When To Order Wedding Invitations: A Complete Timeline For Luxury Weddings
- Nil Alban
- Jan 30, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 22
Your wedding invitations are far more than paper and ink—they are the first tangible expression of your celebration, a meaningful keepsake that sets the tone for everything to come. From the soft texture of handmade paper to the quiet elegance of calligraphy, each detail offers your guests a glimpse into the beauty and intention behind your day.
With that in mind, timing becomes an essential part of the experience. A well-planned stationery timeline ensures everything unfolds with ease, allowing you to fully enjoy the process without feeling rushed.
Below, you’ll find a thoughtfully curated guide to help you navigate when to order and send your wedding invitations with confidence and grace.
When to Order Your Wedding Invitations
Creating fine art wedding stationery is a considered and artful process. For couples investing in bespoke or luxury designs, I recommend beginning your invitation journey 4 to 6 months before your wedding.
This allows ample time for:
Thoughtful design development and revisions
Specialty printing techniques such as letterpress, embossing, or foil stamping
Hand-finished details including wax seals, silk ribbons, and deckled edges
Careful assembly and quality checks
For more intricate suites—such as those featuring custom illustrations, venue sketches, or highly detailed embellishments—beginning 6 to 8 months in advance ensures every element is crafted to perfection.
When to Send Your Wedding Invitations
Once your invitations are complete, the next step is sending them out into the world—an exciting milestone in your planning journey.
As a general guideline:
Local weddings: Send invitations 8 weeks before your wedding
Destination weddings: Send invitations 12–16 weeks prior
This provides your guests with the time they need to make arrangements while maintaining a sense of anticipation and occasion. For multi-day celebrations or destination events, you may also wish to include a beautifully designed details card or itinerary within your suite to keep guests fully informed.
Save the Dates: Setting the Tone Early
A save the date is the first whisper of your celebration—a gentle and elegant way to ensure your guests mark their calendars well in advance.
I recommend:
Ordering save the dates: Around 12 months before your wedding
Sending them: Approximately 9 months prior
For destination weddings or peak-season dates, sending them even earlier is always a thoughtful touch.
What Can Influence Your Timeline
Every stationery suite is unique, and certain elements may require additional time. These include:
Bespoke vs. semi-custom designs – Fully custom suites involve a more in-depth design process
Printing methods – Letterpress, foil, and embossing require specialist production time
Envelope calligraphy – Hand-addressed envelopes add an extra layer of artistry (and time)
Guest count – Larger quantities naturally extend production timelines
Handmade paper or specialty materials – These often have longer lead times due to their artisanal nature
Embellishments – Wax seals, silk ribbons, vellum wraps, and vintage stamps require careful, hand assembly
These details are what elevate your invitations into something truly memorable—and allowing time for them ensures nothing feels rushed.
RSVP Timing & Final Details
To keep everything running smoothly, I recommend setting your RSVP deadline 6 to 8 weeks before your wedding.
This allows you time to:
Finalise your guest count
Confirm catering numbers and menu selections
Create seating plans
Prepare your on-the-day stationery (place cards, menus, and signage)
If a few responses are delayed, a gentle follow-up shortly after your deadline is perfectly acceptable and often appreciated.
A Note on Shorter Timelines
If you’re working with a shorter timeframe, there are still beautiful options available. Depending on the design and materials, an expedited service may be possible to accommodate your schedule.
A General Timeline by Wedding Month
To make planning even easier, here is a general guide based on your wedding month:
January
Save the Dates: Order in May / Send in July
Invitations: Order in July / Send in October
February
Save the Dates: Order in June / Send in August
Invitations: Order in August / Send in November
March
Save the Dates: Order in July / Send in September
Invitations: Order in September / Send in December
April
Save the Dates: Order in August / Send in October
Invitations: Order in October / Send in January
May
Save the Dates: Order in September / Send in November
Invitations: Order in November / Send in February
June
Save the Dates: Order in October / Send in December
Invitations: Order in December / Send in March
July
Save the Dates: Order in November / Send in January
Invitations: Order in January / Send in April
August
Save the Dates: Order in December / Send in February
Invitations: Order in February / Send in May
September
Save the Dates: Order in January / Send in March
Invitations: Order in March / Send in June
October
Save the Dates: Order in February / Send in April
Invitations: Order in April / Send in July
November
Save the Dates: Order in March / Send in May
Invitations: Order in May / Send in August
December
Save the Dates: Order in April / Send in June
Invitations: Order in June / Send in September
Please note: these timelines are a general guide and may vary depending on the level of detail and materials selected.
Let’s Create Something Beautiful
Your wedding stationery is the beginning of your story—an heirloom in the making, designed to be treasured long after the day has passed. If you’re ready to begin your stationery journey, I would be delighted to create something thoughtful, romantic, and entirely bespoke for your celebration.
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