This little timeline graphic has been on my to-do list for far longer than I’d like to admit! The number one question I get asked as a designer is wedding stationery timeline. When is the proper time to…fill-in-the-blank.

Knowing when to begin each phase of the stationery process is invaluable to not only my clients, but anyone getting married. It’s my job to give each of my clients a clear picture of what to expect and when. Use this wedding stationery timeline as a quick reference.

Of course, there is always exception to the rule. Your situation may require more or less time depending. I’m always here to answer questions and help you navigate through the wedding stationery process.

Share this with everyone and anyone. Wedding planning is hard work so if this helps ease a little bit of stress then by all means share it with the world!

Lingo. Jargin. Vocabulary. Language. Sometimes I forget not everyone understands the language I may use to describe what I do and who I serve. If you’re not in the wedding industry biz then you may not know what I mean when I say, “custom”, “semi-custom” or “suite”.

I offer two types of wedding invitation services: Custom and Semi-Custom. In this blog post, I’m diving into what a Custom Wedding Invitation entails, the process and what you can expect as a client or prospective client.

Photography by Clettis Wright Photography

The primary reasons for choosing a custom wedding invitation is well, the complete customization throughout the entire process, and the knowledge, expertise and care you will receive from working with a trusted vendor (that’s me!). The downside is that it is a longer process than choosing a Semi-Custom or ordering from fast-key turnaround big box sites. With this in mind, booking your stationer early is always a brilliant move on your part.

Of course I know that you know what “custom” means. But, to break it down even further, it means I’m about to make all your paper dreams come true! This is your opportunity to dream big and do you. Whether that translates into having thick, luxurious paper or thinking outside the box with details or gold foil everything or commissioning a wedding crest or logo or utilizing funky shapes in your invitations; the (paper) world is your oyster.

Custom is just that, custom. The entire suite, or all of the paper goods in your wedding invitations, is designed with purpose and poise. No one is going to have the same invitations as you do. Let that sink in for a moment. It’s the most beautiful image possible! Everything created is solely done for you to reflect your story and personalities.

I’ve had clients with a really clear vision that can describe or give examples of what they want and I’ve also had clients that base the initial concept on a simple color palette. The good news is no matter where you land in that scenario, it is my job to conceptualize, execute and deliver the invitation of your dreams through a thoughtful and personalized approach.

I love talking shop, and I love hearing about your adventure together even more-so. When you share your love story with me and talk passionately and giddily about marrying the love of your life, I’m all mush. The journey to ‘I Do” starts with save the dates and/or invitations. Give your guests the gift of a well-planned, perfectly polished invitation. They will indeed take notice of the elevated paper choice, printing method, design, layout, details, add-ons, and appreciate the etiquette used, especially now more than ever navigating a wedding during these murky Covid-19 waters.

So, what are the stages of a custom invitation suite? From start to finish, I am your go-to friendor (vendor friend). Firstly, you share, I listen, then I present you with a vision board that shows the direction, materials and colors we’ll be working with, including initial invitation concepts. From there I’ll design the invitation to perfection, followed by the remaining inserts. Each piece being cohesive, but will stand out beautifully on their own as well. Depending on the printing method you choose, this outsourced process can take 1-3 weeks alone. I semi-assemble your invitations, but offer full assembly if that’s the route you wish to take. Lastly, we’ll go over postage options, ensuring each invitation is the correct amount of postage while looking its best.

I am often asked how long this process will take and the answer varies quite a bit. Factors that may affect this are the printing methods chosen, response time from clients, or possibly the amount of clients I have at the time. Ideally, your invitations will take roughly 6-8 weeks to complete, however, as long as 12 weeks or longer in some circumstances. The rule of thumb for actually sending the invitations out is anywhere from 8-12 weeks from your wedding date. If you’re in a time crunch, I also offer expedited services for a fee.

To recap, the steps involved with creating a custom wedding invitation suite and the timeline are as follows (please note all timelines are approximate):

Discussion of Needs, Wants, and Overall Design - 1-2 weeks
Curated Vision Board/Mood Board - 1-2 weeks
Invitation Design - 2 weeks
Remaining Suite Inserts and Elements Design - 1 week
Editing - 1 week
Printing - 1-3 weeks
Postage -
Assembly - 1 week

Photography by Kjerstin Thea Photography

Your dream wedding invitations may not always align with your budget. It’s important to have an open conversation with your stationer regarding what items are must haves and which ones you could forge if necessary. I enjoy this process when working with each couple, because it gives me an opportunity to get creative and suggest materials and printing methods that will align with the allocated funds. Creating beautiful things doesn’t always equate to big money.

In the future, I will also be breaking down what it means to order a Semi-Custom wedding invitation, and the difference between the two. Stay tuned! In the meantime, if you have questions or would like to contact me for a complimentary consultation, please click the button below.

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