become soft, velvet-like plum, midnight blues and dark forest greens. The best Art Deco invitation designs contrast these deep colours with the clean, bright silver and gold foils.

Or, they create a relaxed, afternoon-garden-party-with-Miss Marple feeling with subdued tones of these purples, blues and greens.

Contrast is all about choosing two colours: our eyes automatically decide on a hierarchy between the two so that one recedes as a background and the other stands out as the primary focus. You can generally tell whether you like a colour combination straight away (if it’s all about taste, you know what you like). There are some rules about how colours work together.

SHAPES, LINES AND PATTERNS

Once you’ve found the colour and font for you invitation, you can look to the products of the Art Deco movement for inspiration.

Looking at architecture, furniture, art, they’re all characterised by straight lines, geometric shapes and stylised symbols of nature. If that’s not what you like, you can always use the great iconographic images of the Charleston, long cigarette holders puffing smoke and cocktails being sipped over the bar.

Sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/283656476507091370/

In art, after Dadaists had been raging against formalism, Art Deco was defined by a meeting of cubism, constructivism, modernism and futurism. There was a deliberate play with the ideal relationship between colours, while the shapes were rounded and soft. Post World War One, a note of hope, and celebration of technology and travel belonged to everything.

Tamara de Lempicka stands out as the quintessential daughter of the 1920s and pioneer of a unique Art Deco aesthetic. Born in Poland, she studied in Switzerland, lived with her first husband in St. Petersburg until the Russian Revolution, and became a renowned portrait painter in Paris until she moved to America before the Second World War with her second husband. The rest of her life moved between Europe and America, as she developed her luxurious and sensual style markedly influenced by a kind of soft cubism.

Among a hundred paintings, you could recognize mine, my goal was: Do not copy. Create a new style…colors light and bright, return to elegance in my models.

De Lempicka could easily be your model for a woman, confident, independent, and a little rebellious in her art and in her life. For your Art Deco Wedding Invitation, look at de Lempicka’s work to see examples of the perfect balance of colour and her warm representations of the female body.

Sourced: http://tweedlandthegentlemansclub.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/tamara-de-lempicka.html

Sourced: http://theculturetrip.com/europe/poland/articles/art-deco-icon-the-alluring-mystique-of-tamara-de-lempicka/

WORDING

While we’ve broken down choosing your general invitation wording, a theme can be a fun way to personalise the details.

1920s brought to life a whole new youth culture and slang. Historical themes, like Art Deco, have the possibility for language that we don’t necessarily use every day. Play with that.

Keep in mind, there are still some Do’s and Don’ts of Wedding Invitations.

An example for some wedding invitation might be

Despite the flat tire of their first date,

They ended up in the struggle buggy

Now

Jessica and Peter

Invite you to join them as they walk down the middle aisle

And then whoopee well into the night

The RSVP can be fun too

ATTABOY/GIRL!

CASH (yes) or CHECK (no)

With a little research you might be able to find language appropriate to your Wedding Menu as well, but with the beautiful and extravagant food common to the era you’re probably better off with some creative food poetry. See our Wedding Menu Wording for a place to start.

Or slang may just not fit the Ritz and glamour you’re going for. Take a leaf from Lurhmann’s movie soundtrack: old meets new to great effect.

PRINT

What kind of print achieves the understated sophistication of Art Deco?

If you want people to focus on the visual be able see it, foil stamping achieves the beautiful thickness of colour along those straight, geometrical lines.

On the other hand, letter press gives grooves and tactile texture with or without colour. With letterpress there is even more potential to create contrast, tactile or visual.

If you’re creating something a little bit different with a custom Art Deco Wedding Invitation through iconography from the art movement, why not try digital printing? On a smooth paper or high gloss, the colours will be sharp. For something a little bit softer, a thicker, patterned paper will imitate the soft canvases of the original works.

Sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/572309065123170818/

Sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/217932069444664353/

The lines between themes tend to blur. Art Deco stands out and lends a sophisticated charm to whatever you’re trying to do. As a stand-alone theme to base your day around, it is all about understated charm. The wedding invitations are the place to start. Once you’ve chosen your colour and design, everything else will just follow.

