One of the first questions I ask when I'm designing stationery is "When is the event?" This is critical for getting everything done on time. Depending on what needs to be done invitations for a wedding can take up to 6 months to design, refine, and print. Not to mention the processes of stuffing, mailing, and giving guests enough time to send back response cards. Oh, and the carter... they often want to know who wants to eat what! So this really is one of the most important questions to ask and figure out.
Thinking backwards let's look at a basic timeline:
I recommend giving guests 2-3 weeks to respond to the invitation for the event. If the caterer needs to know meal requests, get the deadline for that and add 2-3 weeks for the guests' responses. Add 1 week for the time between when the invitations are sent to when guests receive the letter. Allow another week for stuffing and addressing envelopes, especially if the guest list is over 50 guests.
Depending on what type of printing method is selected will highly affect how long it will take to process and receive the finished suite. I wrote an article here on the approximate time it takes to create some different print types. These will generally take 3-6 months. If a custom design is desired it's best to start them well in advance of the wedding, 6 months or more is best.
Thinking backwards let's look at a basic timeline:
I recommend giving guests 2-3 weeks to respond to the invitation for the event. If the caterer needs to know meal requests, get the deadline for that and add 2-3 weeks for the guests' responses. Add 1 week for the time between when the invitations are sent to when guests receive the letter. Allow another week for stuffing and addressing envelopes, especially if the guest list is over 50 guests.
Depending on what type of printing method is selected will highly affect how long it will take to process and receive the finished suite. I wrote an article here on the approximate time it takes to create some different print types. These will generally take 3-6 months. If a custom design is desired it's best to start them well in advance of the wedding, 6 months or more is best.