Wedding stationery: what to order and when

Wedding stationery arrives in waves, and couples who order it in the right order spend less and panic less.

Twelve months out, save the dates. Not strictly necessary, but if guests are travelling from England or further they need the notice to book. Cards are cheaper, fridge magnets are more likely to still be in the kitchen a year later.

Six months out, invitations, with the evening invitations, RSVP cards and information cards in the same order. Ordering them together means the card stock is guaranteed to match and the print run works out cheaper. Order separately three months apart and the paper may have changed.

Eight weeks out, the order of service, once the church or celebrant has confirmed the readings and the hymns.

Four weeks out, and this is the one people leave too late, the on the day items: table plan, place cards, table numbers, menus and the welcome sign. They depend on the final guest list, which is exactly why they get delayed. We hold the artwork live right up to print, so late seating changes do not cost you a reprint, but you still need the list with us.

Afterwards, thank you cards with a photograph from the day. Send the images once the photographer has turned them round and we will use the artwork we already hold so everything matches.