If you have no clue what to put for your “RSVP by” date, you’re not alone! It’s probably one of the most frequent questions I’m asked by couples I’m working with on invitations.
Ultimately, I recommend sending your invitations 6-8 weeks before the big day. I caution on sending too early, especially with a long window to RSVP, because people forget and things change – like addresses and relationship statuses.
When it comes to choosing a reply date for the RSVP card, there are a few things you can consider!
Venue Headcount Deadline
When does your venue need the final count on the number of attending guests? Usually it’s 2-3 weeks before the wedding date. I recommend asking for your RSVP card back earlier than their deadline so you have time to chase anyone down who forgot to respond. Unfortunately, it does happen.
Secondary List
In the case of having more guests RSVP “not attending” than expected, you might be able to send invitations to guests who were on your secondary list. Not every couple plans for this, but in this situation I recommend asking for RSVP replies with enough time to send (and get a response) from your secondary list guests.
Day of Stationery
Planning to order pieces for the wedding day like place cards, menus, programs, and welcome notes? You’ll want your guest list confirmed ahead of finalizing these. Since the design process for day of stationery usually begins a few weeks before the big day, asking for RSVPs back in time is very helpful to make sure you get the right quantities!
As with all things wedding invitations, there are always exceptions. If you’re having a destination wedding, holiday weekend wedding, or another unique circumstance, you might be sending out invitations earlier, which means you’ll likely set an earlier RSVP date.
In conclusion, an RSVP date of about four weeks before the wedding is usually a safe bet. It’s what I recommend to couples I work with on invitations who don’t have any super unique circumstances.
You’ve mailed out your wedding invitations and it’s time to start thinking about “day of stationery”. If you’re wondering – what the heck is day of stationery, no fear. I use this phrase to refer to any of the paper or design pieces you’ll need for your actual wedding day. Think menus, programs, place cards, signage, and more.
There are a lot of questions that come along with ordering day of stationery:
Which pieces do I need?
How many of each piece should I order?
When do I need to order my day of stationery?
How much do these things cost?
I offer day of design pieces exclusively to couples I work with on invitations. I create menus, programs, place cards, and more to match and complement the wedding invitation design. Since I provide full service design I’m happy to share examples and advice when planning for these pieces. There are a few questions that most couples have as we start the day of stationery process!
Ceremony Programs
Programs provide a couple uses for your guests: they give some information about the wedding party and families, something each guest may not know without it being explicitly listed. In warm weather, a program has a double purpose: fans!
Beyond listing the ceremony order, bridal party, and family, the wedding program can contain other information. I’ve had couples list an “unplugged request” (asking guests to put away phones and cameras – read more about unplugged ceremonies here!), fun facts about the couple, and a section to highlight names of loved ones who have passed in remembrance.
Number of Ceremony Programs Needed: 75-80% of your total guest count. Not everyone will pick them up, including the bridal party, but it is nice to have a few extra for keepsakes!
Typical Size of Ceremony Programs: 3.75×9.25, 5×7, or custom
Dinner Menus
If you’re having a plated meal at your reception, menus can be placed at each table setting for guests so they’ll know what to expect as dinner is served. I’ve also seen couples add thank you notes or song lyrics to their menus to make them even more personal.
With a buffet style dinner, it’s likely you don’t need menus for each guest, however you might want to use small signage for the buffet table to identify what is being served. Sometimes caterers provide this, but if not I’m happy to create!
Number of Dinner Menus needed for a Wedding Reception: One per adult guest.
Size of Dinner Menus: 3.75×9.25, 5×7, or Custom
I’m excited to announce I’m now offering circular menus in various sizes!
Place Cards
If you have assigned tables with a seating chart, place cards can be at each table to indicate to each guest exactly where to sit. They’re also useful in the case of pre-chosen meals where servers need to know who receives what. Place cards can be flat or folded. Flat place cards work best if you don’t have a menu, since they’re placed on the table settings. Folded place cards stand up like a tent, making it each to identify where to sit.
If you have table assignments, but no seating chart, you’ll want to order escort cards for your wedding reception. Escort cards have the guest’s name and table number. They’re usually placed on a table (folded cards) or hanging from a display (flat cards). If needed, these can also contain the meal identifiers and have a dual purpose: telling guests where to sit and servers which meal goes where.
