From Save-The-Dates to Thank-You Cards: How to Coordinate Your Wedding Stationery

You might not have realised when there are venues and dresses to shop for, but your wedding stationery plays a pretty important role in your big day, too. From communicating the all-important details to your guests to setting the tone for your celebration, however, it's probably a good idea to first establish what wedding stationery you actually need, and then consider how your stationery will reflect your chosen wedding theme and style.

Create a wedding stationery checklist

OK, so the list below is pretty much all the items of stationery you'll need before, during, and after the wedding. But don't panic; you probably won't need all of these, so just pick and choose what's relevant to you. Stationery requirements do vary depending on your budget, priorities, and what sort of day you're looking to create. Start with your essential, non-negotiable stationery details (which, for most couples, consist of save the dates, wedding invites, and thank you cards), then add to this based on your own priorities, budget, and styling requirements.

Pre-wedding

Engagement party invitations Save the date cards Hen, stag or sten party invitations Wedding invitation suite including ceremony and reception card and response card

During the wedding

Order of service Wedding table plan Place cards and Escort cards Table numbers or names Menu cards Favour tags Guest book

Post Wedding

Thank you cards

Decide on your stationery style and theme

Now you know what wedding stationery you need, it's time to get creative! Your stationery design should be used to set the tone for your day and complement your chosen wedding vision. For example, if you're hosting a destination wedding, think tropical bright colours, palm trees, and beach vibes and use that as your base for your design. Alternatively, if you're having a festival-themed boho wedding, set the tone from the off with shabby chic designs that reflect the event: Music ticket-style invites work really well!

Start early: As soon as you begin the planning process, choose your wedding's theme and colour palette. This will serve as a guide for all of your stationery items, making sure that every part complements your overall design.

Keep it consistent: Ensure that all of the stationery items have the same colours, fonts, and design components. Select a colour scheme and a few complementary fonts and use them consistently. This uniformity helps create a cohesive look that ties all elements of your wedding together.

Set a budget

Before you start perusing all the lovely wedding stationery designs out there, it might be wise to set a stationery budget, as costs can add up quickly. What are your priorities when it comes to wedding stationery? Do you want to create and send a formal invitation suite with beautiful gold embossed details? Or if keep-save stationery items aren't that important to you, then why not use that part of your budget elsewhere and consider going digital with some of your stationery instead?

Paper vs. digital

Want to know how to reduce any potential stress when it comes to wedding planning? Go with digital invitations with some of your wedding stationery! Biased we may be, but using Say I do can help you streamline your wedding planning and help save time and money along the way. Not only can you create a wedding website that can act as your go-to place for guests attending to find out all about your celebration, but using the same design (and there are literally loads to choose from), send digital save-the-date cards, digital invitations, thank you notes, and RSVP reminders too.

However, if you like the idea of combining both paper and digital elements, you can get the best of both worlds by sending out paper invitations with a link to your website. Your guests can then visit your wedding website to RSVP online and learn more about your upcoming event… voila!

Set your stationery timeline

Stay on top of the months leading up to your wedding by creating a rough stationery timeline. This way, you won't forget to send anything out when you should, and you'll be giving your guests the right amount of time to get organised and join you in celebrating the event of the year!

The below is just a suggested time frame, so adjust as needed:

9-12 months before the wedding: Finalise your guest list, collate addresses, and start researching your wedding stationery options. If you're opting for paper invitations, begin sourcing quotes and comparing suppliers. Or, if you’re going digital and creating a wedding website, start browsing templates and narrow down to your favourites.

6-8 months before the wedding: Order and send your save-the-date cards. You can also use this time to order and send invitations for your engagement party if you're throwing one. Some couples pop their website URL on the save the dates, but, at this stage, it doesn't have to be complete; it can simply be a reference that you build on as time goes on.

4-6 months before the wedding: If you’re sending paper invitations, this is when you’ll want to finalise all the details with your stationer. Alternatively, if you're sending digital invitations, use this time to select and personalise your template. If you’re creating a website, start filling it out with all of your wedding details, such as the wedding date, timings, location, and RSVP details.

2-4 months before the wedding: Send your wedding invitations around the 8-week mark, with an RSVP deadline of at least 3-4 weeks before the day. If you’re hosting any pre-wedding events like a rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, or stag party, this is a good time to order and send invitations.

1-2 months before the wedding: Confirm all remaining elements (think seating chart layout, menus, ceremony programme wording, and place cards) with your stationer once your RSVPs and wedding day details have been finalised.

1 week before the wedding: You've hopefully now received all of the stationery items for your wedding ceremony and reception. Get them shipped directly to your venue or wedding planner for ease.

2-3 months after the wedding: Time to send out thank you cards to your guests, thanking them for their company and gifts/donations where appropriate.

If you’re planning a destination wedding, adjust this timeframe accordingly to give you (and your guests) more time to plan and prepare for the trip.

These steps will help you create a wonderfully coordinated set of wedding stationery that will make your special day even more memorable from beginning to end, but make sure to follow them to ensure consistency in style and theme. Every element, ranging from thank-you notes to save-the-dates, is essential for communicating information and establishing the mood for your wedding.

A cohesive and well-thought-out stationery suite, whether you choose to go traditional with paper or digital or a nice mix of both, will not only impress your guests but also provide a lasting memento of your wedding.