Congratulations! You’re not just getting married, but you’ve also decided to go DIY with your wedding stationery. Don’t worry, it’s not as maddening as you think.

Invitations and other wedding stationery are an indispensable part of the wedding experience. Whether your ceremony is traditional or super casual, you still need a system for letting your loved ones know that you’re tying the knot. That’s where your save-the-dates and invites come in.

On the wedding day itself, you’ll also need to plan your wedding programme and table place cards. And what about after the wedding? What better way to express your gratitude for your wedding gifts than with bespoke thank-you cards?

Sure, all of that sounds a little daunting. But don’t be discouraged.

With wedding season fast approaching, we at The Paperbox thought it would be the perfect time to put together the checklist you need to plan your DIY stationery for before, during and after the wedding.

Pre-wedding Stationery

Most people think wedding stationery equals wedding invitations. But there are several other stationery items that you may want to consider sending out before the big day. These are all optional, of course, but they might be relevant to your planned festivities.

Save-the-Date Cards

Sending save-the-date cards to announce your wedding is a time-honoured tradition. Save-the-dates give your guests a preview of what to expect from the celebration — so it’s important to get things right.

With save-the-dates, the idea is to give guests advance notice of the wedding. You don’t have to provide specific details about the venue, time or theme, nor do guests have to RSVP. They’re especially useful if your wedding date is a ways off, giving your loved ones enough time to plan their schedule (great for overseas guests or destination weddings).

If you’re planning your save-the-date cards but you’re unsure about how to get started, be sure to check out our save-the-date design guide for inspiration.

Engagement Party Invitations

Engagement parties are usually small gatherings with the celebrants’ closest family and friends — the same people who are likely to be part of the entourage. For formal engagement parties, it’s a good idea to send your invites at least two months in advance and provide the basic information of where, when and dress code (if applicable).

Hen and Stag Party Invitations

Stag and hen dos are usually casual get-togethers. But if you have a particular theme or elaborate celebration in mind, sending formal invitations could be part of the fun.

Bridal Shower Invitations

Technically, the bride of honour and bridesmaids are responsible for sending bridal shower invites. The rule of thumb is to send invites at least two months in advance, with the invitations providing information about the shower’s location (postal address if it’s in someone’s home), date, time and theme. The couple’s registry is also a good addition.

Wedding Invitations and Related Stationery

Wedding invitations are arguably the focal point of your wedding stationery set. They provide the most important information about your wedding ceremony and reception.

As mentioned in our guide to wording your wedding invitations, your invites should answer the essential questions of “who, what, when, where and why”. This means having the following key information in your invitations:

• The wedding celebrants’ names
• The wedding date
• The venue (or venues, if the wedding ceremony and reception are in different locations)
• The start time
• RSVP date and dietary restrictions.

This information will often be placed in separate cards/inserts in your invitations.

Paper Goods to Include in Your Wedding Invitation Set

Wedding invitations typically come with paper inserts with the following information:

• RSVP Cards: RSVP cards are an essential component of your wedding invitations, allowing guests to confirm their attendance on or before a reasonable deadline. You can also include instructions on how to RSVP (e.g., responding online or through the post, using full names instead of nicknames) and food options for guests to choose from.
• Guest Information Cards: This insert usually provides information such as the venue and how to get there, specific times for the wedding and reception, local accommodations, dress code and gifts for the couple.
• Itinerary: This card provides information about activities and smaller parties planned around the wedding ceremony and reception, such as a welcome party or dinner the night before the big day.

Our Mini RSVP Cards Are the Perfect Inserts for Your Wedding Invitation Sets

Reception Invitations

If you wish to invite certain guests only to the reception, consider sending evening event or reception invites. This is a common setup in weddings where the celebrants prefer to have an intimate ceremony with family and their closest friends, with a larger celebration for friends and loved ones later on in the day.

Stationery for the Wedding Day

You also have an assortment of stationery to prepare for the wedding day itself.

Order of Service Cards

Also known as the ceremony booklet, this piece of stationery provides everything guests need to know about the wedding service, including the host (often the bride’s parents), the celebrants’ names, the names of the entire wedding party, the officiant’s name and hymns (for church weddings) among other things. The booklet’s exact contents will differ from religion to religion; it can also be used for civil ceremonies.

Choose from Our Wide Range of Order of Service Cards at The Paperbox

Reception Programme

As the name suggests, the reception programme shows the flow of the party’s proceedings, including the names of the people giving speeches, the first dance and cutting of the cake.

Table Stationery

If your wedding has designated seating, you have a few options when it comes to guiding guests where to sit.

• Table Plans: Also known as seating plans, these are often large paper goods displayed at the reception area’s entrance/s and show guests how the tables are laid out. Tables are usually labelled with numbers, letters or names that correspond with each guest’s place cards.
• Place Cards: These individual cards generally have the guest’s name and table number or letter and can be included with party favours left for guests before the reception. Place cards can also be used as a decorative piece to complete each guest’s table setting.
• Table Cards: These cards are placed on each table and bear their assigned number, letter or name.
• Menu Card: The menu card provides information about the available food options or courses.

Explore The Paperbox’s Collection of Flat Sheet and Folded Place Cards.

Post-wedding Stationery

Thank-You Cards

Thank-you cards allow you to show your appreciation to the people who celebrated your wedding with you, gave gifts, helped you plan your wedding or did something to make the event more meaningful. Try to personalise each thank-you card by including the guest’s name, mentioning what they did for you and writing a heartfelt message.

Over to You

So, there you have it. That should cover almost all stationery pieces to consider for your wedding. Do note that many of these cards and invites are optional items — formal wedding or not.

Once you have an idea of the items you’d like to include in your DIY wedding stationery project, let The Paperbox take care of your paper and cardstock. Explore our collection of wedding stationery supplies, card blanks, envelopes and accessories to see what we have to offer. Be sure to follow us on our socials — Facebook and Instagram — so you don’t miss out on news and updates on offers and new additions to our product line.

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