Number of Place Cards Needed: One per guest
Number of Escort Cards Needed: One per couple or family (assuming they’ll be seated at the same table)
Size of Flat of Folded Place/Escort Cards: 2×3.5, 2.5×3, or custom
Signage
Depending on the event, each couple will require different signage. Signage can tie the invitations and day of pieces together. Some most popular signage ideas for weddings:
Signs can be different sizes, but if they’re going in a photo frame are usually 5×7 or 8×10. With hashtag and bar/drink signs, you might want to order two but usually one of the remaining designs is sufficient!
Number of Signs Needed: Varies depending on logistics
When to Order Day of Stationery
I recommend starting the process for ordering these pieces about 5 weeks in advance. This gives you time to mail out your invitations and hopefully have some RSVPs returned. We can get started on the designs of each and finalize a quantity before sending to print based on your final guest count number. I recommend sending these pieces to print 3 weeks prior to your wedding date, but definitely no less than 2 weeks before in order to allow for time to print and ship to you.
How Much Does Day of Stationery Cost?
Costs for these pieces will vary greatly depending on the quantity ordered and finished size. Once you have a general estimate of your guest count and an idea for sizing, I’m happy to provide a personalized quote based on exactly what you need! Fill out my questionnaire here to get started!
Suffering from a bit of sticker shock after seeing the price of your dream wedding invitations? It happens. Sometimes couples have no idea how much to budget for stationery, which leads to even more surprise seeing a quote for all the options they want. Don’t fret, there are a few things you can do to bring down the cost of your wedding invitations!
First things first, I recommend starting with a quote for everything you want – and then going from there. You can complete my questionnaire right here and I’ll create a customized quote and timeline based on exactly what you need!
If the pricing is in line with your overall wedding budget and you’re super stoked to work with me, then let’s do it!
I understand when a bride or groom comes back asking if there’s any way to lower the cost of their wedding invitations. Everyone is on a budget and whether a couple is paying or parents are helping with costs it’s important to make the most of your hard earned dollar bills.
The easiest way to reduce your stationery costs is to lower the quantity. Often this isn’t an option since so many other things have been decided based on your number of guests. I do recommend double checking your guest list to make sure you aren’t over-ordering wedding invitations. (Remember, you only need one invitation per household, not per guest!) Although you should include about 5-10% extra, you don’t want to spend on pieces that won’t be used. Read this post on ordering extras and how many wedding invitations you need.
DIY Your Envelope Addressing
After you’ve finalized your quantity, the biggest way to lower your quote costs is to remove any addressing. Options for addressing printing are just that – optional. Although, I highly recommend envelope printing (read all the reasons I love it here) it is something you can do yourself to save on budget, just expect to spend more time.
Remove Upgrades
This is hard for me to say, because I’m all about the details. I believe they’re the things that set your wedding, and your wedding invitations, apart from the next. However, I also believe that you can have something beautiful without going into debt over it. Removing some of the “extras” will quickly reduce the overall total and help make the most of your wedding budget.
Things like envelope liners and belly bands can be nixed from your wedding invitation quote if it’s too high. If you’ve priced out a design on upgraded paper, consider choosing a more standard stock – although I’m a huge fan of thick and textured papers, your design will still be beautiful printed on “regular” cardstock. (There’s nothing shabby about the cardstock I use as a standard for all orders, it’s a slightly textured, bright white, 100# cardstock. Order a sample now to see it in person!)
Opt for Digital Printing
If you’re like me, I’m almost always immediately drawn to the more expensive things in life – cause pretty wins, right? Choosing metallic foil stamping or letterpress gives your invitations an extra special, luxe, and yes expensive look. So it’s probably not too surprising that these printing methods cost more than digital printing.
You can significantly reduce the expenses of wedding invitations by choosing digital printing. Many couples choose this since it’s more affordable and shows off colorful designs really well. Not sure about different printing methods? Take the quiz to find out which printing method is best for your invites!
I work with couples of various budgets and I’m happy to help point you in the right direction. Let’s get creative with it – start by completing my questionnaire here and I’ll send you a quote based on exactly what you need.
After you’ve picked a design, chosen a printing method, and selected your envelope colors – it’s time to get started on your wedding invitations! Couples often want to customize a font to really make an invitation design their own. There are so many font options and it can be overwhelming to know where to start!
