Send save-the-dates 8 to 12 months before the wedding, order invitations around 12 weeks out so they can be posted 6 to 8 weeks before the day, set your RSVP deadline for 3 to 4 weeks before, and leave 4 to 6 weeks to order day-of stationery like menus and orders of service. Below is the full month-by-month breakdown, so nothing gets left to the last minute.
In this article
- The wedding stationery timeline at a glance
- When should I send save the dates?
- When should I order and send wedding invitations?
- When should my RSVP deadline be?
- When should I order day-of stationery?
- When should thank you cards go out?
- FAQ
The wedding stationery timeline at a glance
Every wedding is different, but the order of operations rarely changes. Here's the full sequence in one table, so you can see how each piece feeds into the next.
| Stationery | Order by | Send by |
|---|---|---|
| Save the dates | 10 to 12 months before | 8 to 12 months before |
| Wedding invitations | 10 to 12 weeks before | 6 to 8 weeks before |
| RSVP deadline | Order with Wedding invitations | 3 to 4 weeks before the wedding |
| Day-of stationery (menus, orders of service, place cards) | 5 to 6 weeks before | In hand 1 week before |
| Thank you cards | n/a | Within 3 months of the wedding (or of receiving each gift) |
If you take one thing from this table, let it be this: the "order by" date always sits well ahead of the "send by" date. Design proofs, foiling and printing take time, especially for a fully bespoke suite, so working backwards from your wedding date is the safest way to plan.
When should I send save the dates?
Send save the dates 8 to 12 months before the wedding. For a destination wedding, a bank holiday date, or a peak summer Saturday, aim for the earlier end, 10 to 12 months out, so guests have maximum time to book flights, hotels and time off work. For a local or regional wedding on a quieter date, 8 months is usually enough.
A few things to lock in before you order save the dates:
- Your date and venue. Save the dates should only go out once these are confirmed. If you would like to keep the venue a secret this can be left out.
- Your guest list, at least in draft form. It's far easier to trim a list before save the dates go out than to explain why someone was left off later.
- Whether you're having a destination or multi-day wedding. If so, send earlier and consider including basic travel information.
Save the dates don't need to match your final invitation suite exactly, but a shared typeface or motif creates a sense of anticipation when the full suite lands later. This is where a simpler piece, like a card from our Typeface range, works well: elegant enough to set the tone, without pre-empting the full design.
Clean, foiled typography that sets an elegant tone without giving away the full suite.
When should I order and send wedding invitations?
Post your wedding invitations 6 to 8 weeks before the day. To hit that window without a rush, place your order around 10 to 12 weeks out. That buffer covers design proofs, any revisions, foiling and printing, and postage, particularly important for a foiled suite, where each colour is a separate print run.
For a destination wedding or one that falls over a bank holiday, extend the send window to 8 to 12 weeks before, so guests have time to arrange travel and still respond ahead of your RSVP deadline.
A rough breakdown of that 10 to 12 week ordering window:
- Weeks 12 to 10: Choose your suite, confirm wording and finalise your guest list and addresses.
- Weeks 10 to 8: Approve digital proofs. Nothing goes to print until every proof is signed off.
- Weeks 8 to 7: Foiling and printing.
- Weeks 7 to 6: Assembly, envelope addressing and postage.
This is where a full suite earns its place, invitation, RSVP card, details card, menu and printed envelopes, all in one considered set. Our Parlour suite is designed for exactly this stage: a complete set that carries the same detailing from the invitation through to the smallest enclosure card.
Foiled invitation, RSVP and details cards, designed as one complete set.
Not sure which suite suits your wedding? Samples are available to purchase before you commit to a full order, and nothing goes to print until your proofs are confirmed.
When should my RSVP deadline be?
Set your RSVP deadline 3 to 4 weeks before the wedding. Most venues and caterers need a final headcount around 2 weeks out, so a deadline any later than 3 weeks doesn't leave enough time to chase non-responders, confirm dietary requirements and pass numbers on.
A realistic RSVP timeline looks like this:
- 4 weeks before: RSVP deadline passes.
- 3 weeks before: Chase anyone who hasn't replied. There are always a few.
- 2 weeks before: Final headcount and dietary requirements confirmed to your venue or caterer.
Printed RSVP cards with a clear return-by date tend to get a faster response than a vague verbal "let us know", and they give guests a simple way to confirm dietary needs and plus-ones in writing.
For quicker responses, we offer a QR code service. This can generate a text message to a selected phone number and a pre-generated message. For the less tech savvy members of the family, we also offer traditional posted RSVP's.
When should I order day-of stationery?
Order menus, orders of service, place cards and table plans 5 to 6 weeks before the wedding, with everything in hand at least 1 week out. Day-of pieces are usually the last thing to finalise because they depend on details that lock in late, your catering menu, final table layout and confirmed guest names.
A sensible order to work through:
- 5 to 6 weeks before: Confirm your catering menu and order of service running order, then order menus and orders of service.
- 3 to 4 weeks before: Once RSVPs are in and dietary requirements confirmed, finalise table numbers and place card names.
- 2 weeks before: Finalise place cards and any table plan proofs
- 1 week before: Confirm everything has arrived.
Day-of stationery is where couples often extend the suite they chose for their invitations, carrying the same foiling and typography through to the reception. If you've gone with the Parlour suite for invitations, matching menus and place cards keep the whole day feeling considered rather than pieced together.
When should thank you cards go out?
Send thank you cards within 3 months of the wedding, or within 3 months of receiving a gift given before the day. If gifts arrive steadily in the run-up to the wedding, it's worth writing thank you notes as they come in rather than leaving all of them until after the honeymoon.
Ordering thank you cards at the same time as your invitation suite, even if you won't send them for months, means they're ready to go the moment you're back from honeymoon rather than another thing to organise from scratch.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should wedding stationery be ordered?
Order save the dates around 10 to 12 months before the wedding, invitations around 10 to 12 weeks before, and day-of stationery like menus and place cards 5 to 6 weeks before. Working backwards from your send dates, rather than your wedding date, is the most reliable way to plan.
Is 3 months enough time to plan wedding invitations?
Yes, 3 months is enough for invitations on their own, since ordering 10 to 12 weeks out and sending 6 to 8 weeks out fits comfortably. It's tight if you also need to send save the dates first, so if you're under 6 months to the wedding, consider combining save the dates and invitations, or sending invitations only.
Should save the dates and invitations match?
They don't need to match exactly, but a shared typeface, colour or motif helps guests recognise your invitation when it arrives and builds a sense of continuity across the whole suite.
What is a reasonable RSVP deadline before a wedding?
3 to 4 weeks before the wedding is standard. This gives you time to chase non-responders and confirm a final headcount with your venue or caterer, which most require around 2 weeks out.
Do I need save the dates for a small wedding?
Save the dates are most useful when guests need advance notice, for travel, time off work, or childcare, rather than being tied to guest list size. A small local wedding with a flexible guest list can sometimes skip straight to invitations if the date and venue are confirmed early enough.
How long does foiled wedding stationery take to print?
Foiling and printing typically take 3-4 days after proofs are approved, depending on the number of colours and the complexity of the design. This is why the ordering window sits well ahead of your intended send date rather than close to it.
I need something printed that is not on your website?
No problem, we like to offer every form of stationary required, but truthfully, there are some ideas we've not thought of. If you require additional items in a matching style, let us know and we can incorporate this into your suite.
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