Handle every step of your wedding invitations from save-the-dates and design choices to printing, addressing, postage, and RSVP tracking.
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Save-the-Dates
Send save-the-dates 6-8 months before the wedding
For destination weddings, send them 8-12 months ahead so guests can book travel. Save-the-dates cost $1-$3 each including postage. Digital save-the-dates are free and arrive instantly but feel less formal.
Include the date, city, and wedding website URL
Send to every household on your guest list, including those you expect to decline
Finalize your guest list before ordering save-the-dates
Only send save-the-dates to people who will receive a formal invitation. Sending one creates an expectation of an invite. Finalize your guest list first to avoid awkward situations later.
Start collecting mailing addresses
Use a shared spreadsheet or your wedding website's address collection tool. Start gathering addresses 2 months before you plan to mail save-the-dates. Expect 10-15% of addresses to need updating.
Invitation Design and Ordering
Choose an invitation style that matches your wedding tone
Formal weddings call for engraved or letterpress invitations ($5-$15 each). Semi-formal works well with flat or digital printing ($1-$4 each). Casual weddings can use printed cards or high-quality digital invitations.
Decide on paper stock, color palette, and typography
Order a proof or sample before placing the full order
Include all essential information on the invitation
Every invitation needs: host names, couple's names, date, time, venue name and address, dress code, and RSVP method with deadline. If the ceremony and reception are at different locations, include both addresses.
Order 10-15% more invitations than your household count
Extra invitations cover mistakes, last-minute additions, and keepsakes. A guest list of 150 people might be 90-100 households. Order 100-115 invitation suites to have a comfortable buffer.
Decide on digital vs printed RSVP cards
Printed RSVP cards with pre-stamped return envelopes cost $1.50-$3 each but have response rates above 90%. Digital RSVPs through your wedding website save $150-$300 in printing and postage but may have lower response rates from older guests.
Addressing and Assembly
Address envelopes using proper etiquette for each household type
Married couples share one invitation addressed to both names. Unmarried couples living together get one invitation with both names on separate lines. Single guests over 18 in a family household get their own invitation.
Use full names on outer envelopes (no abbreviations except Mr., Mrs., Dr.)
Include plus-one guests by name if known, or write 'and Guest' if not
Assemble the invitation suite in the correct order
Stack from bottom to top: invitation, reception card, RSVP card tucked under the RSVP envelope flap, and any enclosures (directions, accommodations). Everything faces the same direction with text facing up.
Consider calligraphy or printed envelope addressing
Hand calligraphy costs $2-$5 per envelope and takes 2-4 weeks to complete. Printed calligraphy-style addressing costs $0.50-$1.50 per envelope and is done in days. Both look polished compared to handwriting.
Postage and Mailing
Mail invitations 8-10 weeks before the wedding
For destination weddings, mail 10-12 weeks ahead. Domestic first-class mail takes 3-5 days on average, but allow 7-10 days for delivery to be safe. Mark your calendar so you do not miss this window.
Weigh a complete invitation suite at the post office before buying stamps
Standard first-class postage covers letters up to 1 ounce. Most wedding invitations weigh 1.5-3 ounces and require additional postage ($0.24 per extra ounce). Square and oversized envelopes also incur a non-machinable surcharge of $0.44.
Pre-stamp RSVP envelopes so guests do not need to find stamps
Hand-cancel invitations at the post office for a clean look
Machine sorting can bend or mark heavy envelopes. Requesting hand-cancellation at the counter costs nothing and prevents barcode stamps from marring your invitation envelopes.
Mail one to yourself first as a test
Send a fully assembled invitation to your own address 1-2 weeks before the bulk mailing. This confirms the postage is correct, the envelope survives transit, and all enclosures arrive intact.
RSVP Tracking
Set the RSVP deadline 3-4 weeks before the wedding
This gives you 1-2 weeks to follow up with non-responders and still meet your caterer's final headcount deadline (typically 7-10 days before the event). Do not set the deadline any closer than 3 weeks out.
Track RSVPs in a spreadsheet as they arrive
Record the response date, number attending, meal choice if applicable, and dietary restrictions. Color-code entries: green for accepted, red for declined, yellow for no response. Update daily during the response window.
Note any song requests or comments from RSVP cards
Follow up with non-responders by phone or text 1 week after the deadline
Expect 15-20% of guests to miss the RSVP deadline. A friendly text or call is more effective than email. Have a family member help make calls to their side of the guest list to speed up the process.
Finalize the seating chart once all RSVPs are confirmed
Wait until you have heard from every household before creating seating assignments. Plan for 1-3% of confirmed guests to no-show on the day. Round tables of 8-10 are easier to fill than long banquet tables.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do wedding invitations cost?
Basic flat-printed wedding invitations cost $1-$3 per suite (invitation, RSVP card, details card, envelopes) through online printers like Minted or Zola. Letterpress or foil-stamped invitations run $4-$10 per suite. Luxury custom designs from independent stationers cost $8-$25+ per suite. For 100 invitations (covering 200 guests), budget $200-$600 for standard and $800-$2,500 for premium. Postage adds $1.20-$2.00 per suite depending on weight.
How many wedding invitations do I need to order?
Order one invitation per household, not per guest — a married couple receives one invitation. Add 10-15% extra for mistakes, keepsakes, and last-minute additions. For 200 guests, you will typically need 120-140 invitations. Order the full quantity at once; reprints often do not match the original batch exactly, and rush orders cost 30-50% more.
What should be included in a wedding invitation suite?
A standard suite includes: the invitation itself (who, when, where), an RSVP card with pre-stamped return envelope, and a details card covering accommodation blocks, transportation, dress code, and wedding website URL. Optional extras include a weekend itinerary (for destination weddings), a map card, belly band or envelope liner, and an inner envelope. Digital RSVPs via your wedding website can replace the physical RSVP card and save $0.70-$1.50 per suite.
When should wedding invitations be ordered and mailed?
Order invitations 4-5 months before the wedding — printing takes 2-4 weeks, and you will need 2-3 weeks for addressing and assembly. Mail them 6-8 weeks before the wedding (10-12 weeks for destination weddings). Most couples set the RSVP deadline at 3-4 weeks before the event, giving time to chase non-responders before submitting final counts to the caterer.