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The post The Gatsby Effect: A Look at Art Deco Wedding Invitations appeared first on Paperlust.

We think that the key to Beach Wedding Themed Cards is maintaining that relaxed tone you want for your wedding. Let those lines blur and don’t be afraid to stick to your guns on the things that you really, really like. If that means that there has to be star fish and swathes of blue, then make sure they’re done well. We’ve found a couple that find the perfect balance, although we’ve also found some beach themed things that made us want to cringe.

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/334814553520946018/

TOP 10 BEACH INVITATION IDEAS

1. WATERCOLOUR OCEAN

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/409194316116579220/

Watercolour done well can be quite subtle. Here, the standard blue is lost in the stroke variation and brush tip that fills in the texture of the paper. We like the idea of a silver foil press, even a curling wave typeface if you can’t let that traditional beach theme go.

2. ABSTRACT WATERCOLOUR

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/543035667546236642/

This is another example of subtle watercolour. We think the effect of the colour, shape and typeface is relaxed but chic. Contrasted by something to make this green-blue stand out, the colour scheme could easily carry over into the wedding day itself.

3. SIMPLE OR STYLISED WAVES

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/352547477049957881/

Okay, this isn’t strictly beach themed. Or Tropicana. Or nautical. Still, we think this is appropriate for a beach themed wedding because of the repeated round shape that might be a wave. Or, in a different colour it might be any number of things, which is a nice way to keep things understated.

4. FEATURED ARTIST: TROPICANA

sourced: http://camillafrancesprintsposts.tumblr.com/

sourced: http://camillafrancesprintsposts.tumblr.com/

These are all colour and maybe a little Tropicana but why not? We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again: we love Camilla Frances! With a bold serif typeface in a contrasting colour, the wedding invitations can be hung up as art, not just on the fridge.

5. NAUTICAL

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/296463587945125746/

A common trap with nautical is that blue and white sailor stripe. This invitation set has escaped by playing by using soft colours and simple nautical symbols.

6. UNDER THE SEA

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/413416440770838444/

Under the sea can often be quite busy. This under the sea wedding invitation uses all the symbols, with an understated blue that doesn’t overwhelm those essential wedding details.

7. THE COASTAL SCAPE

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/398357529513677250/

This coastal scape could easily have gone wrong: another colour scale and it would look too much like an over filtered Instagram post. As it is, the muted colours of this image are perfect. The circle in the middle is a good way to bring text out of the image.

8. BY THE SEA SIDE

sourced: http://invitationsbyajalon.com/blog/theme-wedding-invitations-designs/

Show where you’re getting married with an image of the place. To avoid the sun bleached photograph, be inspired by this invitation and try an illustration.

9. PATTERNED

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/191543790374980913/

We stumbled across this one and started to wonder why we hadn’t thought of a seaside inspired invitation that uses bright colours and gives room for a fun font. We especially love the pale grey dots of sea spray around the edges.

10. ELEGANT AND SIMPLE WAVES

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/208361920230588261/

Here is an idea for an elegant Beach Wedding Theme Invitation to Love. After some hunting around, we founf something relatively simple and effective that creates an elegant feel.

OH-SO-TRENDY CHALK BOARD

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/roomsFORrent/chalkboard-typography/

We love this idea. The black chalk board. You’ll have to borrow someone with legible hand writing, but the chalk board is fairly versatile, use it to display the menu or if you think that’s a waste, you could try using it to provide details to guests (saves having to be constantly asked where the toilet is or when the cakes being cut).

CHIC FRAMED TABLE MENU

sourced: Style Me Pretty

This is less an alternative to the wedding menu card and more of an acknowledgement of the art form that is printed paper. Frames can quickly rack up the costs if you’ve got a large number of guests. Like the black board, this is easily positioned somewhere in the room that everyone can see (make sure the font is large enough to be seen over the top of other curious heads). While this frame has been draped with classic flowers, make it beach themed with.

