Congratulations on your engagement! Now, when are you getting married, and when should you order invitations? Here is our guide to the timeline for ordering and sending everything that we can help you with: Save The Dates, Wedding Invitations, bridal shower invites, rehearsal dinner invites, programs, menus, place cards, etc.
Save The Dates
Save the Dates are useful if you’re planning a destination wedding, getting married on a holiday or at another busy time and you want to give your guests extra time to plan. They can also be a great opportunity to share engagement photos or to just get the word out that you’ve picked a date and you can’t wait! We recommend sending Save the Dates from 6 months to 1 year ahead of your wedding date. Depending on the style you choose, they can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to be ready to mail. If guests need to reserve lodging well in advance (are you getting married in a college town during graduation weekend?) you can let them know that on the Save the Date. Only people who will be invited to the wedding should receive a Save the Date.
Wedding Invitations
Wedding invitations are typically mailed 6 - 8 weeks before the wedding date. Depending on the invitations you choose, they can take from 1 week to 8 weeks to be ready to mail. We recommend ordering your invitations 3 - 4 months before the wedding day. A wedding invitation may include some or all of the following items: the invitation, a reply card & envelope, an info card, a map, and possibly invitations to a welcome party or post-wedding brunch. Don't forget that once your invitations are ready, you'll still need to address, stuff and mail them. Merrymaker can address (and even stuff, seal, and stamp) your invitations for you, although we do not mail them. It takes us approximately one week from receipt of your address list in our spreadsheet template format to complete the addressing.
Programs, Place cards, and Other Day-of Items
We recommend ordering anything you need for the day-of your wedding one month in advance. This might include: Programs for the ceremony, Place cards and Menus for the reception tables, Personalized Cocktail Napkins, and Favor tags.
Thank You Notes
Personalized thank you notes can be ordered at any time. Merrymaker offers 10% off of personalized thank you notes ordered at the same time as the wedding invitations. Those planning to change their last name after marriage shouldn't use stationery with their new married name - or initial - until after the wedding. Personalized notes with your first names or your maiden monogram will come in handy as soon as you're engaged to thank those that give engagement or bridal shower gifts.
Invitations for Bridal Showers, Rehearsal Dinners and Other Events
Invitations to any other wedding-related event can typically be sent 4 to 6 weeks before the date for that event. Bridal Shower invitations are traditionally sent by a bridesmaid or other family friend and Rehearsal Dinner invitations are traditionally sent by the parents of the groom. We recommend sending Rehearsal Dinner invitations at least one week AFTER the wedding invitations have been sent.