Wedding Stationery

Wedding stationery plays both a practical and decorative role and gives guests an idea of the style of a couple’s celebration whether it is a formal or casual occasion.  Wedding stationery suppliers will be able to provide you with dozens of examples so you can chose the one that best suits the style of your wedding day.  Wedding stationery covers a whole range of options, some are essential, others optional.

Save the Date Card:  Save the date cards are sent if you want family and friends to know that you have set the date of your wedding prior to sending out the official invitations.  They can be used to tell your guests to keep a particular date free so that they will not miss out on sharing your special day and are particularly useful if you are planning to hold your wedding abroad to enable guests to plan the necessary travel arrangements.

Invitations:  Invitations are the most important item of wedding stationery. They provide guests with all the essential information regarding the big day.   First decide on your number of guests allowing one invitation for each family and add a small quantity to the order to allow for any mistakes or extra guests you may wish to invite at a later stage. Invitations should be posted around eight to twelve weeks before the big day, however, if you have guests travelling from abroad, or are marrying on a popular weekend or Bank Holiday it is preferable to send invitations earlier.  Often some people are unable to attend so this will also allow you time to send out invitations to guests you were unable to include previously.

Many stationers offer a huge portfolio of designs to choose from including a choice of ribbon trims or coloured inserts.  Handwriting the envelope is acceptable if your writing is neat, though you might prefer to hire a calligrapher to write the envelope for a truly professional look. They should always be addressed in black ink to match the invitations.  Your invitations should include the following information:

• The event
• The names of the bride and groom
• Tho hosts 
• The date, time and venue of the ceremony
• The reception venue
• A request for a reply (RSVP) with a return address
• Dress requirements if any
• Directions if required
• Hotel accommodation details if necessary

If children are invited make this clear and include their names on the invitation. However, if you want a child-free party, include a short tactful note stating that you are sorry you are unable to accommodate children to allow time for guests to arrange child care.

Evening Invitations:  Evening invitations should be sent out at least six weeks before the wedding date.  These can be sent to guests you wish to invite to the evening reception or party, who may not be going to the wedding ceremony itself. They can also be sent to invite guests to a party at home following a wedding ceremony overseas.  Order of Service:  If you are getting married in church or other religious establishment, you will need an Order of Service to provide guests with a programme of the ceremony. They will have details of the ceremony, including hymns and prayers to allow your guests to participate in the occasion. When ordering Orders of Service, in addition to a copy for each guest it is advisable to order a small quantity extra for any friends who have come to watch, any clergy or members of the choir.