CUTE STAMPED PAPER DOILIES

sourced: Pinterest

If you’ve gone for a boho beach wedding, this is another idea to add to the ones we’ve mentioned before.

Paper doilies are a little less kitsch if you’ve got something printed on the front. One per guest and it’s a cool keepsake.

KEEPSAKE CHOPSTICKS WITH PRINTED MENU ON THE SLEEVE

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/183240278562951106/

Very cool right? The menu sleeve might be disposed of, but make those chopsticks a personal keepsake for your guests.

SIMPLE PRINTED PAPER BAG FAVOURS

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/496733033875858474/

The paper bag of your guest favours can be put to good use with the menu printed on the front or back.

VERSATILE TABLE NUMBERS OR PLACE CARDS

sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/444026844486944283/

The place cards are also something that can do two things at once, name on the front, menu on the back or printed on the inside. Easy. And a good way to save paper by not having to print cards for every little piece of information.

With all of these alternatives, the most important thing is that the menu is legible for the oldest guests to the youngest.

In the end, a beach themed wedding invitation is essentially the same as any other wedding invitation;while you want it to be a beautiful print object that’s appropriate to the day you’ve planned, the most important thing is that you provide the information your guests need to come and celebrate with you. If everyone asks where you got such wonderful wedding stationery printed, well, that’s just a bonus.

Ready to find your design? Browse beach wedding invitations →.

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If you’re looking for something a little bit different for table decoration and therapeutically hands-on in preparation for the big day, why not try DIY Origami Flowers? Whether it’s enlisting your mum, or rounding up your friends for one last hurrah(without too much hurrah), paper flowers can end up being used to add colour and excitement and at the fraction of a cost of traditional flower arrangements.

We’ve chosen our favourite origami flower and carefully plotted out the instructions.

TULIPS

1. Placing the coloured or patterned side up, fold the square in half, then in half again, as shown in the diagram. Crease well and then open out.
2. Turn the paper over so the plain side is facing upwards. Fold diagonally in half in both directions. Crease well and then open out.
3. With the plain side facing upwards, bring the two centre fold edges to the other centre fold, as shown in the diagram. Flatten the paper and stand with the loose edges flat.
4. Now, fold the bottom corners of the front flaps up to the top corner. Turnover and repeat on the other side.
5. Turn the front flap to the left, like turning the pages of a book. Repeat on the other side.
6. Flatten again and, now, move the upper edges of the folds towards each other and tuck one flap into the other for each of the edges.
7. Flatten and make sure the distances between A and B are equal.
8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 on the back of the model.
9. Blow into the base of the tulip to inflate the body of the flower.
10. Peel down each petal to expose the bulb in the centre.

And there, you have a DIY Origami Flower.

For a simple stem you can use silver wire, or try your hand at a green origami stem.

STEM

1. With the uncoloured page facing upwards, crease your paper in half, diagonally.
2. Fold your paper out and fold the corners into the diagonal crease.
3. Keep these folds and fold the upper edges into the centre fold.
4. Repeat another fold of this edge into the centre.
5. Fold your paper in half lengthways.
6. Fold your paper in half widthways.
7. Peel the outer piece of paper, or leaf, from the stem and reverse the centre fold to give your leaf shape.

To attach the stem to the flower, the tip of the stem should insert into the base of your flower or use wire through the centre to create stability.

We’ve had some fun with the colours. Check out some more of our Favourite DIY Paper Flowers for inspiration.

Origami flowers look even better when they share the table with printed wedding place cards, the handmade feel of paper flowers pairs naturally with custom stationery and gives each table its own character.

If you’re making paper flowers for a bridal shower gathering too, they make a great group activity and the finished flowers can double as centerpieces on the day.

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We’ve fallen in love with artists like Camilla Frances and Yulia Brodskaya for their colour and wedding invitation inspiration, but Beci Orpin has tickled our love of paper as art.

Gorman wall paper and bag design.

Gorman Tote.

Arro Home.

She has done projects with some of Melbourne’s favourite brands, people and spots: Gorman, VB Raw, Justine Clarke, Seven Seeds, Cookie, The Toff.

