How Long Do Wedding Invitations Take to Make?

Wedding planning is usually goverened by one fundemental fact; you have a deadline to hit. Wedding dates are a non-movable point in the sand that, by any means necessary, everything must be ready by.

So it's no surprise that in all the 13 years we've have been wedding stationers, the most common question regarding timelines we get asked is:

“How long do wedding invitations actually take to make?”

At the very start of wedding planning, most couples will start in the exact same place: Google. And then quickly run away because the sheer amount of conflicting infromation will likely to leave you feeling one (or all) of the following:

• Worried you've left it too late
• Confused by all the differing timelines
• Shocked at how faster options seem to cost a lot more

And you wouldn't be alone in this. A staggering 80% of our couples always say that they have found stationery confusing and have avoided it until the last minute because of these very reasons.

But stationery isn't something to be afraid of, and certainly not when using a professional stationer. The whole point of opting for a professional to do your stationery is so that they can help you make sense of it all. However, the truth is that wedding invitations will almost always take longer when they are professionally designed and printed.

This guide helps break down wedding invitation guidelines in relation to using us, what can affect them, and why we charge more for rush your invitation order.

In the UK, the average time that wedding invites take to make is around 6-12 weeks from initial design to delivery. This is quite a range, so let's break this down a bit:

• Semi Custom Invitations - 4-6 weeks (our Standard)
• Custom Invitations - 6-10 weeks +
• Luxury Finished (Foiling, letterpress, embossing) - 8-12 weeks +

These timelines allow for things such as refining the design, proofing and approval, professional printing and assembly.

Whilst faster options do exist, they likely come with limitations - or higher costs - which we will cover.

One of the biggest misconceptions couples have is that wedding invitations are a quick design-and-print job.

In reality, beautiful stationery is a process, not a product you click and collect. A lot goes on behind the scenes. And those YouTube videos you've been watching? Most of those won't show you the failed attempts, the errors, or the problems. They will just show you a seamless process and a perfect outcome, every time. This is neither helpful nor realistic. So let's cover off what really goes on.

1. Design & Personalisation

Even with semi-custom designs, your wording, layout, colours, and formatting are tailored to your wedding. This stage includes:

• Adapting the design to fit your needs
  
• Formatting names, dates, and locations correctly
  
• Ensuring everything is aligned and positioned in order to print correctly
• Making sure all your information is relevant and there are not important bits of information missing (to see our comprehensive list of what to include in your invitations, see our invitation wording page here)

2. Proofing & Revisions

Proofing is essential — not optional. Couples often underestimate how long this takes, especially when:

• Guest lists aren’t final
  
• Ceremony times change
  
• Parents request wording tweaks
• Life happens (this is a biggie - never underestimate how your busy schedule can affect proofing responses)
  

Each round of revisions adds time, but it also prevents costly reprints.

3. Professional Printing

Unlike home or high-street printing, professional presses:

• Run in scheduled batches
  
• Require setup and calibration
  
• Often involve drying or curing time (letterpress)
  

Luxury finishes like foil or letterpress cannot be rushed without compromising quality, which is why we do not offer a rush order service with our Artisan finishes.

4. Finishing & Assembly

Envelopes, inserts, belly bands, wax seals, and envelope liners are often assembled by hand. This is where stationery really comes to life — and why it can’t happen overnight.

If you’ve seen some greatly differeing timelines, that chances are you are not comparing apples with apples. Every stationer works differently, and each one will have a totally different set up in terms of machinery, finishes and allocated time (don't forget, some stationers are only part time). Here are some of the most common reasons why you are seeing such vastly different timelines:

Printing Method

• Digital printing: fastest turnaround
  
• Letterpress or foil: longer production time
  
• Layered or textured papers: additional handling time
  

Level of Customisation

• Semi-custom designs move faster
  
• Fully bespoke suites require more design and approval stages
  

Quantity

Larger guest lists mean:

• Longer print runs
  
• More time for quality control and assembly
  

Extras & Finishes

Add-ons that extend timelines include:

• Envelope addressing
  
• Multiple insert cards
  
• Special finishes (ribbons, vellum, wax seals)

Using us as a benchmark, below is a realistic timeline for one of our semi-custom suites. We normally state 4-6 weeks from the time of ordering to dispatch, but for the sake of clarity we will include our consultation period in this timeline as well.

