If you’ve ever searched for a wedding invitations timeline, you’ve probably seen some version of this:

Send save the dates. Order wedding invitations. Mail wedding invitations. Done.

Technically correct? Sure. Helpful? Not really.

After designing wedding stationery and day-of paper goods, I can tell you this: timelines like that miss the part that actually matters.

Wedding paper isn’t just about when things get mailed. It’s about how each piece works together to support your planning process, guide your guests, and set the tone for the entire celebration.

I’ve worked with couples who felt rushed, boxed in, or unsure simply because stationery was treated like a last-minute task instead of a design foundation. And I’ve also seen how calm and confident the process can feel when paper goods are planned intentionally from the start.

This timeline exists to give you that clarity.

It’s the expanded, elevated version–built from real wedding experience, not generic rules–so you can plan your wedding stationery and day-of paper with confidence, flexibility, and a clear sense of what comes next.

Who This Timeline Is For

This timeline is for couples who:

• Want their wedding stationery and signage to feel cohesive–not pieced together
• Care about design, but don’t want to feel overwhelmed by decisions
• Appreciate guidance and expertise instead of guesswork
• Are choosing between semi-custom or custom invitations and want to plan confidently

If you want your wedding paper to feel thoughtful, intentional, and well-paced (without unnecessary stress), you’re exactly who this was written for.

9–12 Months Before: Save the Dates & Design Direction

Save the dates do more than announce a date, they quietly introduce your wedding’s personality.

At this stage, you’re establishing:

• A general aesthetic direction
• Typography and tone
• The level of formality your guests can expect

This is also the ideal time to begin thinking about your full stationery vision, even if you won’t order everything at once. Starting here allows your paper goods to inform other design decisions rather than chase them later.

6–8 Months Before: Wedding Invitations Suite Design

This is where your stationery story really comes to life.

Designing your invitation suite early gives you space to:

• Finalize wording without rushing
• Explore paper types and printing styles
• Consider embellishments like vellum wraps, ribbon, wax seals, or layered cards

It also allows room for proofing, revisions, and production timelines without stress.

Whether you’re choosing a semi-custom suite or going fully custom, this window gives you flexibility and confidence moving forward.

8–10 Weeks Before: Wedding Invitations Are Mailed

Once your invitations are in hand, mailing typically happens 8–10 weeks before the wedding.

This timing:

• Gives guests adequate notice
• Works well for both local and travel-heavy weddings
• Allows RSVP tracking without pressure

Pro tip: If you’re addressing envelopes by hand or adding custom details, build in extra time here. These finishing touches make a difference and they deserve breathing room.

6–8 Weeks Before: Day-Of Paper Planning Begins

While guests are responding, this is when attention shifts to the pieces they’ll interact with on the wedding day.

This includes:

• Seating charts or escort cards
• Place cards
• Menus
• Programs
• Welcome signage
• Bar menus and specialty drink signs

Because these pieces pull directly from your invitation design, planning them now ensures everything feels intentional and cohesive.

Why This Timeline Works

This expanded approach does more than keep you on schedule–it creates continuity.

By allowing stationery to lead early and evolve naturally, your wedding paper:

• Feels cohesive rather than pieced together
• Supports your design vision from start to finish
• Enhances the guest experience without feeling overdone

Your wedding paper deserves the same level of intention as every other design decision.

And when it’s planned thoughtfully, it elevates the entire celebration.

If you want your wedding paper to feel intentional instead of pieced together, this is exactly where to start.

Whether you’re choosing a semi-custom invitation suite or planning a fully custom stationery and signage experience, working with someone who understands both design and logistics makes a noticeable difference.

My role isn’t just to design beautiful paper goods–it’s to help you make confident decisions, avoid last-minute stress, and create a seamless experience for your guests from the first impression to the final detail.

If that sounds like the kind of support you’re looking for, I’d love to help you bring it all together.

Let’s begin your wedding stationery experience.