Fits Wedding Theme
Since your invitations set the tone for your entire wedding, I suggest picking a font that matches. Having a formal, black tie event? Choose a sophisticated script font. Going for a more casual vibe? Opt for a fun, relaxed font.
If you’re thinking “fonts have personalities”? Yes, they do. Just take a look! Same wording, different effects.
Fits your Design
You might think it’s impossible to clash fonts and design, but it’s like pairing jewelry with an outfit. You need the right combination to really set perfect tone. Read my tips on how to choose a design for your wedding invitations.
As a designer, I would love to help you find the perfect font to match your design! This is something I’m more than happy to advise couples on as we work together to create their invitation suite.
Legible and Clear
You want grandma to be able to read your names, right? When picking a font for wedding invitations, make sure it’s something that can be cleary read – especially for the important details like the venue, date, and time! Although the invitation should be pretty, it’s true purpose is to inform your guests of when and where to be, make sure that is legible!
Another thing to consider is how your names look in a certain font. Sometimes a couple might really like a font, but not how their name looks in it! The happens often with capital letters since font creators can do things differently. For example, the capital A and J below look quite different between these fonts.
When creating proofs, I usually have you choose two favorite fonts so you can see both names in each!
Work with your Printing Method
Sometimes the printing method you choose for your invitations will influence the type of font you can use. With digital printing in light colors, foil, and letterpress I recommend staying away from fonts with really thin flourishes (those are the swirls you see coming off each letter). The thinness can get lost in production, making the end product look less than perfect. Check out this post for more information on the different invitation printing methods!
So my dear, have no fear! If we work together, I’ll send you a handy-dandy list of some of font options. I have them categorized so it’ll be easy to find what you’re looking for – fun favorites, traditional scripts, calligraphy-like, and choices for text fonts. I can advise you and provide my expertise on what works with your design, printing method, and more!
So my dear, have no fear! If we work together, I’ll send you a handy-dandy list of some of font options. I have them categorized so it’ll be easy to find what you’re looking for – fun favorites, traditional scripts, calligraphy-like, and choices for text fonts. I can advise you and provide my expertise on what works with your design, printing method, and more!
It’s barely February, but time for summer couples to start choosing wedding invitations! Since invitations are mailed 6-8 weeks before the big day, I am now booking for weddings in June, July, and August and sharing some of my favorite summer wedding invitation inspiration!
Crisp and minimal, this suite fits right in with my prediction for 2019 Wedding Invitation Trends. The greenery accent and monogram really makes it perfect for a wedding of any season, but I love it for a summer wedding! Wondering what exactly letterpress wedding invitations are? Read my post here!
Blue has stolen my paper-loving heart this year and the watercolor wash is perfect for a summer wedding by the water! I especially love this design for a destination beach wedding. Customize these invitations by changing the watercolor hue, still keeping the fine art vibe.
These bright watercolor, modern invitations are everything I love about summer. These were inspired by a fun tropical beach wedding in Mexico and make me want to fiesta!
Dusty rose has become somewhat of a neutral for wedding color palettes. If you want something simpler and romantic for your summer wedding, this is a hot option. You can customize this suite by changing the color to really make the design your own!
Questions? I’ve got answers! Download my Information and Pricing Guide for details about the ordering process, information on costs, and what to expect working with a designer.
So you’ve found the one – the perfect wedding invitation, that is. But you’re unsure on which printing method to choose, or what the heck the difference even is!
I currently offer invitations with digital printing, foil stamping, letterpress, and thermography. There are also options to combine more than one technique for an extra exciting design!
If you’re considering adding something super special to your suite, I’ll jump for joy to design a suite that incorporates foil, letterpress, or thermography. The details of a wedding day are what set it apart from the next wedding. Since the invitation is the very first detail, make it count!
Digital Printing
Invitations printed digitally get a lot of points because they’re the least expensive with the quickest turnaround. This method is versatile with fewer limitations that any other printing method.
With digital printing, you can incorporate full color artwork. Digital printing can be done alone or as the base of a foil or letterpress design. If you love colorful florals, but want to add a special touch – I can make that happen with a combination print.
If your design is 100% digitally printed, you’ll be able to run your fingers across the printed paper and not feel anything. I offer a variety of paper options for digital printing, including double thick 240# cardstock if you’re feeling fancy! Yum.
