Wedding Stationery FAQs: Everything You Need to Know

When planning your wedding, one of the first tasks is choosing the right wedding stationery. From save the dates to invitations and thank you cards, there’s a lot to consider. As wedding stationery experts, we often get asked similar questions by brides and grooms-to-be. Here are the most frequently asked questions we receive, along with our helpful answers.

One of the most common questions we hear is about the right timing for sending out save the date cards. The general advice is to send them out 6 to 12 months before your wedding date. If you're planning a destination wedding or if your guests will need to travel, we recommend sending them out as early as possible, even up to a year in advance. This allows your guests plenty of time to make travel arrangements and book accommodation.

If you're hosting a wedding during a busy season like summer or around major holidays, it’s even more important to send your save the dates early to ensure your guests can attend. For local weddings with some guests travelling from afar, sending them 6-9 months ahead should give them ample time to plan their visit.

This is a common question, and the answer is simpler than it may seem! You don’t need to send out a wedding invitation for each individual guest – instead, you can group people together. For example, a couple can receive one invitation, as can a family. This reduces the number of invitations you need to order. Keep in mind, however, that you should always order extra invitations.

Why? Because life happens! Invitations can get lost in the post, there may be last-minute additions to the guest list, or there could be a few spelling mistakes to fix. Ordering 10-20 extra invitations is a smart way to make sure you're not caught short. Extra invitations are also useful in case of address mix-ups or if you forget to include someone on the original list.

Absolutely! Personalisation is one of the most wonderful aspects of choosing your wedding stationery. Whether it’s adding your names or wedding date to the save the date cards, selecting custom colours, or incorporating a theme, personalised stationery is a great way to make your wedding feel truly special.

Many stationery providers, including Dotty About Paper, offer a wide range of options for personalisation. From incorporating photos to choosing fonts that match your wedding theme, there are endless ways to make your wedding stationery reflect your unique style.

While it’s not required, it’s becoming more common for couples to include details of their gift registry on their wedding invitations or save the dates. However, you don’t want to make your invitations look too much like a "request" for gifts, so be mindful of the wording. It’s better to include this information on a separate insert or direct guests to a wedding website where they can find the registry details.

If you’d rather not include gift registry information, that’s perfectly acceptable too. Many couples opt for a more traditional approach, simply stating that their presence is the greatest gift.

Your wedding thank you cards are the perfect opportunity to show your appreciation to guests for attending your wedding and for the thoughtful gifts they gave. It’s essential to make each message personal by mentioning the gift and how it will be used. For example, instead of a generic “Thank you for your gift,” say something like, “Thank you so much for the gorgeous (insert gift). We were so touched by your thoughtfulness.”

By tailoring each thank you message to the individual, you’ll show your guests how much their presence and gifts meant to you. It doesn’t need to be long – just heartfelt and sincere.

Wedding invitation etiquette can be tricky, especially when it comes to addressing envelopes. It’s important to use the correct titles and formats, depending on the couple’s preferences and the level of formality of your wedding. For example:

• For a formal invitation, use the full titles of the couple and their parents (e.g., Mr. and Mrs. John Smith request the honour of your presence…).

• For a more relaxed approach, you can omit titles or use less formal language.

• If children are invited, it’s important to list their names as well (e.g., The Smith Family, including John Jr. and Emily).

If in doubt, it’s always better to err on the side of formality when addressing invitations, especially for older relatives.

RSVPs can be one of the trickiest parts of wedding planning. To ensure you get responses in a timely manner, it’s crucial to include a clear RSVP deadline on the invitation or accompanying RSVP card. Typically, couples request RSVPs at least 4-6 weeks before the wedding to give themselves enough time to finalise numbers with the venue and caterer.

If you haven’t received responses by your deadline, it’s appropriate to follow up with a polite reminder. A quick phone call or email is usually sufficient, as many guests may have simply forgotten to respond.

Wedding stationery plays an important role in the overall experience of your big day. From save the dates to thank you cards, choosing the right designs and wording helps set the tone for your wedding and ensures your guests feel appreciated. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to reach out to our team at Dotty About Paper – we’re here to help you create the perfect stationery for your wedding!