Wedding stationery is SO pretty, but let’s be real – it can also cost a fortune. Invitations, RSVP cards, menus, signage – the list goes on! Here’s some of our favorite ways to be more mindful about how to make the most of your wedding stationery budget!
Wedding Stationery Checklist
Before you start shopping, make a list of what you think you’ll need! Start with our master list below of everything you could possibly include, and then start crossing off things you don’t think you’ll need.
- Engagement party invitation
- Save the date card
- Bridal shower invitation
- Bridal shower thank you cards
- Bachelor/bachelorette party invitations
- Rehearsal dinner invitation
- Welcome dinner invitation
- Wedding invitation outer envelope
- Wedding invitation inner envelope
- Wedding invitation belly band
- Wedding invitation card
- Wedding reception card
- Map insert
- RSVP card
- Hotel accommodations card
- Welcome basket tag
- Ceremony program
- Escort cards
- Place cards
- Table numbers
- Menu card
- Favor tags
- Post wedding thank you cards
We found this exhaustive list on Brides, but click here if you need definitions for any of the above! Wedding stationery can be overwhelming, but once you figure out what you need you’re off to a great start!
Leverage your website
Unless you’re set on a formal invitation suite, use your website for RSVP functionality, the hotel accommodations card, and the map! While it’s fun to open a formal invitation, most guests are likely to misplace the wedding stationery and it’s easier to bookmark a website in 2021. You can even go as far as only doing paper for the invitation, and let people who are invited to your rehearsal dinner RSVP for the dinner online too. Some wedding website companies also allow you to password protect certain pages to help you organize which guests can see which pages. This is a great feature if you’re not having all your guests invited to every event.
Ask about postage
Before you purchase, ask how much it typically costs to weigh the type of wedding stationery you’re thinking about ordering! While it may seem trivial to think about adding a few more stamps onto an envelope, it can easily add up if you’re sending invitations to a large guest list. Lighter, more standardized paper and generally more compact options are always cheaper to mail.
Wedding Stationery < Signage
Don’t feel pressured to buy wedding stationery because truth be told, so much of it ends up in the garbage! Use signage where you can instead. Instead of a printed menu at each place setting, print one menu and put it on a frame at each table. For programs, have a QR code or a sign at the entrance for people to read or take a picture of. You can do this with seating charts too so you have one pretty list, rather than individual cards.
Look for codes!
If you’re going the digital route, keep an eye out for promo codes. Sites like Minted, Paperless Post, and Etsy almost always have certain promo codes that are active. If you’ve visited the website before, try opening it again in Chrome’s incognito mode and see if something appears where you can enter your email for a percentage off your first order. If it’s someone’s Etsy shop, follow the creator on social media for codes. Sometimes you can even message the shop owner and tell them your budget! If all else fails, it never hurts to Google “Minted discount codes,” for example. If you aren’t already working with one of our wedding planners virtually, sometimes they also have personal codes they can share with you. Click here to start working with one of our planners for wedding stationery advice and SO much more.
