Why You Shouldn’t Order All Your Wedding Stationery at Once

One of the most helpful pieces of advice I give couples at expos and consultations is this:
Don’t feel like you need to order all of your wedding stationery and signage in one go.

Trying to plan for Save the Dates, Invitations and your Seating Chart all at the same time? It’s a fast track to overwhelm, and honestly, unnecessary. Most couples aren’t thinking about guest table layouts or entree selections when they’re still drafting their guest list.

Instead, break it down into three key stages:

1. Save the Dates – Once your venue and date are locked in, this is the first piece to send. These are often ordered & sent to guests 9–12 months before the wedding, and they don’t require much detail.

2. Wedding Invitations – These come next, once you’ve locked in all the specifics like timings, RSVP details, dress code & wishing well wording. I suggest sending invitations to your guests 4-5 months before your wedding date. 

3. On-the-Day Stationery & Signage – This includes menus, place cards, welcome signs, seating charts, and more. Order these at least 2 months before your wedding day with final menus & guest names for place cards and seating charts submitted approx 6 weeks before your wedding day. 

Why it matters:

• Breaking your stationery into three parts allows you to pace your spending, which helps with cash flow (and sanity).
• Avoid unnecessary pressure. Planning each stage as it comes means you're not trying to make styling or wording decisions months before you’re ready, because let’s face it, things evolve!
• Stay flexible as plans change. Guest numbers, colour themes, menu options, they all shift. Breaking it up gives you the flexibility to make confident decisions when the time is right.
• Enjoy the process. Designing your stationery should feel exciting, not overwhelming. Giving each stage the attention it deserves lets you enjoy the moment without it feeling like a giant checklist.

Quick Tip

Feel free to change the shapes and colours across your different stationery and signage pieces, that part is all about your creative flair. But my biggest tip? Keep the same fonts across all pieces. This creates visual continuity from the moment your guests receive your Save the Dates or Invitations to when they take their seat at your reception. Plus, your keepsake items will look beautifully cohesive when you reflect back on everything in years to come.

And if you're ordering everything through White Cherry Invitations, I’ll ensure everything ties together beautifully.

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