More recently, she’s developed her own range of homewares, Arro Home.

Inside Out magazine Feature Spread.

See more: http://blogs.homelife.com.au/insideout/article/our-new-sept-oct-issue-featuring-beci-orpin/

Over the last few years her work has appeared in publications likeThe Age, Frankie, The Design Files and Monster Children.This spread in Inside Out magazine teases you with the understated colour and fun that slips from Beci Orpin’s studio into her everyday life.

Gouche and Collage “Bear Portrait” and “Bird Portrait”, Melbourne Art Fair May 2010.

Collage “Home With Heart”, Inside Out Charity Auction June 2010.

Solo exhibition “In the Shadows”, Monster Children Gallery June 2007.

“The Infinite Shape of Rainbows”, Lamington Drive April 2010.

We especially love the art works by Beci Orpin that play with paper and colour. These works use paper with cut outs and gauche for a simple, beautiful effect.

If you want more of our latest Artist Crush Beci Orpin, check out her work, follow her on Instagram, or even buy some of her beautiful homewares. If you want to try your hand at some of Beci Orpin’s paper projects, try her range of books: Find and Keep, Make and Do, and Home.

See some more of our crushes here.

Images via: http://beciorpin.com/

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Also available in: AU | UK | CA | NZ

Wedding invitations seem straightforward until you’re staring at a blank design canvas, wondering if it’s rude to mention the registry or whether “black tie preferred” is even a real thing. The rules have evolved, but there are still clear rights and wrongs, and getting them wrong costs you more than just embarrassment. This guide lays out exactly what to do, what to skip, and the mistakes that couples make most often. For the broader etiquette overview, see our complete wedding invitation etiquette guide.

Wording Dos and Don’ts: The Etiquette Rules That Matter

DO match your wording style to your event formality. A black-tie ballroom wedding calls for “requests the honor of your presence.” A backyard celebration can use “would love for you to join them.” Guests read tonal cues, so make sure your words match the atmosphere you’re creating.

DO include all essential information. Every invitation needs: names of the couple, date, time, venue name and address, and RSVP instructions. Everything else (dress code, accommodation, registry) lives on supporting materials.

DON’T put the gift registry on the invitation. This is the most common etiquette mistake, and it sends the wrong message, it implies gifts are a requirement rather than a generous gesture. Registry details belong on your wedding website, which you can reference on a separate details card. See our full wording guide for what to include and what to leave out.

DON’T write “No gifts please.” Counterintuitively, this also puts focus on gifts, and guests who want to bring something will feel awkward. If you genuinely want to discourage gifts, a gentle note on your website works better than putting it on the invitation itself.

DON’T overcrowd the invitation with information. The invitation covers the what, where, and when. The details card handles everything else: parking, accommodation blocks, dress code specifics, shuttle times, and your wedding website URL.

DO proofread. Then proofread again. Typos in the venue address, a wrong date, or a misspelled name are embarrassing and expensive to reprint. Have at least two other people read the final proof before you approve it.

Wording Formality Tiers: Choosing the Right Tone

Your invitation wording signals the formality level before guests even look at the design. Use the tier that matches your event:

Common Wording Mistakes That Signal Amateur Planning

Beyond the registry issue, these wording choices often come across as unpolished even when couples mean well:

• Writing “Please RSVP” — RSVP already means “please respond” (from the French). “Please RSVP” is redundant. Write “RSVP by [date]” or “Kindly respond by [date].”
• Using “and/or” for meal choices — It sounds like a contract, not a celebration. Write “Chicken or Fish” not “Chicken and/or Fish.”
• Adding “for more information, visit our website” on the main invitation — Include the website URL naturally on the details card instead. Sending guests to another channel from the main card feels incomplete.
• Skipping the year on the date — While it seems obvious, printing just “Saturday, the fourteenth of June” leaves no permanent record of the year. Always include it.

What Information to Include (and Leave Out) of Your Invitation

The golden rule: the main invitation carries only what every guest needs to know. Everything else moves to supporting cards.

