Wedding stationery timeline: what to send and when
In short
Send save the dates 9 to 12 months before the wedding, invitations 3 to 4 months before, and set the RSVP deadline 6 to 8 weeks before the day. Order one invitation per household, not per guest, plus about 10 per cent spare.
- Order one invitation per household — this typically cuts the quantity by around a third against a headcount.
- Add roughly 10 per cent spares for late additions, keepsakes and the photographer's flat-lay.
- Paper Meadows sends a free digital proof within two working days and includes two rounds of amends.
- Most printed pieces start at a minimum of 25; signage, table plans and design services can be ordered individually.
The timeline
| When | What | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 12–9 months before | Save the dates | Essential for destination weddings and bank holiday dates |
| 6–4 months before | Order invitations | Allow time for proofs, amends and printing |
| 4–3 months before | Send invitations | Include detail cards and RSVPs |
| 8–6 weeks before | RSVP deadline | Set it before your caterer's final numbers date |
| 6–4 weeks before | Order on-the-day stationery | Order of service, menus, place cards, table plan |
| 2 weeks before | Final table plan artwork | Wait until numbers are genuinely final |
How many to order
- Invitations: one per household or couple, plus 10 per cent spares.
- Save the dates: same count as invitations.
- Order of service: around 70 per cent of guest numbers — many couples share.
- Menus: one per place setting, or one per two settings if you prefer a shared card.
- Place cards: one per guest, and print them last.
Our production times
Every order includes a free digital proof within two working days, plus two rounds of amends. Printing begins once you approve the proof. Because the proof stage is where dates and spellings are caught, it is worth having a second person read it before you sign it off.
Ordering as you go
You do not need to order the whole suite at once. Create an account and every order is saved to it, so when you come back for menus and place cards six months later, your design range, paper stock and colour choices are already on record.
Common questions
When should you send wedding invitations in the UK?
Three to four months before the wedding, with an RSVP deadline six to eight weeks before the day — set just before your caterer needs final numbers.
When should save the dates be sent?
Nine to twelve months before the wedding, and earlier still for destination weddings or bank holiday dates.
How many wedding invitations should I order?
One per household rather than per guest, plus around 10 per cent spares for late additions and keepsakes.
Is there a minimum order?
Most printed pieces start at 25. Signage, table plans and design services can be ordered individually.
Ask the studio
We print every order ourselves in Fordingbridge. If you would like colour advice for your venue and flowers, send us the details — jo@time2display.co.uk or 01425 654908.
Keep reading
- Eleven wedding themes, and how to make the stationery match
A guide to eleven wedding themes — floral, art deco, bohemian, destination, fun, minimalist, modern, rustic, traditional, vintage and winter — with the stationery details that make each one land.
- How to choose wedding invitation paper: weight, texture and finish
A plain guide to gsm, coated versus uncoated, textured stocks, vellum and foiling — with the eleven paper stocks Paper Meadows prints on and what each one suits.