Stationary You Might Need for your Wedding

You will need rsvp cards, table layouts, menus, and place cards just to get started. Wedding stationery is also an important component of your wedding decor. This is a comprehensive list to help you start planning your wedding stationery.

While the majority of people just think of wedding stationery as the invitation and the various items at the ceremony and reception, there are some other items of stationery that, depending on the celebration you're planning, may be necessary to get the party started.

Invitations to Engagement Parties
To make an announcement of the couple's engagement or to send an invitation to the party. Be careful you only invite people who you intend to have at the big event.

Cards for my bridesmaids / groomsmen / wedding party
Your best friends will be needed for assistance and encouragement, so asking them to be your bridesmaids is a thoughtful gesture. Cute cards and boxes have become quite popular over the years

Invitations to hen parties or house party member
It might be amusing to send the hens / house party a card to establish the mood if your hen or house party has a specific theme.

Save-the-Date Cards
- The recipient of a Save the Date is informed that they are invited to your event and should "save the date." This basically buys you time to send the invitation.
- The names of the bride and groom, the wedding date, and a few basic data about the town or region where the ceremony will take place are all that are included on save-the-date cards, which also indicate that a formal invitation will be sent out soon after.
- If you are getting married overseas or are inviting guests from out of the wedding state or abroad, save the date cards are ideal for couples who need to give their guests advance notice of the wedding so they can start making travel arrangements.

Wedding Invitations
The most crucial component of your wedding stationery is the invitation. They tell your guests of the date, time, and other details of your wedding ceremony and the reception that follows.

Wedding RSVP Cards (Acceptance, Regret, and Response Cards)
These cards, which you include with your invitations, let visitors indicate whether or not they will be coming. They may also need to include food choices if you are having a plated meal

Information on Direction (Maps & Accommodation Information)
Maps and directions are helpful for guiding out-of-town guests to your church/ceremony site and reception venue's locations. For guests who might need it, the accommodation information includes contact information and web addresses for nearby hotels or bed-and-breakfasts or where you might have setup your room block.

Invitations for post ceremony
For any additional visitors who might not be present for the ceremony. A formal invitation for the wedding reception and celebration are totally acceptable.

Schedule of Wedding Events Insert
The information on this card informs guests of any additional events that are scheduled before or after the wedding ceremony and reception, such as a welcome party, a supper the night before, or a second-day barbecue. Particularly helpful if the wedding is taking place far from home or overseas, lasts for two or three days, or both to allow people to plan. What also is important is that if you are inviting people to other events and you need a head count, you may include the rsvp to other events on that same wedding rsvp card.

Program
Booklet for the Order of Service/Ceremony
- The names of the bridal party, the name of the celebrant, the schedule and songs, music, etc. are all listed in the order of service/ceremony booklet that is used for the wedding service. These can be utilized for civil ceremonies and vary widely between different religions.
- Quotes or poems, bios of the bridal party, "in memory of" tributes to loved ones who have passed away, or a thank you to the parents and guests could all be added to the program to make it more unique to the couple's special day.

The reception program and wedding program (Optional)
This lets visitors know what to expect throughout the evening or reception, from the dinner to the speeches that will be given, the cake-cutting, and the first dance. This isn't extremely common in Irish weddings, but it occasionally appears as a chalkboard sign or wedding sign at the entry to your event. This is also helpful if you have a facility with numerous rooms or a busy schedule.

Seating Layout Sign
Your guests can quickly find their place thanks to the seating or table layout or sign that are shown at the reception entry. These could match the table numbers, escort cards, or place cards (names).

Place cards
Each guest has a place card at their seat telling them where to sit. These could be a component of a favor left for each visitor. Place cards are not mandatory - guests an certainly just go to their table and sit where they wish. They are considered more formal and if you have a head table or parents tables - we do recommend place cards for those as those tables are usually the last to sit and have your VIP people wanting to sit by specific wedding guests.

Escort Cards
Escort cards, which share a similar concept as placecards but are more common in the US since they allow for greater creativity than placecards, are beginning to appear at Irish weddings. At the wedding reception, they are utilized to designate each visitor to their place or table rather. This can correspond with the table/seating plan.

Table Names and Numbers
When guests pick up their escort cards, they can easily identify the table card that corresponds to it because table numbers or names are utilized to identify each table to your guests. We don’t recommend table names for weddings over 50 - if you want to include names with table numbers that is the best way to do it for wedding guest groups over 50.

Menu
The menu card gives the visitors details about the upcoming meal. It may include the available menu items or options for people with dietary restrictions. They are not necessary if you are serving a buffet or holding a small wedding reception with appetizers. However, we think its a inexpensive way to dress the tables.

Wedding correspondence after the ceremony
Greeting Cards
Soon after the wedding, you should send your guests thank-you notes to express your appreciation for their attendance and gift. Additionally, thank-you notes are sent to the host of your wedding party, house/hen party, flower girls, and bridesmaids/groomsmen.

Wedding Announcements

If the couple marries privately or elopes, to inform relatives and acquaintances of the union. Or if they weren’t invited to the wedding.

Address Change Cards (Optional)
If the couple relocated after the wedding, change of address cards may be helpful.

Additional Wedding Stationery (Optional)
You should consider the proper signage and stationery if you're planning a lot of venue design ideas for your wedding, such as a dessert bar or dessert table, a photobooth, baskets in the toilets, a fingerprint guest book, etc.