It’s officially autumn, the leaves are falling and all I’m drinking is pumpkin spice latte! Before we get into the Christmas rush, we’ve got a few weeks to get your invitations and stationery wedding planning on track. Here’s your wedding stationery checklist for October to keep you on track.
1. Order your save the date cards
for late 2025 and all 2026 weddings
The ideal to send save the date cards is 12 to 18 months ahead of your wedding.
If your big day is towards the end of 2025, then get your save the dates sent ASAP.
It’s the perfect time to get them sorted for your 2026 wedding too. You can send them up to two years in advance, as long as you have your date & venue booked.
Do you REALLY need save the date cards?
What details do you put on save the date cards?
Do you send save the dates to evening guests?
Seed paper save the date cards
The first step to a sustainable wedding
Save the date cards
Announce your big day in style
2. Order your wedding and evening reception invitations
for weddings from February to May 2025
The ideal time to send your wedding invitations is four to eight months before the big day. That means you need to order them six to ten months in advance. If you haven’t sorted invitations for your spring or summer 2025 wedding yet, now is the time to get them sorted.
What style of wedding invitation is best for you?
When to send wedding invitations for your 2025 or 2026 wedding
WANT FREEBIES?
I have a couple of really useful, quick reference calendars that tell you exactly when to send your save the dates and wedding invitations according to your wedding year and month. Download yours for FREE using either of the forms below.
3. Order your on the day stationery
for weddings from October to December 2024
You should be finalising your wedding day stationery (your order of service, welcome signs, table plan, place cards, menus and more) around 4 to 6 weeks before your big day. This will help avoid any last minute panics. Click the links below for inspiration. And don’t forget to look over my checklists to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything.
Click here to find out what stationery you need for your wedding ceremony
Click here to find out what stationery you need for your wedding reception
4. Don’t forget the all important thank you cards
the last piece of wedding stationery you need
I would argue that thank you cards are the most important part of your wedding stationery suite. A personal, handwritten note thanking your guests for their gifts, company, and good wishes on your big day is an absolute must. I can make them in a design to match your stationery, adding one of your wedding photos is you like. Lead time is around 2 weeks from approval of proofs, so get them ordered as soon as you can after the wedding.
What do you write in thank you cards?
How to action your wedding stationery checklist for October
- You can reserve your production slot for me to make your wedding stationery for any time in the next 6 months.
- A £50 deposit will secure each production slot (you might need two: one for invites & one for on the day stationery).
- For save the dates & thank you cards, pay in full with your order and lead time is about 2 weeks.
- Remember – you DON’T need to have all the details (numbers, wording, names etc) finalised to get your slot for invitations or wedding day stationery booked.
HOW TO ORDER
1. GET IN TOUCH
Arrange an informal chat with me, Jo. Visit my studio or meet by phone/video.
2. DESIGN & QUOTE
I’ll design your invitations & stationery and give you a fully personalised, itemised quote.
3. BOOK & PAY
Pay in full for anything you want made straight away, or a deposit to book production slots.
4. DETAILS & PROOFS
Get your proofs by email. Revise until you’re 100% happy & approve.
5. GET YOUR STATIONERY
Either collect your finished stationery from my studio or we can arrange delivery.
6. HERE FOR YOU
Throughout the whole process I’m here with help and advice on anything you’re not sure of.
Top tip
Getting married in early in the first half of next year? Get in early to book in your wedding invitations and avoid the rush. If you have them made in November or December you can hand them out to friends and family when you see them over the festive season.
Hi, I’m Jo
I’ve been designing and making wedding invitations and stationery since 2006. I know what I’m doing, and I would love to share my knowledge & expertise with you.
You can visit me, in person, at my Cardiff studio to talk all about your wedding invitations and stationery. Click the button below to see my availability and book your appointment.
If you are too far away to visit, or just prefer a virtual catch up, you can arrange a phone or video call with me here.
I hope do hope you find this October wedding stationery checklist useful. If you would like to have my wedding stationery checklist delivered to your inbox each month, sign up using the button below.
You can also follow me on Instagram and Pinterest for lots of tips, advice, and prompts on when you need to get everything book in for your wedding invitations and stationery.
Ready to find out more, book a studio visit, or arrange a call with me?
Want to save this checklist? Pin the image below to your wedding planning board on Pinterest.
