{Tuesday Tip #2} When to order your Wedding Stationery {Featuring a Wedding Stationery Timeline}

"When do I order my wedding stationery?"

I hear this from Brides all the time.  The ever popular question of when to shop for and order your wedding stationery can be a tricky one.  I have found that although wedding planner books are very helpful in many areas, they all seem a bit out of date when it comes to ordering your save the dates, invitations, and other paper needs.  This is especially true when it comes to custom invitations.  A good rule of thumb in all things wedding is "you can never be too early" when selecting vendors and checking things off your list.  

Start out by checking out wedding magazines and websites for inspiration.  Print out photos of your favorites and note what you love about them and what you wish you could change. Your stationery is a very important part of your wedding.  Save the dates or the actual invitations are often the first glimpse your guests will have at  your Wedding.  What kind of message do you want to send?  This is your chance to get them excited about the amazing event you are planning.  You want to make sure that it reflects who you are as a couple by showcasing your style, tastes, and even humor at times.  

Often you will find that stationery lead times can be longer than you might think.  To avoid paying costly rush fees to meet your deadlines, or worse - not being able to get what you want at all, be sure to plan ahead.