So, you just got engaged... congrats! 🍾 If you're new around here, my name is Laura, and I've been designing wedding invitations for seven years. My greatest joy (and job!) is helping brides navigate this exciting season while designing wedding invitations they fall in love with.
Last year, I did a seven-part series on Instagram all about tips and tricks for the newly engaged couple. We talked about budgets, boundaries, and everything between! Today, I'm condensing those videos into four essential chapters of Wedding Invitation Advice for the Newly Engaged Couple.
While each of the topics below could easily be an entire blog post, I've done my best to whittle each nugget of seasoned wisdom into a bite-size chapter to help newly engaged couples get ahead when it comes to their wedding stationery.
Chapter I: I Just Got Engaged... and Now I'm on Pinterest
When you're newly engaged, Pinterest feels like a natural starting point for gathering inspiration.
While Pinterest can be a great wedding planning tool, beware! The algorithm knows what you like and will screen all content based on those preferences. When it comes to your wedding invitations, it's crucial you're exposed to what you love and what you don't. You need to see it all so you can make empowered style decisions.
Pinterest can also set unrealistic expectations about budget. Many of the invitation suites you see on social media are created specifically for publications and staged photoshoots. These suites can easily run between $10-$20 per invitation.
If you want to find style ideas for every style and budget, check out my Invitation Inspiration Pinterest board. You can also take my wedding stationery style quiz for extra credit!
Chapter II: I Just Got Engaged... And I'm Freaking Out About Timelines
If you're a Type-A, play-by-the-rules type of gal (*cough cough* me), don't worry! I'm going to include a resource that you can screenshot and reference during the wedding planning process.
Click here for your wedding invitation timeline cheat sheet.
BUT the real message here is that I want you to use this timeline as a guide. I see a lot of clients with big timeline anxiety, but I'm here to remind you that it's okay to do your wedding your way.
If you're planning a destination wedding, your invitations may need to be mailed earlier to allow for travel planning. If you're not expecting many out-of-town guests, it's okay if you're running a little behind on your guest list. If you sent out save the dates ahead of schedule, no one will write a scathing letter to Martha Stewart calling out your offensive faux pas.
Wedding invitation timelines are not-one-size-fits-all. If you need help establishing a timeline that works for your specific situation, please don't hesitate to reach out or book a consultation!
Chapter III: I Just Got Engaged... And I'm Worried About Money
Shakespeare once wrote, "Expectations are the root of all heartache." I'm fairly certain he was talking about wedding invitation budgets. Whether you have $, $$, or $$$ set aside for your stationery, there are a few ways to save.
Regardless of whether you opt for a custom, semi-custom, or DIY suite, here are a few ways to keep costs down without sacrificing quality:
Opt for a postcard RSVP with pre-printed return address
Use an embosser or stamp for your return address
Add your details card information to a wedding website
If you already have a budget in mind, I suggest reaching out for a quote based on these pricing recommendations.
Chapter IV: I Just Got Engaged... And I'm Going to DIY My Wedding Invitations
One of my most popular wedding invitation options is the Design It Yourself. It offers the freedom and creativity of a fully custom suite for budget-conscious brides. However, this is very different than Do It Yourself invitations as it's supervised and coordinated by a professional stationer. I've received many, many emails from the past 7 years asking me to fix a botch DIY job. Sometimes I can, but many times the damage is already done.
When it comes to your wedding invitations, leave it to the pros! If you want a more active role in designing your invitations, explore my Design It Yourself invitation options.
Want more?
If you found this content helpful, be sure t watch, like, and bookmark the full series on my reels. I've linked them below so you can find what works for you! Have any advice? Questions? New chapters you'd like to add? Drop me a note below.
Note: All photos in this post are by the talented Vivo Photography