Your Wedding Stationery Checklist

Wedding stationery is a key part of setting the tone for your event. According to One Fab Day, beautiful wedding stationery builds excitement for guests and signals the style of your event. This checklist helps you stay on budget and identify which pieces are essential for your celebration, like your wedding invitations.

Keep in mind that this list is not meant to be exhaustive. Many items are optional. Some can be DIY projects or sent electronically via a wedding website.

Before the Wedding

Several stationery items can be used in the lead-up to the wedding day itself. These are all optional and depend on the type of celebration you are planning.

An engagement announcement can spread the news you are tying the knot. This is often used by couples living away from home. If you are having an engagement party, you will need invitations. Be sure to only invite those guests who you plan on inviting to the big day.

Save-the-date cards signify to a guest that they are invited to attend your event and should save the date. They are not official invitations. These cards typically give the couple's names, the date, and a brief location, with notification that the formal wedding invitation will follow. They are particularly useful if you are getting married abroad or are inviting guests from abroad so they may begin to make travel plans.

Other optional pre-wedding items include 'Be My Bridesmaid' cards, which are a lovely gesture, and themed invitations for a hen party to set the tone.

The Wedding Invitation Suite

The wedding invitation is the most important piece of your wedding stationery. It invites guests to your ceremony and reception and informs them of the date and time.

RSVP cards, sent with the invitations, allow guests to tell you whether they are attending or not. They can also be used to gather dietary requirements in advance. The source recommends sending them even if you request online replies, to avoid cluttering the main invitation design.

Direction cards with maps and accommodation information help out-of-town guests. For guests invited only to the evening reception, you may need separate evening or 'afters' invites.

A wedding weekend info card lets guests know about other planned activities. A separate card can also point guests to your wedding website. Some couples add a QR code for easy access.

An optional belly band, made of paper or ribbon, can wrap around the entire invitation suite to hold it together.

On the Day Stationery

Several paper items are used during the wedding day itself to guide and inform guests.

The order of service or ceremony booklet is used for the wedding service. It contains the names of the bridal party and officiant, plus the plan for songs and music. Some religious parishes require them. You can personalize them with quotes, poems, or tributes.

An optional wedding program can inform guests how the reception will unfold, detailing the meal, speeches, and first dance. Vow booklets provide a place for couples to write their personal vows.

Signage is a fun and informative decor element. It can indicate a timeline, custom cocktails, or restroom directions. Menus inform guests of the meal ahead, often provided by the venue.

A seating or table plan, displayed at the reception entrance, shows guests the table layouts so they can find their seat. This corresponds with place cards or escort cards and table numbers.

Place cards are placed at each guest's seat. Escort cards are used to 'escort' a guest to their table assignment, usually showing their name and table number. Table numbers or names are placed on each table for identification.

Finally, some couples place a sweet thank you note at each place setting. These often include the couple's new married name and wedding date. Hiring a calligrapher to add each guest's name can make the note double as a place card.