Frequently Asked Questions about the Custom Wedding Invitation Process

If you’ve never had to plan your wedding invitations before, you’re not alone! Most couples come to us with tons of questions and no idea where to start, and that’s completely normal. Planning your invitations requires more decisions than most people expect, from paper types and printing to etiquette and mailing.

Today, we’re walking you through the questions we hear most often from couples about the custom wedding invitation process. We’ll cover everything you need to know to feel confident walking into the custom invitation design process.

And truly—you don’t need to have all the answers before you reach out. Guiding you through each of these decisions is our job (and we love it)! We’ll be with you each step of the way.

“I knew immediately that I was right in booking Heather Paperie. I felt in the right hands during the whole process. I underestimated how much language goes into the creation of the suite and Heather Paperie asked all the right questions to make that process simple and easy. I have always felt that the invitation suite is your guests’ first impression and Heather Paperie was there to set the bar and surpass it!” –Steph & Nick, married at Bourne Mansion

1. What actually goes in a wedding invitation suite?

A traditional invitation suite is made up of the invitation and the cards and envelopes that come with it. Our custom packages include a five-piece suite:

1. The invitation card—provides the essential details of your ceremony
2. The outer envelope—what your guests see when they open their mailbox
3. The response card—where guests RSVP and select their meal
4. The response card envelope—pre-addressed and stamped for easy mailing
5. A details card—gives details about reception, accommodations, or wedding weekend

Some couples swap out a traditional response card and envelope for a response card with a QR code. Other couples include additional cards such as a weekend events timeline or a map of the area. Every couple is different, so we can help you decide what your suite actually needs.

Save the dates and day-of stationery aren’t part of the suite itself, but we can design both to match it.

“Before working with Heather Paperie, we were so stressed with all of the design choices and finding the right invitations that tied in our personal style with our wedding venue. I wasn’t hesitant at all once I spoke with Emily! I felt like I was working with a friend who was equally invested in making our invitation suite feel true to us. She made the process so easy and streamlined our ideas into the perfect stationery.” –Jaimi & Ryan, married at Elkins Estate

2. When should you start the custom wedding invitation process?

Custom invitations take much longer than most couples expect, so it helps to plan ahead.

Here’s a general timeline:

• 10–12 months out: Book your stationery designer
• 6-8 months out: Mail your save the dates & start designing your invitations
• 3-4 months out: Mail your invitations
• 4-6 weeks out: Set your RSVP deadline

The design, proofing, printing, and assembly all take time. When you start early, you’re able to enjoy the process instead of rushing through it. The less stress, the better!

However, it’s important to know that if your timeline doesn’t match the one above, that’s okay. We are able to accommodate a variety of timelines. When in doubt, it’s always best to reach out to us.

3. What is the custom design process like?

Our custom invitation design process is made to be enjoyable! We don’t want you to feel any stress when it comes to design, etiquette, printing, or mailing.

What you can expect when you inquire to work with us:

1. Submit an inquiry form and tell us a little about your wedding.
2. Answer a few follow-up questions. We’ll reach out to learn more about your wedding and your vision.
3. Schedule a consultation call. We’ll get on a quick call to talk through your wedding in more detail.
4. Review your design board and packages. Once we have a good idea of your vision, we’ll send over a design board and three packages at different price points. You can take time reviewing them and ask any questions you may have. Don’t worry about committing to any design choices or upgrades at this point. We will collaborate throughout the design process and can chat about it then.
5. Secure your spot on our schedule with a signed contract and a 50% retainer.

What you can expect when you’ve officially booked with us:

1. Receive your personalized sample kit in the mail and look through papers, colors, and embellishments in person.
2. Design your suite. We’ll begin the custom design process.
3. Review your proofs. A proof is basically a digital preview of each piece. It shows exactly how your suite will look before anything is printed. We’ll send you proofs of your suite until it’s absolutely perfect.
4. Give final approval. Once every piece is just right, you approve the final design.
5. Printing, assembly, and mailing. We handle it all. We’ll send your invitations to print, assemble them, and mail them to your guests. You won’t have to worry about a thing.

“From start to finish, Emily and the entire Heather Paperie team were an absolute dream to work with. They took the time to understand our vision, made the entire process so enjoyable, and brought every detail to life beautifully. What stood out most was how much they genuinely cared. Emily was so thoughtful, responsive, creative, and invested in making everything perfect. She made what could have been a stressful process feel easy, exciting, and so much fun.” –Heather & Robert, married at The Armour House

Images: Hayley Moore

4. How do you word your wedding invitations?

Your wedding invitation wording depends on a few things: who is hosting, how formal your wedding is, and where your ceremony takes place.

Indicate Who Is Hosting

Traditionally, the hosts are named first. That might be one set of parents, both families, or the two of you. Many couples today host together with their families, and the wording can reflect that. Situations like divorced or remarried parents, or a parent who has passed away, call for thoughtful wording. There is always a graceful way to include everyone.

