Stay Organized with a Wedding Invitation Timeline

November 8, 2011 by  
Filed under Wedding Invitations, Wedding Planning

Wedding invitation planning…you may not realize just how many steps there really are to organizing and preparing your invitations. From creating your guest list to finalizing all your ceremony and reception details, many things affect your wedding invitation preparations.

There really are no absolute deadlines for many of the steps in your wedding invitation process. Although there are some general timeframes that you may find helpful to avoid last-minute rushing since you have so many other things on your mind as well.

Here is a basic timeline to simply use as a guideline for your invitation planning:

9 months – 1 year

  • Begin working on your guest list so you will know how many wedding invites (and maybe save the dates) to eventually order (one per single adult, couple or family invited).
  • Start your wedding invitation shopping so you can narrow your choices down to only your favorites. Ordering samples, which are usually blank, will give you a chance to see the paper and design up close.
  • If you are planning to mail out save the date cards to guests, begin searching for your preferred design of them as well.

7 to 8 months

  • If you will be sending save the dates, place your order based on the number of guests to whom you will be mailing them as they are optional.
  • Give some thought to how your wording will read by browsing through sample wedding invitation verses.

6 months

  • If sending save the dates, prepare and mail them.
  • Select your wedding invitation design and gather all the details that will be printed on them such as date, times, name and address of location(s), etc.
  • Determine if you will also be ordering any invitation enclosures or added options – response cards, reception cards, direction/map cards, pre-printed return address on envelopes, decorative envelope seals, colored lining for inner envelopes, matching thank you or informal cards. Some of these options may not be available depending on your chosen style. You may also be able to order matching menu, table and place cards for your design. You will save on separate shipping costs by purchasing as many items as you can all in the same order.
  • If you are including response cards, check with your dinner location to see how far in advance they need your final guest count so you can select the RSPV date that will be printed on them (typically 2-3 weeks before wedding). You also need to decide whose address will be printed on the response envelope or postcard meaning they will receive the replies.

4-5 months

  • Finalize your wording and place your wedding invitation order. Remember to order some extras now so you won’t run out if there are last-minute guests to invite and so you also have a few as souvenirs. If the option is available, order some extra envelopes just to be safe.
  • Check your guest list making sure you have complete addresses for everyone.
  • Consider mailing your wedding invites using custom wedding stamps. Many online retailers provide you with the alternative of choosing from pre-designed wedding postage or simply uploading a photo to create your own stamp design. NOTE – Have one of your ready-to-mail invitations weighed at the Post Office BEFORE purchasing your postage stamps so you know you are using the correct amount for each one.

3-4 months

  • Fold and/or assemble your wedding invitations, if necessary.
  • Hand address mailing envelopes and write guest names on inside envelopes, if they are included.
  • Purchase and apply postage stamps to the response card envelopes or response postcards, if they will be included.
  • Assemble all wedding invitation pieces and insert them into already addressed envelopes.
  • Take one fully assembled and sealed invitation to the Post Office to have it weighed to determine the correct amount of postage needed.
  • Purchase your stamps or order custom wedding stamps with appropriate postage amount required for mailing.

6-8 weeks

  • Seal the envelopes, apply postage stamps and mail them all at the same time directly at a Post Office location.

3-4 weeks

  • Prepare and mail any other related wedding invitations…rehearsal dinner, post-wedding brunch, etc.
  • Keep track of the response cards as they are returned by checking off their names from your guest list.

2-3 weeks

  • Contact any guests who didn’t mail back their response cards.
  • Provide final guest count to reception/dinner location.

That pretty much takes care of everything related to your invitations prior to your wedding. The only thing left to do is to write and mail out your wedding thank you cards, especially if you ordered them with your wedding invitations. They should be sent out about a month after the wedding and no more than three months after.

Again, this is just a guideline for your wedding invitations process but hopefully it will help you stay organized which is the key for all of your wedding planning.