What Must Appear on Every Wedding Invitation

• Names of both people being married (full legal names for formal events)
• Date of the ceremony, day of week, month, date, and year
• Ceremony start time
• Venue name and full address (including city and state)
• RSVP instructions (deadline + how to respond: mail, online, or phone)
• Host line (who is hosting, parents, the couple, or both)

What Belongs on the Details Card, Not the Invitation

• Reception venue address (if different from ceremony)
• Dress code details beyond a simple note
• Accommodation block information with room rate and booking deadline
• Transportation or shuttle schedule
• Parking instructions
• Wedding website URL
• Registry note (never on the main invite, website or details card only)

Genuinely Optional Elements

These appear on some invitations but are not required by etiquette:

• Dress code note on the main invitation (one line: “Black tie,” “Garden party attire,” “Dressy casual”), fine for formal or themed events
• Inner envelope (traditional formal weddings use both outer and inner envelopes)
• Map or directions insert (largely replaced by your website URL)
• Wax seal on envelope closure (aesthetic choice, not an etiquette requirement)

What to Absolutely Leave Off

• Registry details in any form
• “No children” language (address envelopes to adults only; the envelope signals it)
• “Plus-one” instructions (“and guest” is handled through addressing, not body copy)
• Dietary restriction requests (use the RSVP card for this)
• Social media hashtags (save for the day-of signage or a details card if at all)
• “Adults-only reception” or “no boxed gifts” phrasing

Design Dos and Don’ts: What to Avoid When Creating Your Invitations

DO let the design match your venue and aesthetic. A modern industrial loft wedding calls for clean lines and minimalist typography. A garden wedding suits watercolor florals. A beach ceremony pairs naturally with relaxed, airy designs. Browse our invitation collection to find styles that align with your vision, from formal classic designs to casual modern styles.

DO consider print method for the effect you want. Digital print is clean and cost-effective. Letterpress delivers a tactile, heirloom quality with a pressed impression into 300gsm or 600gsm Wild Cotton paper. Flat foil adds mirror-bright metallic shimmer (available in gold, rose gold, silver, copper, and more. Each method changes how your design reads) make sure the print technique matches the formality of your event.

DO think about readability. Ornate scripts are beautiful, but if guests can’t read the venue name or the time, the invitation fails at its core job. Pair decorative fonts with clean, readable secondary fonts for all critical information.

DON’T use low-resolution photos. If your invitation includes a photo (engagement shot, venue exterior), ensure it’s at least 300 DPI for print. Anything lower and it will look pixelated in the final product, especially noticeable on premium paper stocks.

DON’T ignore envelope sizing. Your envelope should fit all suite components comfortably without forcing anything. Overstuffed envelopes look rushed and can affect mailing. Check our wedding invitation size guide to make sure everything fits properly.

DON’T choose a color scheme that photographs poorly. Light text on a light background, or dark text on a dark background, can look elegant on screen but wash out in print. Request a physical proof or sample before committing to your full order.

Print Method Dos and Don’ts for 2026

Choosing a print finish is one of the most important design decisions you’ll make. Here’s what to keep in mind:

• DO: Match paper weight to formality. For formal or black-tie weddings, go heavier (350gsm-600gsm Wild Cotton). For casual events, 300gsm matte or premium stocks read perfectly.
• DO: Use flat foil for metallic accents without a large minimum order. Flat foil starts at 10 cards and works on matte, premium, and heavyweight stocks. It delivers the same mirror-bright shine as other foil techniques without requiring a custom die.
• DON’T: Expect foil to read well on dark or saturated backgrounds. Foil shows best on light or mid-tone papers where the metallic contrast can really register. On very dark stock, consider white ink instead for maximum legibility.
• DON’T: Underestimate letterpress production time. Letterpress is a handcrafted process, production typically runs around 20 business days. If you’re ordering letterpress, build that into your timeline from the start.
• DO: Order a $5 sample pack before committing. Paperlust’s sample pack includes 7 designs across different print methods so you can feel the difference between digital, letterpress, flat foil, and metallic before placing your full order.

