Wedding Stationery Breakdown
Planner: @eversonevents | Lead: Amanda, Photo: @emmastewartphoto, Stationery: @theprintmark
Everything You Need to Know About Stationery
Wedding stationery is one of those parts of wedding planning that seems simple and straightforward from the outside, but there’s actually an entire world of paper goods built around weddings.
Stationery vendors are some of the most talented and creative vendors to work with. Creating custom paper goods for your big day is so much more than copying and pasting your information into a template. Working with a good graphic designer or illustrator will help make sure that your wedding feels unique to you from the get-go- at the end of the day your stationery sets the tone for your wedding celebration.
Today we want to break down everything we know about wedding stationery, from what it includes (it’s so much more than just invitations!), to why it’s so valuable, and when to use each product.
Photo: @hailphotoco, Stationery + Signage: @lamadeleinestudio
What are the different types of wedding stationery?
When you think of wedding stationery, your mind probably immediately goes to things like invitations, save the dates, rsvp cards, or envelopes. All of those are included in the stationery category, but it also extends to items such as place cards, menus, activity instructions, thank you cards, programs, table numbers, and even seating charts.
If that sounds like a ton, don’t stress too much about it! Your wedding planner and graphic designer are fabulous resources to help you identify what will be right for your event. Every couple will have a different vision for their wedding, and that will include different varieties of stationery.
Why is stationery important?
Now that you have a better idea of what we’re talking about when we say ‘wedding stationery’ it’s time to preach about why it’s such an important part of your wedding design. Let’s highlight your invitation suite for example. It generally includes an announcement with the couple's name and the date of the wedding, an rsvp card, a details card with additional information about the event, and sometimes a map of the venue.
The actual content of all those cards is pretty logistical – one of the main goals is to give your guests accurate information about attending your big day! But the other purpose of sending out invitations is to communicate the style of your wedding and the theme of the day. A beautifully designed invitation suite helps your guests feel excited and involved in your celebration.
When do I use the different kinds of stationery?
Each of the paper goods involved in your wedding day has a special place in the stationery lineup. Some are used during your actual wedding day, but others have deadlines outside of your day. Here’s a general breakdown of when the most common types of stationery should be sent out (or received back):
Save the Dates: 6-8 months before for local weddings; 10-12 months before for destination weddings
Invitations: 8-10 weeks before for local weddings; 2-4 months before for destination weddings
RSVP Deadline: 2-4 weeks before- check with your vendors on when they need final numbers!
Thank you Cards: 1-3 months after
Planning & Design: @eversonevents, Photo: @brookecolephoto, Stationery: @theprintmark
We hope this information helps you get started in the right direction when planning your wedding stationery. Remember that every wedding is unique and will incorporate paper goods in different ways. Your stationery is the first impression you give your guests, so make it memorable!
♥ The Everson Events Team
