With so many elements to consider when choosing your pre- and post-wedding, and on-the-day stationery, this guide will allow you to pick and choose what’s most important to you
Wedding stationery can account for a significant proportion of your budget, however it doesn’t have to break the bank. While there are many options available to every couple, you don’t have to opt for everything and by taking time over every decision, you can save money and make more meaningful choices.
Here are all the aspects to consider, with ideas on how to customise your selections.
Save-the-dates
Every stationery suite has to start somewhere, and a save-the-date is usually the first correspondence guests will receive about your wedding. Typically sent six months or more prior to the big day, save-the-dates simply communicate your wedding date and venue, so guests can block out the date in their diaries. If you’re planning your wedding in a shorter timeframe, you can skip save-the-dates and send out the invitations first instead.
Invitations
Most couples will send out invitations usually three months prior to their wedding when all the key details of their day have been confirmed. Always include RSVP details on or with your invitations, so you know exactly who can and can’t come, and fill any unclaimed spaces if you wish. It is also wise to request details of any dietary requirements from attending guests via your invitations, so you can plan your wedding menu well in advance.
Brides and grooms can get creative with the style of their invitations, working closely with their stationery provider or dabbling in DIY to create the perfect design. Think about your chosen wedding theme and colour scheme and try to incorporate this in any prints, patterns, illustrations and calligraphy you choose. Different card stocks, effects such as embossed fonts and decorative details like wax seals on the envelopes can add a special touch and give guests a real insight into the style of your wedding.
You could even opt to go paperless with your invitations, sending them by email instead and saving money and paper in the process.
Signage
Adding to your wedding décor while serving a practical purpose, signage in and around your venue can be necessary particularly if your venue is large or difficult to navigate. Many couples choose a ‘Welcome’ sign at the entrance to their ceremony, which features their names and wedding date, and can be a lovely post-wedding memento to be framed and displayed in their home.
An order of the day sign is also a good idea to share the timings of the day, from the wedding breakfast to the first dance and cutting of the cake. Indeed, you could create an ‘order of the day’ yourself by using a chalkboard or disused wooden pallet to communicate each stage of the day, which should be displayed in a prominent position for guests to see.
Order of ceremony booklets
Another aspect to consider is an order of ceremony booklet, which shares the sequence of the service including any songs, readings and the all-important vows. While it isn’t always necessary to print a booklet for every guest as these can be shared, order enough for more than half of your guest list and keep one aside for you to save for your wedding memory box.
Table plan
The purpose of a table plan is to help guests to find their seat for the wedding breakfast. Sometimes couples choose to forgo a table plan, but this can prove tricky if friendship groups wish to sit together or there are family politics at play. Therefore, to ensure guests’ utmost comfort and to encourage a relaxed atmosphere, it is a good idea to put a seating plan in place before the day.
Research table plan designs to find one that best reflects your wedding before handing over your seating plan to your stationery provider. A table plan should be positioned at or near the entrance of your wedding breakfast room, ideally at eye level with plenty of space around it so guests can quickly and easily find their table.
Table stationery
The stationery doesn’t stop at the table plan, there are also table names/numbers, menus and place cards to consider.
Table names and numbers are the perfect opportunity to put your personal stamp on each tablescape. Popular options include the couple’s favourite books, places they have travelled to and years of significance within their relationship – likely guided by the overarching theme of the wedding. Arrange a display around each table name or number, using floral centrepieces, candles or terrariums to create a focal point on the table.
Menus are not wholly necessary but can be useful for guests who have forgotten their pre-order or to quickly establish their choices if it’s the first time they’ve seen the menu. To save costs, you could even display one large menu within the room or print out one menu for each table, which can then be passed around.
Thank you cards
When planning a wedding, it is easy to become so entrenched in the day itself that couples can lose sight of the post-wedding activities. Sending out cards to all guests to thank them for coming and the gifts they gave is one such activity that should never be skipped. By ordering or creating your thank you cards in advance, you can ensure that this important task won’t be overlooked.
However, for those who would rather sort their thank you cards after the day, you could use a wedding photo which your photographer is happy to release before the full gallery is finalised – just don’t forget to set yourself a reminder to get this done soon after the big day.