Addressing Dos and Don’ts

DO use full legal names on the outer envelope. “Mr. John and Mrs. Jane Smith”, not “John and Janie.” Nicknames are casual and appropriate for inner envelopes or informal events, but outer envelopes on formal invitations call for proper names.

DO name plus-ones explicitly. If you’re inviting someone’s partner, put their name on the envelope. “Ms. Rachel Torres and Mr. David Kim”, not “Ms. Rachel Torres and Guest” if you know the partner’s name. Using “and Guest” when you know the person’s name reads as dismissive.

DON’T address to “The Smith Family” if kids aren’t invited. Address to parents only: “Mr. and Mrs. John Smith.” If the child is over 18 and lives in the same household, they get their own invitation. Our complete guide to addressing wedding invitations covers every household scenario.

DON’T abbreviate street names, titles, or states on formal invitations. “Street” not “St.” “Apartment” not “Apt.” “California” not “CA.” This applies to the outer envelope; if you’re including inner envelopes, those can be more relaxed.

DO double-check every address before printing. Returned invitations are frustrating and costly. Cross-reference your mailing list against current addresses, people move, and using a year-old address list is a common mistake.

DON’T use “and family” as a catch-all. It’s vague and forces guests to decide for themselves whether their kids are invited. Be specific about who is included by how you address the envelope.

RSVP Dos and Don’ts

DO include a self-addressed stamped RSVP envelope. Pre-stamping the return envelope removes friction and increases response rates. Guests who have to find a stamp often procrastinate, and you’ll be chasing RSVPs in the final weeks.

DO set a realistic RSVP deadline. Three weeks before your wedding is standard. Two weeks out is too tight if your caterer needs final numbers with a week’s buffer. Check with your venue and caterer first, then set the deadline that gives you adequate time.

DO add a meal selection if your caterer requires it. Include clear options on the RSVP card: “Chicken / Fish / Vegetarian”, and see our RSVP card wording guide for template options that cover every scenario.

DON’T skip numbering your RSVP cards. Pencil a small number on the back of each RSVP card corresponding to the guest’s entry on your list. Guests who forget to write their names (more common than you’d think) can be identified quickly.

DON’T rely solely on online RSVPs. Digital RSVP tools are convenient, but always include a physical RSVP card. Some guests, particularly older family members, won’t use an online form, and you risk not hearing from them at all.

DO follow up on missing RSVPs promptly. Once your deadline passes, give non-responders 48 hours, then follow up by phone or text. Chasing RSVPs by email gets buried; a direct call gets an answer.

Timeline Dos and Don’ts

DO order early. Design and production takes time, typically 2-3 weeks for print orders after design approval. Build in buffer for proof revisions and allow at least a week for mailing. Most couples order invitations 3-4 months before the wedding date to avoid rush fees.

DO send save the dates before invitations. Save the dates go out 6-8 months before a local wedding, or 8-12 months for destination. They reserve the date without providing full details, the invitation fills in the rest. Never send invitations before save the dates unless significant time has passed.

DON’T send invitations too early. More than 10 weeks out for a local wedding and guests may lose track of the RSVP date. The window exists for a reason, too early and the invitation becomes a long-term storage problem.

DO weigh your full suite before buying stamps. Add the invitation, RSVP card, details card, envelope liner, and return RSVP envelope to a single envelope and weigh it. Anything over 1 oz requires extra postage; anything square or over 6.125″ x 11.5″ requires non-machinable surcharges. A quick trip to the post office before buying stamps in bulk saves a lot of frustration.

DON’T forget to account for holidays and postal slowdowns. If your RSVP deadline falls near Thanksgiving or Christmas, build in extra time. Postal service slows around major holidays, and guests are distracted. Mail invitations a week earlier than usual in these scenarios.

Digital Elements: QR Codes, URLs, and Social Media Dos and Don’ts

Digital additions to print invitations have become standard in 2026, but there’s a right and wrong way to incorporate them without undermining the formality of your stationery.

