How Early Should You Order Your Invitations?

One of the biggest mistakes brides make is waiting too long to order their invitations. It’s easy to underestimate how much time it takes — between design, printing, addressing, and mailing, those weeks fly by!

Here’s a simple guide to keep you on track:

⏳ The Golden Rule

Order your invitations at least 4–6 months before your wedding date.

This gives you time for:

• Designing or finalizing your layout

• Printing (which can take 2–4 weeks depending on method)

• Assembly (stuffing, sealing, adding any extras)

• Mailing (you want invites in the mail 8–10 weeks before the wedding)

📬 Special Situations

• Destination Weddings → Order even earlier. Guests often need 3–4 months to book travel.

• Custom Printing (foil, letterpress, embossing) → Add 2–3 extra weeks since specialty methods take longer.

• DIY or Online Printing → Still allow extra time in case of reprints or mistakes.

📝 Pro Tip

Don’t forget about envelope addressing! Whether you’re handwriting, using a calligrapher, or printing labels, this can take more time than you think.

✅ Quick Timeline Snapshot

• Order: 4–6 months before your wedding

• Mail: 8–10 weeks before (earlier if destination)

• RSVP Deadline: 3–4 weeks before the big day

💵 Cost Savings

Not only does it make sure you have everything done on time, but also will prevent you from having to pay rush processing and shipping fees if everything is ordered last minute. Also, due to recent paper shortages and discontinued paper, being able to hunt for inventory earlier than later is a big plus.

✨ Bottom line: Order early, breathe easy. It’s better to have invitations ready and waiting than to be stressing at the last minute.