A Complete Wedding Stationery List
There are lots of things to think about during the lead up to what will be one of the most special days of your life. The process of designing and printing wedding stationary can, and should, be fun but with so many options to choose from, the process can seem daunting.
This wedding stationery checklist will outline a complete list of things required for a wedding. From the necessary printed wedding invitations to the sentimental extras that will make your wedding oh-so personal, here is a complete wedding stationary list.
What is wedding stationery?
Essentially, wedding stationery is all the paper items used for a wedding such as wedding invitations, wedding table name cards and wedding programmes. Wedding stationery is an important aspect of any wedding as it helps communicate important information to guests and sets the tone of the entire event. The colour scheme, calligraphy and imagery should seamlessly tie in with the theme of your wedding, adding a touch of elegance and personalisation to your big day.
When it comes to wedding stationery there are so many design options to consider. You could go for a traditional and classic design or opt for something more modern and unique. It’s totally up to you! Creating personalised wedding stationery is a fun and creative way to express your personality as a couple and can make your wedding day that extra bit more special.
How much does wedding stationery cost?
According to Bridebook, the average amount spent by couples on wedding stationery is £414. This includes everything from the wedding invitations sent around a year before the wedding and the thank you cards sent once you’re settling into married life. This figure is an average, and you can really spend as much, or as little, on wedding stationery as your budget allows.
The cost for professionally designed and printed wedding invitations starts from around £1.50 per invitation although this may vary depending on the company you use, type of paper, complexity, decorations and printing method. Alternatively, one of our favourite budget friendly wedding ideas is creating DIY wedding stationary. This allows you to experiment with different fonts, colours and design ideas and could also help trim down your wedding costs.
What wedding stationery do I need?
Before you order your wedding stationery, it’s a good idea to put together a list of things required for a wedding. Not only will this help you plan what wedding stationary you need (and don’t necessarily need) but it will also help you stay on budget. Here is our complete wedding stationary checklist:
Before the wedding:
Save-the-date wedding cards
Once you’ve set the date for your wedding day, you can send out save the date wedding cards. Although not mandatory, save the date wedding invitations should provide the names of the couple, the date and location where the wedding will take place. At the bottom of the save the date card, it is common to put “formal invitation to follow”. Destination wedding save the date cards should be sent up to a year in advance to ensure your guests have enough time to make travel arrangements.
Wedding invitations
Wedding invitations are the most important aspect of your wedding stationery, including the names of the couple, wedding date, time, venue name and address. You can make them as elaborate as you like, perhaps featuring an illustration of your happy couple or wedding venue. You may also include a link to a wedding website to direct guests to more information.
Wedding websites are a central hub where guests can find information about your wedding day, helping simplify the wedding planning process. They might include details on the wedding venue, order of service, accommodation recommendations and taxi numbers near the venue. They also offer guests an easy way to RSVP, allowing couples to keep track of numbers attending the wedding.
At the wedding:
Order of service booklet
Order of service wedding booklets or wedding programmes are optional, particularly if you’re wedding ceremony is on the shorter side, but they make lovely keepsakes for guests. Wedding programmes typically outline what guests can expect (the order of the ceremony), the couple’s name, date, location of the ceremony and a brief welcome. They can also be used to highlight other notable people in your wedding such as the bridal party and groomsmen as well as the couple.
Wedding vows book
Wedding vow books are a great piece of wedding stationery to keep your wedding vows in a neat, tidy and secure place. Not only this, but they are an excellent keepsake that will be treasured for years to come after your big day. Whether you’re having a traditional, rustic, alternative or more casual wedding, you can purchase beautiful wedding vow books to match every couples’ style.
Wedding menu cards
Alongside the delicate wedding tableware and wedding table flowers, wedding menu cards are a visual that will really pull your tablescape together. Whether you’re having a sit-down wedding breakfast or buffet style affair, wedding menu cards are a purposeful way of letting guests know what to expect. Not only this, but they can be carefully designed to tie in with other décor. Remember to cater for guests’ dietary requirements and highlight this on your wedding menu template.
Wedding table name cards
Wedding table name cards or wedding place cards are typically used for sit-down dinner receptions to help guests determine where they will be sitting. Depending on the size of the venue and number of guests attending, a sign listing the names of guests and their designated tables is usually placed at the entrance of the reception. The style of your wedding place cards should reflect the wedding theme and correlate with any other wedding stationery.
Wedding table number cards
Not to be confused with wedding table name cards, wedding table number cards are a completely different piece of wedding stationery. Table number cards will help guests find their seats and provides organisation, making sure the event runs as smoothly as possible. It is common for couples to assign a name to each table instead of a table number, highlighting a significant theme close to the couple’s hearts. Perhaps you might like to name your wedding tables after a favourite holiday destination, favourite film or TV series or romantic book title. It is completely up to you!
Children’s wedding activity books
One way to keep your small wedding guests entertained is with children’s wedding activity books. These can include a number of activities such as colouring, treasure hunts and word search puzzles. You can find endless children’s activity packs online for free or you can purchase activity packs for weddings from a professional wedding stationery design company. Either way, if you’re hosting a family-friendly wedding it’s just as important to cater for the little ones attending as well as the adults. Traditional wedding formalities such as sit-down meals and speeches can be long and boring for children, so a children’s wedding activity book is a great way to keep them busy.
After the wedding:
Thank you cards
The final piece of wedding stationery on our list is thank you cards. You may choose to thank all guests that celebrated your wedding day with you, but it is customary to thank guests who brought a gift. When it comes to what to write in wedding thankyou cards, you should include the gift giver’s name, what they bought and a note of appreciation. Personalised wedding thank-you cards are a fantastic way to round up your wedding, reflect on the amazing day you had and show your appreciation to closest your family and friends.
That seemingly brings us to the end of our wedding stationary checklist and complete list of things required for a wedding. We hope you found our guidance helpful and that it makes your wedding planning just that little bit easier. The exceptionally talented team at the Lawrence Hotel are here to offer any further advice and guidance throughout every step of your wedding planning.