QR Codes: Dos and Don’ts

DO use a QR code to link to your wedding website. A small, cleanly designed QR code on your details card (not the main invitation) is entirely appropriate. It directs guests to your full information hub without cluttering the invitation itself.

DO place the QR code on a supporting card, not the main invitation. The main invitation carries ceremony essentials only. Your details card or RSVP card is the right home for a QR code linking to your website, RSVP portal, or Google Maps pin.

DON’T use a raw, long URL in place of a QR code. A 60-character URL on a formal invitation looks awkward and is unlikely to be typed correctly. If you want guests to visit your site, use a QR code or a short custom URL like “ourwedding.com” rather than a raw link.

DON’T make the QR code your only RSVP channel. Always provide a backup, a mailing address for physical RSVP cards or a phone number for those who won’t scan a code.

DO test your QR code before printing your full run. Scan it on multiple devices (iPhone, Android), in varying lighting conditions, and at the actual print size you plan to use. A QR code that works at full screen on your computer may not scan reliably at 1″ x 1″ on a physical card.

Wedding Website and Social Media: Dos and Don’ts

DO include your wedding website URL on your details card. Your website is where all the extended information lives: accommodation, registry, transport, schedule, FAQs, and your love story. Reference it naturally on the details card: “For full details, visit [yoursite.com].”

DON’T include your wedding hashtag on the main invitation. Hashtags read as casual and social-media-first, fine for a day-of signage display or a details card, but out of place on formal stationery. If you want to include yours, put it on an optional insert or your website.

DON’T use your website URL as a substitute for clear invitation wording. “See our website for details” is not a replacement for including the venue address, time, and RSVP instructions on the invitation. Always include the essentials on the paper, regardless of your website.

DO keep your wedding website password-protected if you include sensitive information. If your site includes venue logistics, specific directions, or hotel room block codes, consider password-protecting it and including the password on the details card rather than making the full site public.

7 Common Wedding Invitation Mistakes Couples Make

Even couples who’ve researched invitation etiquette carefully tend to trip over the same issues. Here are the seven most frequent mistakes and how to avoid them:

1. Ordering Too Few Invitations

Couples count households rather than adding buffer. Order 15-20% more than your household count. Reprint costs for a small quantity run are typically 3-5 times the per-unit cost of your original order. Account for: addressing errors, keepsake copies (your parents will want them), late additions to the guest list, and any damaged pieces from mailing.

2. Approving the Proof Too Quickly

A designer proof arrives 1-2 business days after placing your order. Many couples click approve on the first read without checking every detail. Slow down: verify the venue address character by character, confirm the time (AM vs. PM), spell-check both names, and check the RSVP date matches your actual deadline. Your designer includes two rounds of edits at no extra cost, use them.

3. Sending Invitations Without a Return Address

Return address on the outer envelope is non-optional. Any undeliverable invitations need somewhere to go. Use the host’s address (typically whoever is listed on the host line) or your own address. Print it directly on the envelope or use a custom envelope liner, both are available as add-ons.

4. Ignoring Envelope Weight

Stuffing an invitation suite into an envelope and assuming standard postage is a common and expensive mistake. Standard 1-oz postage covers a single sheet. Most invitation suites (invitation + RSVP card + details card + envelope liner + stamped return envelope) weigh 1.5-2 oz and may require square surcharges if your envelopes are square. Weigh a complete suite before buying postage in bulk.

5. Including Kids’ Names “Just in Case”

If children are not invited to the reception, do not include their names on the envelope. Addressing to “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” signals the invitation is for adults only. Adding children’s names creates confusion and makes it harder to enforce your guest list later. If you’re unsure, handle exceptions individually by phone rather than through the invitation.

6. Forgetting the Inner-Envelope Distinction

Traditional formal invitations use both an outer envelope (mailed, formal addressing) and an inner envelope (unsealed, more relaxed, lists who in the household is invited). This matters most when you want to be clear about plus-ones and children. If budget allows, the two-envelope system eliminates most ambiguity before a single guest calls to ask.

