From Save the Dates, invitations, and RSVPs, to day-of items like menus, place cards, and signage, there are so many moving parts to think about when it comes to your wedding stationery. In this edition of our “Ask The Experts” blog series, we went straight to the talented stationery designers on our Recommended Vendor List for their insight on one of the most commonly questioned topics, wedding stationery etiquette! Read on for their answers to all your stationery questions, design advice, helpful timeline tips and more.
Image by Russell Heeter Photography, Stationery by Hunt Wright Design Co.
Design Do’s & Don’ts
Your wedding invitations can help set the tone for your entire wedding day design. Our recommended stationery vendors had some excellent advice to share when thinking about your invitation suite design.
“Personalization at any stage in the stationery process, from Save the Date cards, to invitations, to wedding day goods, has an incredibly meaningful impact. This may look like incorporating a certain flower that has meaning to you, or a pet portrait, or a certain monogram crest design, or using your grandmother’s stamps from her vintage collection for mailing. Even if no one else notices these small details, it’s one more fond memory for you for years to come. “
-Brandi Hunt-Wright
Owner, Hunt Wright Design Co.
Image by Russell Heeter Photography, Stationery by Hunt Wright Design Co.
“Follow your passion, not the latest trends. Be true to your vision and yourselves. And trust your designer, that’s why you’ve hired them!”
-Brandi Hunt-Wright
Owner, Hunt Wright Design Co.
“When stacking your invitation you want to always make sure your main invitation is the showcase when your guest pulls it out of the envelope! Though this may be controversial, we advise stacking your accessory cards (RSVP, details, website card, etc.) behind your invitation, rather than in front of it. It gives a clean reveal of the invitation and if the additional cards are held with a ribbon or belly band, they should all come out together.“
-Evelyn Miller
Owner, Epitome Papers
“Another tip for invitations is, if you are going with a detailed envelope liner, go for the inner envelope! An inner envelope will protect your gorgeous liner from being ripped or damaged when your guests open the envelope. Then your liner is safe for all to enjoy without the regret of ripping it!“
-Evelyn Miller
Owner, Epitome Papers
Timeline Tips
Proper timing is everything when it comes to wedding invitations! Read on for our experts’ tips to help set you up for stationery timeline success.
Image by Marit Williams Photography, Stationery by Paper Rock Scissor
“There’s a wide window of when it’s appropriate to mail out Save the Dates; anywhere from 6-12 months ahead of your wedding day. Tell us about your wedding and we’ll help you hone in on when the perfect time to mail is for you.”
-Liz Geisler
Owner, Paper Rock Scissor
“You do not want to send your invitation out too early, or your guests have more of a chance of forgetting to RSVP. Yet, you do not want to be too late as friends and family’s schedules can already be full! The best time to mail your wedding invitations is 10 to 12 weeks before your wedding. We do advise going to 13 – 14 weeks if you are mailing abroad to ensure they receive everything on time.“
-Evelyn Miller
Owner, Epitome Papers
“For RSVP deadlines, it is the same factor. We first recommend reaching out to your caterer to see when they need final numbers. We always recommend having your RSVP deadline 4 to 6 weeks before, this gives time for the stragglers to mail in, any lost cards to be found and time for you to start planning your day of wedding needs.“
-Evelyn Miller
Owner, Epitome Papers
Top Stationery Etiquette Questions
For many couples, wedding stationery can bring up a lot of etiquette questions; from thoughtful wording, to how to address your guests, and best practices to follow. We asked our experts for their answers to a few of these commonly asked questions.
Image by Jordan Joseph Photography, Stationery by Jill Elaine Designs
Where to include your wedding website? What about your registry information?
“Wedding websites are most commonly seen on save-the-dates and can also go on an insert card within the wedding invitation suite. This will allow guests access to additional information like accommodations, weekend itinerary, things to do, transportation, etc.“
-Jill Boe
Owner, Jill Elaine Designs
We also love Jill’s recommendation of utilizing your wedding website as a tasteful way to communicate information about your gift registry, as opposed to including your registry directly on your stationery.
How to communicate that we are having an adults-only wedding?
