Top 5 Wedding Invitation Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Your wedding invitations set the tone for your big day, not just in style, but in how guests experience and prepare for your celebration. And while stationery may seem like a small detail, overlooking a few key things can create unnecessary stress (and added cost) later on.
Here are the top 5 wedding invitation mistakes I see most often, and how to avoid them with ease.
Not Leaving Enough Time
This is, hands down, the most common mistake. Couples often underestimate how long it takes to design, approve, print, and assemble invitations, especially custom ones. For fully custom suites, we recommend starting upwards of a year in advance or a minimum of 8-10 months to ensure there is enough time for custom design and proofing.
What to do instead:
Start the design process at least 5–6 months before your wedding date for most semi-custom suites. Mail your invitations 8-10 weeks before the wedding, or 12+ weeks for destination weddings depending on the wedding. This gives you time for proofing, printing, mailing, and addressing without stress.
Not giving yourself enough time can lead to costly rush fees, having to eliminate more time-consuming upgrades like letterpress, hand-painted custom art pieces or special order embellishments.
Ordering the Exact Guest Count
If you have 100 guests, you do not need 100 invitations. Invitations go to households, not individuals, and it’s essential to order a few extras.
What to do instead:
Order 10–15% more than your household count. You’ll want spares for keepsakes, last-minute additions, or mistakes during addressing.
Skipping the Details Card
Trying to squeeze everything onto the main invite (or just putting it all on your wedding website) can overwhelm your layout or confuse guests.
What to do instead:
Include a separate details card with important info: accommodations, directions, dress code, transportation, or your wedding website. It keeps your main invite clean and ensures guests have what they need at a glance without having to go looking is more than one location. We love wedding websites and recommend these to most couples but don’t use that as an excuse to skimp on the invitation suite.
Ignoring RSVP Timelines
The date you choose for your RSVP deadline shouldn’t be random. Coordinate with your caterer or venue to find out when they need their final counts and then work backwards making sure you have enought time to compile the final list and track down later responders (there are always at least a couple)
Choosing an RSVP date too close to the wedding can delay your final headcount, impact your seating chart, or frustrate your caterer.
What to do instead:
Set your RSVP deadline for 4-5 weeks before the wedding (typical but may vary). This gives you time to follow up with late responders and finalize all the details without rushing.
Not Asking for Help
Many couples feel pressure to get everything perfect on their own. They order their stationery online and search a list of websites for etiquette and wording help that may or may not be accurate. That’s where a professional stationer comes in handy. They are your one-stop-shop from all your stationery needs, help with printing and paper choices, add-ons or upgrades and of course help with all your etiquette questions to design decisions. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but you don’t have to.
What to do instead:
Work with a professional stationer who can walk you through every step, from wording to timelines to day-of pieces. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own (and you’ll get a far more cohesive and beautiful result).
Final Thoughts
At Raspberry Creative, we’ve worked with hundreds of couples to make the invitation process stress-free, meaningful, and beautiful. Whether you’re planning a custom suite or shopping our semi-custom collection, we’re here to guide you.
Need help getting started? Email Bethann to get the conversation started.
