Presented by Minted
Wedding invitations are not only a tool to inform guests to mark their calendars, but the beginning of how you communicate the aesthetic and vision for your celebration. “It’s usually one of the first pieces of design that your guests interact with, and can really set the tone for your wedding,” shares wedding planner Alison Hotchkiss of Alison Events. “Subliminally, your invitation can communicate whether your guests should expect more of a laid-back casual atmosphere, a more formal, black-tie affair, and everything in between.”
Choosing your wedding invitation can be an exciting design project, but it also takes some understanding to know what goes into making a suite and how to send them to guests in a timely manner. Ahead, wedding invitation experts break down the process so you can craft your dream invites.
Choose Your Wedding Invitation Aesthetic
When beginning your wedding invitation design process, it’s always helpful to solidify your aesthetic goals for the suite. “Ultimately, your wedding is a reflection of your unique partnership,” says Anna Wibbelman, general manager of Minted Weddings. “Lean into what you both love and choose the details that resonate with you, even down to the smallest of details, like a playful shape, your favorite color for envelopes, or finding vintage stamps from a favorite place you’ve traveled.”
If design isn’t your forte, it’s understandable that you may need to do a bit of extra research to discover what you love. “If you don’t already have a specific vision in mind, try and find inspiration outside the wedding world to uncover your graphic preferences,” advises Hotchkiss. “Pay attention to design and printing details that you are drawn to in restaurants, hotels, advertising, and more. Do you like a more modern and minimal look? Or, are you drawn to bright colors, bold illustrations, and more of a maximalist vibe? Collect inspiration in one place, so you have a living collage of your style.”
Once you have a clearer idea of your design vision for your wedding, you can bring those ideas to a stationer to work on your suite. You may begin with your save-the-dates separately, but it can be helpful to think of your paper goods holistically. “Since save-the-dates are often sent before every wedding detail is finalized, many couples keep them simple or photo-focused; this allows the design to remain flexible while still pairing effortlessly with the final invitation suite later on,” says Minted concierge Micaela Ritschl. “Couples setting up a wedding website along with their save the date can also easily change the design of the site with one click once they select their invitation suite.”
“No matter what look and feel you end up selecting, consider incorporating similar design elements into future communication with your guests,” advises Wibbelman. “You can carry a theme forward into a free wedding website, invitations, and day-of stationery, like programs, menus, and place cards, through the use of color, illustrations, fonts, or even your monogram. For a truly bespoke touch, consider adding a design element and working with an artist to create a custom venue illustration or a signature crest that reflects your unique style.”
“That said, there’s no rule that everything must match exactly,” Ritschl adds. “Some couples choose to carry their invitation aesthetic through to day-of stationery for a seamless look, while others intentionally mix things up, opting for signage, programs, and menus that feel more relaxed, playful, or trend-forward.”
What to Put in a Wedding Invitation Suite
The typical invitation suite has a few key ingredients. “Invitations are typically accompanied by an RSVP card (either a mail-back or directing guests online), a direction or details card, and a reception card if the location is separate from the ceremony venue,” explains Ritschl. “Many couples also include a belly band to keep the suite neatly assembled.” Other common additions include wax seals, jackets, vellum overlays, and envelope liners to add an extra design touch.
Of course, your wedding invitations can be far from traditional. “We’ve had some couples who completely throw all normal conceptions of a wedding invitation out the window—we’ve sent concrete boxes, screen-printed ikat fabric, etched wood, and gift boxes,” says Hotchkiss. “The sky’s the limit when it comes to taking your suite to the next level.” She adds, “No matter how you decide to enhance your invitation, it should feel authentic to you and your guest. No one wants to see something extravagant for the sake of extravagance.”
Why Paper Choice Matters
Not only do you have to consider the wording and designs that go on your invites, but you also need to think about materials. “The most common paper question that comes up during the design process is how thick you’d like the paper to be,” notes Hotchkiss. “Some believe that thicker paper weights read more luxe—and we agree—but are usually subject to constraints when it comes to printing, which can result in added cost.” Different types of paper can have varied degrees of thickness, hues, and sheen. You may also wish to have your invitation done in letterpress, a relief-style printing method that creates a tactile, indented effect. Letterpress usually comes with a higher price tag, so it’s important to consider your budget if you love the style.
How to Mail Your Wedding Invitations
If your invites have more details than will fit on a single 5 x 7 card, you might need more than one stamp to have them safely reach your guests. “Postage is an important detail to consider as your invitation suite comes together, especially when incorporating multiple pieces or special finishes. Elements like vellum wraps, wax seals, ribbons, magnets, or non-rectangular envelopes can affect how invitations are processed, and some designs may require additional handling to ensure they travel safely through the mail,” says Ritschl. “For example, envelopes that are bulky (over a quarter-inch thick), rigid, or square typically can’t run through USPS sorting machines. In those cases, you’ll need a non-machinable surcharge—often referred to as a non-machinable stamp. Many couples also opt for hand-canceling, where a postal worker manually stamps each envelope to prevent machine damage—this can be especially helpful for delicate or embellished invitations and usually comes with an added fee.”
The best way to prevent any mailing mistakes? Make a visit with a completed invitation to the post office. “A postal clerk can weigh it, check its dimensions, and advise on the exact postage required to ensure your invitations arrive safely and on time. It’s a small step that can prevent returned mail, damaged invitations, or unexpected delays,” says Ritschl.
Understand the Wedding Invitation Timeline
Like many parts of the wedding planning process, there are some etiquette guidelines that come with your invitations. Unless you have a very rushed wedding schedule, save-the-dates should be sent out six to eight months ahead of the celebration. They can have an even longer lead time for a destination wedding abroad to give guests a proper heads up to kick off making travel plans. The invitation suites are sent closer to the big day. “We recommend sending them three months in advance of the wedding, and setting a reply-by date at least two months in advance so you can finalize your numbers for all your other vendors,” shares Hotchkiss.
To hit this timeline, you need to consider how long it will take to design and assemble your invites. You need to factor in the time it will take to select the designs, proof, and fine-tune details with the stationer, and have them actually printed. “This depends on the complexity of your invitation suite, but we would recommend budgeting at least three to four weeks for production to avoid rush costs,” says Hotchkiss. Once they arrive to you, don’t forget that you will need to seal all those envelopes and apply stamps. Depending on your guest count, you may need to dedicate a date night or two with your fiancé to get everything ready for the post office.