Weeks 1-2:
Design consultation + quote building, waiting for your wording to be finalised, placing of your order and request of your information

Weeks 3–6:
Proofing revisions and final sign off

Weeks 6–8:
Printing, production and assembly

This is why most stationers recommend allowing at least two months, even for streamlined designs.

Undoubtedly, this is probably the most important aspect of wedding stationery timelines, and for good reason. Getting this right makes your entire stationery planning run flawlessly, get it wrong and you will spend a long time chasing your tail and putting yourself under undue stress for no reason.

Recommended UK Timeline

• Order invitations: 8 months before the wedding (Semi Custom); 9 months before the wedding (Custom or Luxury Finish)
  
• Send invitations: 6 months before the wedding
  
• Destination weddings: 9 months before the wedding (if you have done Save the Dates - if you haven't 12 months minimum)
  

Ordering earlier gives you:

• More design flexibility
• Lower stress
• Better pricing options
  

It also ensures your invitations arrive when guests expect them - and can reduce, or eliminate RSVP panic.

When couples ask for rushed invitations, the cost isn’t just about speed — it’s about changing the entire production process. We will always recommended to our couples never to opt for a rush order service if they can help it.

What Rush Fees Actually Cover

• Priority print scheduling
  
• Working out of hours (typically late evenings and weekends)
  
• Courier shipping instead of standard delivery
  
• Limited paper and finish options
  
• Reduced margin for error
  

In other words, rushing means everything else gets rearranged to make your order happen, and usually includes limitations that may not work with how you envisioned your stationery. There will always be someone else who will do it cheaper and faster for you, but remember that whilst this may be appealing it is likely that to meet tight deadlines corners will be cut.

That’s why fast doesn’t equal cheap — and why rushed stationery often costs more than planned timelines.

Whilst it can seem like you can't get gorgeous invitations in a pinch - you absolutely can. But you will need to be smart about what you pick, and be prepared to pay a premium for them.

If you’re short on time, options that work well include:

• Semi-custom collections
  
• Digital printing
  
• Simplified invitation suites (think wedding website to help take the load off your invitations)
  
• Streamlined finishes
  

This allows you to have professionally designed stationery without compromising quality or style.

Explore our Wedding Invitation Collections

Avoiding these can save weeks — and money.

Waiting for “Final” Details

Venues, timings, and menus often change. Your invitations don’t need to wait for everything to be ready. We regularly offer to start proofing before everything is finalised; we can then get the bulk of the work done and only need to drop in one of two missing details once available.

Underestimating Proofing Time

Even small changes add days, especially when approvals are spaced out. And don't fall into the trap of thinking that a minor change "won't take long". We operate a queue based system, so whilst you may have a small change, there will be couples in line before you who would have sent back changes prior to yours, and they will be done first. And don't forget - life can get in the way, too. Any hiccup on your end with sickness, a holiday, or something more personal can derail timelines for a period of time.

Forgetting Addressing & Assembly

Envelope addressing alone can take longer than couples expect, especially if address are incomplete or still being collected once final approval has been reached.

Leaving Ordering Too Late

This removes flexibility and increases costs — the exact opposite of what most couples want. Even with the best will in the world, printing and production can run into snags, and you need time to be able to overcome them; leaving stationery to late removes the ability to do this, and therefore adds unnecessary stress both to you and to your stationer.

The best approach is choosing stationery that:

• Fits your schedule
  
• Matches your wedding style
  
• Allows enough time for quality and minimal stress
  

A professional stationer will guide you toward the best option for your timeframe, rather than pushing what’s quickest. Unfortunately sometimes that won't necessarily be what you were wanting, but there will always be a middle ground that can be found

Learn more about planning your wedding stationery on our How it Works Page

We have a lot of different ways we can help demystify Wedding Stationery. Below are some links that might help you.