Free Wedding Stationery Timeline: What You Need & When to Order It
If you’re newly engaged and already overwhelmed by wedding planning, you’re not alone. Wedding stationery is one of those things that sounds simple… until you realize how many pieces exist and how many opinions are online.
This guide is here to make things clear and calm.
Below you’ll find:
A realistic list of the wedding stationery you actually need
A clear timeline for when to design, send, and finalize everything
A simple approach that doesn’t involve ordering 30 different items
First Things First: What Wedding Stationery Do You Really Need?
Wedding stationery includes any printed or digital designs that help communicate information to your guests before, during, and after your wedding.
That does not mean you need everything you see on Pinterest.
For most modern weddings, everything fits into two phases:
Before the wedding
On the wedding day
Most of my couples end up with 11–13 total designs, and that’s more than enough.
Wedding Stationery Before the Wedding
These are the pieces your guests interact with while planning to attend.
Save the Date
Save the dates are optional, but helpful if:
Your wedding is during a busy season
Guests are traveling
You want people to commit early
They usually include your names, the date, and the city. That’s it.
When to send: about 6–8 months before the wedding.
Wedding Invitation
Your invitation is the core piece of your stationery.
It should clearly state:
Who is getting married
When
Where
Extra information (dress code, schedule, registry, RSVP) works best outside the main invitation.
RSVP & Details
Many couples now:
Collect RSVPs online
Share all extra details on their wedding website
Because of this, the RSVP and details card can often be combined into one simple design — or skipped entirely if everything lives online.
This keeps your invitation clean and easy to read.
Wedding Stationery for the Wedding Day
These pieces help guests navigate the day and bring everything together visually.
Most weddings include:
Welcome sign
Seating chart
Menu cards
Name or place cards
Table numbers or table names
Bar sign
Some couples also add a small thank-you note for guests at each place setting.
That’s it. You don’t need more unless you want more.
A Simple Wedding Stationery Timeline
Here’s how everything typically flows, without overcomplicating it.
9–12 Months Before the Wedding
Planning Phase
This stage is about decisions, not ordering.
Focus on:
Confirming your venue and date
Estimating guest count
Deciding whether you want printed, digital, or mixed stationery
Creating your wedding website
No design work is required yet.
8–10 Months Before the Wedding
Save the Dates
If you’re sending save the dates, now is the time.
Make sure you:
Have guest addresses
Include your wedding website
Keep the design simple
Destination weddings usually send these earlier.
6–8 Months Before the Wedding
Design Your Invitations
This is the calm, ideal window to design everything without pressure.
At this stage:
Invitation wording is finalized
RSVP method is chosen
Details are confirmed
This is when most couples book my one-week wedding stationery design package.
8–12 Weeks Before the Wedding
Send Invitations
This timing gives guests enough time to respond without forgetting.
Set your RSVP deadline 2–3 weeks before your final venue numbers are due.
6–8 Weeks Before the Wedding
Track RSVPs
This is the admin phase:
Track responses
Follow up with missing RSVPs
Start drafting your seating chart
4–6 Weeks Before the Wedding
Design Day-Of Stationery
Now you design everything guests will see on the wedding day:
Welcome sign
Seating chart
Menus
Name cards
Table cards
Bar sign
Everything should feel cohesive with your invitation.
2–3 Weeks Before the Wedding
Final Checks
Confirm guest count
Proof name spellings
Finalize seating
Print signage
At this point, everything should be ready to go.
After the Wedding
Thank You Cards
Thank-you cards are the final piece.
Most couples send them within one to three months after the wedding.
Real Example: Sharon’s Wedding Timeline (NYC, 2026)
Sharon is getting married on July 27, 2026, in New York City. Most of her guests live locally.
Here’s how we planned her stationery:
Engaged: July 2025
Booked design week: September 2025
Design week: November 2025
Invitations sent: December 2025
Day-of stationery check-in: May 2026
All of her stationery — before the wedding and day-of — was designed in one focused week.
No dragging things out. No last-minute stress.
Why a One-Week Design Process Works Perfectly For Couples That Want Custom Art in a Timely Manner
Most weddings don’t need endless rounds of design.
When you:
Know what pieces you need
Have your details ready
Make decisions confidently
Everything can be designed clearly and efficiently in one week.
That’s why I work this way.
FAQs About Wedding Stationery
How much wedding stationery do I actually need?
Most couples are fully covered with 11–13 designs total.
Do I need printed RSVP cards?
Not if you’re using a wedding website. Many couples skip printed RSVPs entirely.
When should I book a wedding stationery designer?
Usually 2–4 months before you want to send invitations.
Is it okay to mix digital and printed stationery?
Absolutely. Many couples send printed invitations but collect RSVPs online.
Can everything really be designed in one week?
Yes. With a clear process and quick feedback, it works beautifully.
Final Thoughts
Wedding stationery doesn’t need to be complicated or overwhelming.
You don’t need everything.
You just need the right things, at the right time, done thoughtfully.
