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Cakes, caterers, gowns, and gifts-there's so much to plan for your big day! Fortunately, sending out your wedding invitations can be simple and stress-free. How? By following these steps for setting up your invitations timeline. Sit down with a calendar reserved for wedding planning, mark the date of your ceremony, and work backwards from there.
Six to 12 months in advance…
Send save the date cards six months in advance for a stateside ceremony, and up to 12 months in advance for a destination wedding. Don't fret if you don't have a year before your wedding day. Just start as soon as you can.
Begin invitation planning immediately. Before you order, you'll need to know:
Tip: Give yourself breathing room by ordering extra invitations. These can serve as keepsakes and as reference for your florist, officiant, wedding planner, and anyone else involved. Plus, they're a safety net in case of damaged mail or addressing errors-most calligraphers even require extra envelopes. Having at least 10 additional invitations is wise; some experts recommend a backup of 25 percent of the total.
Four to six months in advance.
Order your wedding invitations. The process usually takes four to six weeks for letterpress wedding invitations. Custom design will add on another three to four weeks. Book your calligrapher when you place the invitation order, because calligraphers usually need two to three weeks to address mail.
While the order is in motion, begin organizing the guest list for the calligrapher. Check the type of format he or she prefers. Typically, the list needs to be alphabetical or numbered in a Microsoft Word document or in a spreadsheet. Triple-check the list! Returned mail and reprints due to misspelled names can cost you time and money.
Tip: Ask your stationer if envelopes can be ordered ahead of invitations. That way, you'll have plenty of time to deliver them to the calligrapher. Many stationery companies are more than happy to provide this service for a nominal fee.
Two to four months in advance…
Send invitations eight weeks before the wedding. If it's a destination wedding, mail them 10 to 12 weeks in advance. Keep in mind, the sooner you order your invitations, the more time you'll have for any changes.
Once you have a finished invitation, head to the post office and have it weighed. Never assume it'll qualify for standard postage-inserts, decorations, and heavier paper stocks all add to the weight. And, nothing would be worse than having them returned because of the wrong stamps.
And right now…
Take a deep breath. Remember, while thoughtful planning eases stress and saves time, you'll have a little leeway. For example, while you're waiting to approve the design of your invitation, you can solidify your guest list and confirm details like directions. Don't rush through any steps when ordering stationery, because misspelling your future mother-in-law's name or stating the wrong address for the ceremony will cost you valuable time. By setting a timeline, you're already on top of the situation and ensuring a carefully laid plan that won't go to waste.