Wedding Enclosure Cards and Save the Dates: What to Send
By Lily & Roe Co. | Published: 2026-10-16
Category: How-to Guides
Learn when to send save the dates, what to include in enclosure cards, and how to build a wedding stationery order that keeps guests informed without confusion.
Quick answer
Send save the date cards six to twelve months before the wedding so guests can block the date. Mail the invitation suite eight to ten weeks before, and include only the enclosure cards that give guests information they must act on: RSVP, reception details, and accommodations. Anything that does not change a guest's plans can live on your wedding website instead.
Save the date vs invitation: two different jobs
A save the date is a heads-up, not a formal invitation. It tells guests the date and location so they can request time off or book travel, and it usually carries no RSVP request. The invitation comes later with full details and a response deadline. If you treat the save the date as a mini invitation, you will either confuse guests or commit to details you have not finalized. Keep save the dates simple: names, date, city, and a line pointing to your wedding website.
What to include in enclosure cards
Enclosure cards earn their place by answering a question the guest must act on. An RSVP card with a deadline is essential for a seated event. A reception card helps when the ceremony and party are in different places or start at different times. Accommodation cards matter when you have a hotel block or a remote venue. Directions belong on an enclosure only if cell service or GPS is unreliable. Everything else, from dress code to registry links, can go on the website without adding weight to the envelope.
- RSVP card: include a response deadline at least two to three weeks before the wedding.
- Reception card: include the venue name and start time when it differs from the ceremony.
- Accommodation card: include the hotel block name and booking deadline, not just the hotel name.
- Skip: registry cards, dress code notes, and full schedules unless a guest truly cannot attend without them.
Match your stationery pieces before you order
Couples often order invitations first and then scramble to find place cards and enclosure cards that match. A better sequence is to choose the full stationery family at once, even if you order in stages. That way your invitation, enclosure cards, and reception place cards share the same paper, typography, and palette. If you are planning a black and white palette, a suite like The Kayla keeps the look consistent from invitation to reception table. If you want a foil accent, The Evelyn carries that finish through the suite. For reception seating, The Brittany place cards can be ordered in folded or flat styles and printed with your names, so the table setting echoes the invitation rather than looking like an afterthought.
Plan the wedding stationery order in three waves
Most couples save money and stress by ordering in waves rather than all at once. Wave one is save the dates, ordered once your date and city are locked. Wave two is the invitation suite, ordered after you have a guest count estimate and a venue address. Wave three is day-of stationery such as place cards and menus, ordered after final RSVPs are in. Each wave has a different information deadline, so ordering early for wave three usually means reprinting. Confirm your stationer's turnaround time before you set your mailing dates, and add a week of buffer for proofing.
Your step-by-step stationery timeline
- Lock the date and city, then order save the dates: Send save the date cards six to twelve months before the wedding. Include names, date, city, and your wedding website. Do not include registry details or an RSVP request. Checkpoint: if your venue or date could still change, wait. A save the date you have to correct costs more than sending it a few weeks later.
- Build the guest list before you order invitations: Your invitation quantity depends on households, not total guests. Count one invitation per household or couple, then add 10 to 15 extra for keepsakes and last-minute additions. Checkpoint: ordering exactly to your current list leaves no room for a plus-one you forgot or a damaged envelope.
- Choose enclosure cards by action, not by tradition: Include an RSVP card, a reception card if the party is in a different place, and an accommodation card if you have a hotel block. Leave the rest for the website. Checkpoint: read each enclosure card and ask whether a guest must do something because of it. If not, cut it.
- Mail invitations eight to ten weeks out: Set your RSVP deadline two to three weeks before the wedding so you have time to follow up with non-responders and give final numbers to your caterer. Checkpoint: if your wedding falls on a holiday weekend or requires travel, mail closer to twelve weeks.
- Order place cards after final RSVPs: Wait until your guest count is final, then order place cards printed with your names. Decide folded or flat based on whether you want them standing or lying on the plate. Checkpoint: confirm your stationer's turnaround time before you promise your caterer a seating chart date.
Products that fit this plan
- Black And White Wedding Invitations | The Kayla: The Kayla Wedding Invitation Suite is a black and white wedding invitation suite with a bold, modern palette and clean design. A single suite with a clear palette makes it easier to keep enclosure cards and place cards visually consistent without custom color matching.
- Foil Wedding Invitations | The Evelyn: The Evelyn foil wedding invitations feature a timeless design and are available with options for quantity, package type, and print method. If you want a foil accent, choosing the invitation first lets you carry that finish into enclosure cards rather than mixing metallic and matte pieces.
- Wedding Place Cards | The Brittany: The Brittany wedding place cards are formal cards available in folded or flat options, custom printed with your names. Ordering place cards after RSVPs are final avoids reprints, and the folded or flat choice should match how you plan to display them at each setting.
