In my first blog post, I hinted that many people initially look at me with wide eyes and ask: “Wedding stationery? What exactly is that?” I’d like to address this and explain it a bit more in this post today.
In short: Wedding stationery encompasses all printed materials used for a wedding. It plays a central role, not only informing your guests about details but also supporting the mood and theme of the celebration.
A stationery suite can consist of any number of different elements. The most well-known components are save the date cards, invitation cards, and thank you cards. This basic assortment can be expanded with various components such as timeline cards, detail cards, menu cards, place cards, welcome signs, program booklets, and much more. There are no limits to the imagination; almost anything is possible.
The save the date card is the beginning and thus the first point of contact with your
guests. The purpose of this card is to inform your guests about the date of your wedding as early as possible, even if other details may not yet be finalized.
When are save the date cards sent?
Your guests should have the opportunity to plan for this date well in advance. This is particularly important for guests who have to travel long distances or if you’re planning a destination wedding. Therefore, this announcement is sent at least nine to twelve months before the wedding, or even earlier for destination weddings or when many guests have to travel far.
The wedding invitation is more comprehensive as it should contain all important details about your wedding.
These primarily include the location and time of the ceremony. They can then be supplemented with further important information about the schedule, dress code, food intolerances, directions, etc.
This amount of information can be organized clearly in various ways: One option is to distribute the information across different cards and organize them in a pocket folder.
Such an ensemble consists of the main card and usually three additional inserts. The detail cards contain all important additional information, such as addresses, hotels, etc. The timeline provides your guests with an orientation for the day and can be conveniently carried in a suit pocket or handbag on the wedding day.
Another very beautiful and above all popular option is to keep the cards bundled together with a ribbon or band. An envelope made of transparent paper that can be sealed with a ribbon or wax seal is currently the absolute favorite among my wedding couples. The wax seal can include your initials, be cast with gold leaf or dried flower petals or dried flowers.
For your own planning, it’s important that you receive the RSVPs from your guests. For this, either a response card that you include with the invitation is suitable, or a small note on the detail card asking your guests to respond with an acceptance or regret by a certain date.
When are wedding invitations sent?
If the invitation is preceded by a save the date card, the wedding invitation should be sent three to six months before the wedding date. Without a save the date card, the invitation should be sent as soon as all important information you want to share with your guests is finalized, such as the time of the ceremony, location, possible accommodation options / hotel contingents, etc.
The stationery used on the day of the wedding is called “day-of
stationery” or day stationery. It includes menu cards, name cards, program booklets and church booklets, welcome and seating plan signs, table numbers, gift tags, music request cards, etc. In other words, everything that belongs to the day itself.
It is not only an additional source of information for your guests, but with appropriate design, it is also a stylish complement to your wedding decoration.
The theme or style of the wedding is again coordinated and designed based on the design of the Save the Date cards and invitations. This way, you have a common thread that runs through your wedding concept from the beginning.
Approximately four to eight weeks after the wedding, the thank you cards are sent out. They are a lovely way to thank guests for their presence and their gifts.
Usually, photos of you and the guests are integrated into the thank you card. This can be a direct print on the card or, for example, a photo strip attached to the card with a clip or eyelet.
Additionally, you can include a nice snapshot of the guest with the thank you card. A great memory!
I hope that with this, I could give you a little insight into the beautiful world of wedding stationery.
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