7. Waiting to Order Until “Final Guest List Is Done”

The final guest list is almost never truly final. Order invitations based on your confirmed upper limit, not your working estimate. Adding 20 guests after your print run means a second smaller order at a much higher per-unit cost. Design choices that require long production windows (letterpress takes around 20 business days) especially punish late orders.

Digital vs. Print: What to Know Before You Decide

Digital invitations are no longer a faux pas for the right kind of wedding, but they’re not universally appropriate either.

Digital works for: casual or informal weddings, couples who’ve explicitly embraced a sustainability-first philosophy, last-minute supplemental communications (reminder emails, directions day-of), and second events like rehearsal dinners or post-wedding brunches.

Print remains the standard for: formal or semi-formal events, any guest list that includes older relatives, weddings where the invitation is meant to serve as a keepsake, and destination weddings where advance planning requires physical confirmation.

A middle path that works: send print invitations with a QR code that links to your wedding website, RSVP portal, and full logistics. You get the formality and permanence of print with the flexibility of digital information management.

What NOT to Include on Your Invitation

Sometimes the don’ts are clearer than the dos:

• Registry details: belongs on the website
• “No boxed gifts”: too prescriptive and off-tone
• Venue parking details: details card only
• Directions: use your website or a Google Maps link on the details card
• Guest count reminders: e.g., “This invitation admits two only” reads as confrontational; handle it through clear envelope addressing instead
• Social media hashtags: optional and casual; if included, put on a separate card, not the main invitation
• Dress code warnings: no “please dress appropriately for outdoor weather” on formal invitations; handle through your details card

Wedding Invitation Etiquette FAQs

Is it bad etiquette to include registry information on a wedding invitation?

Yes. Including registry information on the invitation implies that gifts are expected rather than optional. Registry details should go on your wedding website, which you can reference on a separate details card included in the invitation suite.

What should I not put on a wedding invitation?

Avoid including: gift registry details, parking or directions (use a details card), “no kids” language (address envelopes to adults only instead), “no gifts please,” venue-specific rules or warnings, and social media hashtags on the main invitation.

How many extra invitations should I order?

Order 15-20% more than your household count. This covers addressing mistakes, keepsake copies, late additions, and damaged pieces. It is always cheaper to order extras upfront than to reprint a small quantity later.

Do I need to include a stamped RSVP envelope?

Yes, for formal and semi-formal weddings. Pre-stamping the return envelope removes friction and significantly increases on-time response rates. For casual weddings, an online RSVP option alone may be sufficient.

Can I use a QR code on my wedding invitation?

Yes, but place it on the details card rather than the main invitation. A QR code linking to your wedding website or RSVP portal is entirely appropriate and increasingly common. Make sure to test it on multiple devices before printing your full run, and always provide an alternative RSVP method for guests who won’t scan a code.

Should I include my wedding hashtag on the invitation?

No, not on the main invitation. If you want to include a hashtag, put it on a separate insert card or display it as day-of signage. Hashtags on formal stationery read as casual and can undercut the tone of your invitation.

What is the correct way to address envelopes when children are invited?

List children’s first names on the inner envelope below the parents’ names (e.g., “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” outer; “Jennifer and Michael and Emma” inner). If you’re using only an outer envelope, add children’s names below the parents on a second line. Children over 18 living in the same household should receive their own invitation.

How far in advance should I send wedding invitations?

6-8 weeks before the wedding for local guests; 10-12 weeks for destination weddings or guests traveling internationally. Send save the dates 6-8 months in advance (8-12 months for destination) to give guests maximum booking time.

Do I have to use both inner and outer envelopes?

No, the double-envelope format is a traditional formal convention, not a strict rule. Single-envelope suites are entirely appropriate for semi-formal, casual, and contemporary weddings. Double envelopes make sense if you’re holding a black-tie event or want the clearest possible signal about who is (and isn’t) invited.

What’s the correct way to handle “adults only” on the invitation?

Never write “adults only” or “no children” directly on the invitation. Instead, address each envelope only to the adults you’re inviting. The omission of children’s names is the traditional signal. For close family or guests likely to ask, follow up with a personal conversation to avoid any misunderstanding.

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