The Wedding Stationery Checklist

Wedding stationery is the collection of all those printed (or digital) invites and cards that guide your guests through your big day – from the very first save-the-date to the thank-you cards you send once you’ve come back down from the highs of your wedding. 

It’s a great way to bring your wedding theme to life from the outset, with the design and style tailored to you. Each piece of wedding stationery has a specific job to do, sharing key information, setting the tone of your day and keeping everyone in the loop at the right moment.

There can be a lot of different pieces spread across all the stages of your planning, so you might not know exactly what wedding stationery you need. A wedding stationery checklist can help make sure nothing slips through the cracks and reduce that wedding planning stress.

The wedding stationery checklist

It’s easy to underestimate just how many pieces of stationery go into a single wedding – whether it’s practical information like where to be and when, or simply lovely keepsakes you’ll treasure for years to come. 

The trick is knowing what you might need early on, so you can plan, budget and order in good time rather than scrambling at the last minute. This is a great place to start for wedding stationery ideas.

Pre-wedding stationery

• Save the dates
• Engagement party invitations (if you’re having one)
• Wedding invitations, which might include:
  • RSVP cards
  • Information or details cards (directions, parking, accommodation, dress code)
  • Maps or travel cards
• Envelopes and envelope liners
• Belly bands, ribbons or wax seals
• Wedding website details card
• Gift list or registry cards

Stationery for the day itself

• Order of service or order of the day
• Ceremony booklets or vow cards
• Welcome sign
• Seating plan or table plan
• Table names or numbers
• Place cards or name cards
• Menus
• Drinks or cocktail menus
• Guest book
• Signage (directional signs, bar signs, photo booth props, hashtag signs)
• Favour tags or labels
• Confetti cones
• Wishing well or card box sign

Post-wedding stationery

• Thank you cards
• Printed photos or photo albums
• Keepsake invitation prints for framing
• Notes for suppliers (a lovely touch for your favourite vendors)

Pre-wedding stationery

Pre-wedding stationery covers everything that goes out before the big day. It’s where the planning really begins, to build anticipation and make sure your guests have all the information they need.

Save the dates are usually the first thing your guests receive. Sent out anywhere from six to twelve months ahead, they do exactly what the name suggests.

Wedding invitations are the centrepiece of your pre-wedding stationery. They share the essential details – who, what, where and when – and give guests their first real glimpse of your wedding style and theme. 

Whether you’re going rustic, elegant or somewhere in between, your invitations set the tone for everything to come. They may also include:

• RSVP cards make it easy for guests to confirm whether they’ll be attending, often alongside their meal choices and any dietary requirements.
• Information or details cards are where you cover all the practical bits – directions, parking, the dress code, timings and any nearby accommodation. At a rural venue, this is especially handy. At Heaton House Farm, for example, you’ll want to point guests towards our easy-to-access car park and on-site accommodation, so they know exactly what to expect.

The finishing touches – envelope liners, belly bands, ribbons and wax seals – aren’t essential, but they’re a gorgeous way to make your invitations feel extra special the moment they land on the doormat.

Stationery for during and after the wedding

Once your invitations are out and your RSVPs are in, attention turns to the stationery that brings your day to life – and the pieces that round things off beautifully afterwards.

On the day itself, your stationery does two jobs: it guides your guests and it ties your whole theme together. 

• An order of service or order of the day lets everyone know what’s happening and when, so there’s no confusion between the ceremony, the wedding breakfast and the evening celebrations. 
• A welcome sign greets guests as they arrive and sets the tone straight away.
• A table plan tells everyone where they’re sitting and helps the whole room flow smoothly. Pair it with table names or numbers and individual place cards, and you’ve got a seating arrangement that looks the part and works seamlessly. This is also a wonderful chance to weave in your theme. We’ve seen everything from mini log slices with names handwritten on them to elegant calligraphy place cards.

Then there’s all the lovely extra signage – directional signs, bar signs, photo booth props – that adds personality and helps the day run without a hitch. Smaller touches like favour tags, confetti cones and a guest book complete the picture.

After the wedding, the most important piece of stationery is your thank you cards. Sending a heartfelt note to your guests and your suppliers is a lovely way to show your appreciation for sharing in your day and for any gifts received.

Stationery sorted, day perfected

It’s easy to overlook wedding stationery, but getting it right makes everything run that little bit smoother.

After more than 25 years of helping couples bring their big day to life, we know just how much the small touches matter. 

Take a look at our wedding planning guides for more handy checklists, or request a brochure today and let’s start bringing your wedding to life.