Foil Stamping
You’ve likely seen invitations with stamping – it gives a true metallic look and you can see the shimmer as you move the paper. Foil is a great way to add a bit of glam to your invitation design! It can be done alone or with a digitally printed base.
I currently have 16 options of foil colors. My favorites are gold, copper, and rose gold, but there are also choices from teal to violet! Shoot me a quick message if you’re interested in seeing all the options!
My foil stamped wedding invitations are printed on 130# cardstock, although there are several options for different weights and textures. Want a custom quote for your invitations? Complete my questionnaire here!
Letterpress
I have a serious love for letterpress wedding invitations. Traditional letterpress machines date back to the 15th century making it a true antique. Pairing the old printing method with more modern designs pleases my paper-loving heart.
You’ll know you’re holding a letterpress invitation if the design looks like it was pushed (pressed) into the thick cardstock paper. Because of the method to produce, letterpress can be done in a maximum of two colors. However, it can be paired with digital printing for a full color look! I wrote an entire blog post here on the production and details of letterpress invitations.
Thermography
A thermography invitation will have the ink raised – somewhat similar to engraving. In my opinion, this is the most traditional look of printing wedding invitations. It gives the glam vibe, but without the shiny-ness of foil stamping.
Currently, I have 36 (yep, a lot) of choices for thermography ink. You’re limited on two colors when using thermography, but like the other methods, it can be paired with digital printing.
Choosing a Printing Method for Wedding Invitations
I created a quick quiz (just five fun questions) to help you decide which printing method is best for you. Let me know what results you get by leaving a comment below!
Hopefully this has given information to think about, but a lot of the method you’ll choose will be determined by the overall design and feel you want. Download my Pricing + Information Guide for details on the process and to get a general idea of costs.
When it comes to addressing wedding invitations, couples usually choose one of two options – handwriting the addresses themselves or hiring a professional calligrapher to write them. Did you know there’s a third (and it happens to be my favorite) option? Digital address printing!
With full service wedding invitations, having an option for envelope addressing was a must. I love suites with printed addresses – they’re clear, neat, and match the invitation design. Couples love them because they save a ton of time, stress, and well, they’re pretty!
Take Your Time Back
The biggest reason to add envelope addressing to your wedding invitations: to save your time. With most couples sending an average of 75 wedding invitations, it’s not a task you can sit down to do in one night.
Wedding planning is a job in itself and since I’m guessing you have an actual job… every spare moment counts! My job is to take any wedding invitation stress from you, so let me print your envelopes, girl!
I’ll send you a copy of my required address spreadsheet template (or you can get a head start by downloading it here) to input all of your guest’s information. If you already have your address list in a digital format, it should be pretty easy to copy + paste into my form. What will you do with all this time you’ve saved?!
Neat and Pretty
Since invitations are the first impression of your wedding, it truly starts with the envelopes! Getting something nicely printed for mail as special as you’re sending really sets the tone. Envelope printing is done in a font that matches your invitation design to complete the full look.
When deciding if you’ll hand address, hire a calligrapher, or print consider the overall vibe you want to accomplish! It all ties together, so the invitation design, and printing method, should reflect the theme of your big day as well as your personalities as a couple. Read this post on how to pick the perfect wedding invitation design!
Affordable
Time is money, amiright? My envelope printing starts at $1.00 each, which includes the return address and guest address printing. (You can view my full pricing guide here!) Consider the quantity you need + how many hours you’ll spend writing to see if it’s worth it, purely from a time standpoint.
Digital envelope printing is also more affordable than full on calligraphy, a happy medium for your budget if you don’t want to go all out. Which if you do, I’m happy to refer you to one of my amazing calligraphy friends. Professional calligraphy typically runs about $3-4 per envelope.
Full Service
I love providing “full service” invitation design to the couples I work with. This means I take care of everything from wording suggestions and color recommendations to RSVP envelope postage and complete assembly. If you add envelope printing, I’ll ship or deliver your invitations to you ready to mail – just seal and stamp!
Your invitations will be totally ready to go. No need to hand off envelopes to someone else, spend your weeknights addressing, or worrying about messing up an envelope. I’ve got you, girl!
Want to see envelope printing up close and in person? Order a sample now! A sample credit will be given toward your full order total.