Choose Your Formality Level

Formal invitations often spell out the date and time, such as “Saturday, the twelfth of September” and “half past four o’clock.” Traditional etiquette uses “the honour of your presence” for ceremonies in a house of worship and “the pleasure of your company” for other venues. Conversely, a more relaxed wedding can use simpler, warmer phrasing.

The good news is that you don’t have to figure it out alone! We help every single couple with wording and etiquette, so your invitation is impeccable.

For more specific details on etiquette, check out our invitation wording guide.

Take note of the differences between Steph & Nick’s and Emily & Zach’s wedding invitation wording. | Images: Young Plant Weddings & Sarah Brookhart

5. What’s the difference between letterpress, foil, and digital printing?

The printing method shapes how your invitation looks and how it feels in your guests’ hands.

Letterpress printing presses ink into thick paper, leaving an impression you can see and feel. It has a classic, tactile quality. Letterpress is the upgrade our couples make most frequently.

Foil press printing uses heat to apply metallic or colored foil to the paper. It adds shine to names, monograms, or accents.

Digital printing is our standard printing method. It prints your design directly onto the paper and handles a wide range of colors and detailed artwork.

Left to right: Gold letterpress, gold foil press, and charcoal digital printing examples

6. What are some wedding invitation embellishments, and are they worth it?

Think of wedding invitation embellishments like adding accessories to your outfit. You’ll have a lovely outfit without them; but with accessories, your look becomes truly exceptional.

Some of our most popular embellishments include:

• Envelope liners
• Wax seals
• Silk ribbon
• Belly bands
• Custom monograms and crests
• Venue illustrations
• Thick paper
• Embossing
• Letterpress
• Foil press

In the end, whether an upgrade is worth it comes down to what matters most to you. A venue illustration on your envelope liner gives guests a first look at your venue. A wax seal or silk ribbon adds a luxurious finishing touch the moment the envelope opens.

You don’t need every single embellishment to have a stunning suite. We’ll help you choose the details that suit your style and make the biggest impression on your guests.

“They turned out even better than I could have imagined, incorporating such beautiful details from the thick paper and all-white design to our embossed initials, letterpress ink, custom venue drawing, and ribbon.” –Lauren & Blake, married at Arlington Hall at Turtle Creek

7. How many wedding invitations do you need to order?

You need one invitation per household, not one per guest. This usually ends up being about 50-60% of your total guest list. For example, a couple or a family with young children living at the same address would receive one single invitation. Adult children living at home traditionally receive their own.

We recommend ordering 5-10% more than your household count. Extras cover lost mail or last-minute additions to your guest list.

8. How do you address a wedding invitation envelope?

Addressing etiquette can get tricky. Here are a few common situations:

• Families: Address the envelope to the parents, such as “Mr. and Mrs. James Carter,” and include the children’s names if they’re invited. When the whole household is invited, “The Carter Family” also works.
• Couples with the same last name: For a traditional approach, use “Mr. and Mrs. Rahul Patel.” To include both first names, use “Mr. Rahul and Mrs. Priya Patel.”
• Couples with different last names: List both full names, such as “Ms. Claire Bennett and Ms. Sophia Reyes.”
• Formal titles: Use titles like “Doctor,” “The Honorable,” or military ranks where they apply.

Every custom suite includes printed envelope addressing in a script font that matches your design. Your envelopes look polished, and you save hours of addressing by hand. We’re also happy to help you figure out any etiquette for names and titles along the way.

To learn more about etiquette, check out our full guide on addressing wedding invitation envelopes.

9. How do you mail wedding invitations?

Thick, square, or embellished invitations often need extra postage. Wax seals, ribbon, and multiple enclosures can add weight or make an envelope too rigid for postal machines. In those cases, the invitation needs hand canceling, which means it’s processed by hand instead of by machine.

We take care of all of it. That means we assemble your invitations, handle the postage (including hand canceling when it’s needed) and mail them for you.

10. What day-of stationery do you need?

Day-of stationery guides your guests through the wedding itself. Common pieces include:

• Wedding ceremony programs
• Vow books
• Menus
• Place cards or escort cards
• Seating charts
• Welcome signs and other signage

We design day-of stationery to match your suite, so your wedding looks cohesive from start to finish. We recommend reaching out 4 to 5 months before your wedding to secure your spot, and no later than 3 months before.

Looking for a full list of stationery you might need? Check out our Wedding Day Stationery Guide.

Ready to Design Your Custom Invitations?

Now that you know precisely what to expect, the next step is simple! You don’t need to remember every detail or have every decision made before we talk. We’ll guide you through each step of the custom wedding invitation process and take care of all the details along the way.

“If you want invitations that you’ll actually be happy with and want to have an enjoyable time working with someone, then Heather Paperie is the perfect vendor. Wedding invitations shouldn’t have to be a stressful process and it was one of my wedding planning highlights, all thanks to Emily and her team!” –Yasaman & Sean, married at The Palace Hotel

When you’re ready to begin, fill out our contact form to get started. We can’t wait to bring your vision to life!

You may also be interested in:

• 17 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Stationery Designer