“It is all about how you address your envelopes! The most traditional way to let guests know that children are not invited is by omitting their names on the mailing and/or inner envelopes. Another spot for this is on the wedding website.”
-Jill Boe
Owner, Jill Elaine Designs
How to communicate guest attire?
“A dress code for most weddings will usually be assumed as cocktail attire if not otherwise specified. If a wedding is black tie, that should be noted on the invitation suite. And, you guessed it, the wedding website is another great spot for this information, especially if you are having an outdoor wedding.“
-Jill Boe
Owner, Jill Elaine Designs
Postage & Mailing
Once your invitations are designed and addressed, it’s time to get them out to your guests! Below are a few great pointers to keep in mind when it comes to proper postage and tips for mailing your invitations.
Images by Tiffany Kokal Photography, Flat lay arranged by Ashley Fox Designs, Stationery by Jill Elaine Designs.
“Before purchasing postage for your invitations take one completed stuffed envelope to the post office and have them weigh and measure it. Mail that weighs more than one ounce, that is square, oversized, or thicker than .25” will require more postage. When you bring back all of your invitations to be mailed we recommend double checking one more time that you have the correct postage.”
-Liz Geisler
Owner, Paper Rock Scissor
“Don’t forget to stamp your RSVP cards for your guests! A standard forever stamp will do the trick for a card with an envelope.“
-Liz Geisler
Owner, Paper Rock Scissor
“SEALING: For a secure seal, apply a permanent adhesive tape or glue stick to the envelope. This will ensure your invitations arrive sealed, saving you the tedious task of licking hundreds of envelopes – a chore no one wants to endure.“
-Jill Boe
Owner, Jill Elaine Designs
“POSTAGE: Before stamping your invitations, take a complete set to the post office where you’ll be mailing them. Have the set weighed to determine the exact postage amount needed. Additionally, ask if the suite is close to the next weight class. If so, purchase postage at the higher level to avoid any issues. Remember to account for the reply envelopes as well if you have them.“
-Jill Boe
Owner, Jill Elaine Designs
“MAILING: To ensure your invitations do not go through any Post Office machines where they could bend or get dirty, ask that they are hand canceled. They should not charge you to do this.“
-Jill Boe
Owner, Jill Elaine Designs
Day-of Stationery
Image by Trish Allison Photography, Stationery by Paper Rock Scissor
“Yay! Your invitations have been sent, the RSVPs are flowing in, and people can’t wait for your big day. The next step will be to work on the details that will make your day stand out for your guests. From programs to guide them through the ceremony, to welcome bag inserts to guide them through your town, we can help make your wedding weekend easy (and beautiful!) for your guests.”
-Liz Geisler
Owner, Paper Rock Scissor
The team at Paper Rock Scissor recommends starting to work on your day-of stationery items about six weeks before your wedding day, with proofing four weeks before, and printing two weeks before (once you have your final guest list, if you’re printing escort cards.)
“When preparing your escort cards or seating chart and/or place cards for your reception, you will be a married couple at this point – remember to change your last name on these items if that’s what you’ve chosen to do!”
-Brandi Hunt-Wright
Owner, Hunt Wright Design Co.
“Be sure to save at least three full invitation sets for yourself in an archival box or envelope away from the elements. Also, remind your photographer to shoot your invitation in a styled way and take detail shots!”
-Jill Boe
Owner, Jill Elaine Designs
Avoid Stationery Stress
When all is said and done, if your wedding stationery has you feeling overwhelmed, keep this advice from Paper Rock Scissor in mind.
“My biggest piece of advice on wedding stationery etiquette is to keep in mind that etiquette was created so that there was a set of guidelines for what to expect so that no one would feel uncomfortable or have their feelings hurt. If following the rules of etiquette will make someone uncomfortable the best course of action is to throw the etiquette out the window and do what is right for you or your guest. Obviously, we don’t want to go crazy, but a seasoned wedding professional can always help you talk through the stickier points of etiquette to find an answer that is right for you, your guests, and your celebration.“
-Maggie Jonas
Studio Manager, Paper Rock Scissor
To learn more about working with any of our recommended stationery vendors on your upcoming wedding, visit our website through the link below. We’re confident that you will be inspired by their designs, and love working with them as much as we do!
