The Essential Wedding Stationery Checklist

Wedding stationery goes waaaaaay beyond just wedding invitations, but that doesn’t mean the answer to “What wedding stationery do I need?” is “Everything.”

The costs (not to mention the number of trees used) can really add up if you aren’t careful, especially if you’re on a budget and really wondering,’What wedding stationery do I need?’ Here’s a quick look at your wedding stationery checklist, everything from save-the-dates to thank-you cards – including what you can skip and/or how you can save.

Complete Wedding Stationery Checklist

Stationery Type	Essential?	Money-Saving Tip
Save-the-Dates	Nope!	Skip these altogether, send them out online or get them for FREE from sponsor Wedding Paper Divas!
Wedding Invitations	Definitely!	DIY or find an online wedding stationer (see our list below). Simpler designs are generally much less expensive than more complex ones.
Reply Cards	Yes… sort of.	You can skip reply cards only if everyone you’re inviting could comfortably use an online RSVP system. Otherwise, consider sending response cards only to those guest who would prefer to RSVP via snail-mail.
Outer Envelopes	Definitely!	Hey, you’ve gotta mail your invites in something! Save money on these babies by skipping the calligrapher and doing the addressing yourself.
Inner Envelopes	Nope!	An inner envelope is only necessary if you can’t stand the thought of your outer envelope getting a little scuffed up in the mail.
Extra Info Cards	Yes… sort of.	Rather than sending hotel info, directions, etc. on a separate page (or, even more costly, in a separate mailout), direct guests to your wedding website. That way they can get all the info they need and you can keep the apprised of any changes and new developments.
Ceremony Programs	Nope!	These are very nice to have, but not strictly necessary. Most people can follow a wedding service without a written play-by-play. Any last-minute announcements can be spoken by your MC after you’re husband and wife.
Menu Cards	It depends.	Save money on menu cards by including one menu per table rather than per place setting. Or if you’re having a cocktail reception, skip the menus and simply have the servers explain what’s on their trays.
Table Cards	Definitely!	These are needed so your guests can find their tables. Rather than having these match your stationery exactly, DIY them. There are tons of fun ways to create unique table markers.
Place Cards	It depends.	If you want to say exactly which seats people will sit in, use place cards. Otherwise just direct them to their table and let them sit where they want. Unless you’re dealing with some serious awkward family situation, they can probably sort it out for themselves.
Thank-You Cards	Definitely!	You can DIY your thank-you cards inexpensively by visiting a craft store and picking up blank cards, a couple of cute stamps, and inks in your wedding colors. Or go shopping for the pre-fab kind you can get in card stores. They come in a wide variety of designs and many brides have found a suitable match (and you can often get 10 for about $4).