As a wedding stationery designer, I have more than a few thoughts about how stationery can completely transform your guest experience. When we talk about wedding stationery, we mean everything from your invitations and their envelopes to the menu for your reception dinner. Your stationery is the thread that ties your event together, and it’s my greatest joy to create show-stopping, creative wedding stationery that wows your guests. Here are a few wedding stationery ideas that can help elevate your guest experience and make every person on your invite list feel valued and excited about your celebration! 

Why You Should Care about Your Wedding Stationery 

Your stationery sets the tone for your event. From the moment your guests receive your save the date, your stationery is communicating what your event will be like. I once designed a poster-sized save-the-date for guests to hang on the fridge because the couple wanted something that screamed, “this is going to be fun!” (And it was, I have pictures to prove it). We infuse your stationery with whatever feeling you want your wedding to embody. This then becomes a cohesive thread throughout your celebration. Even months before your wedding, your guests will have a taste of what to expect. And then on your wedding day, they’ll see colors, themes, and designs that reflect the feeling you want to convey. This cohesion is what separates a good event from a truly memorable one. 

Wedding Stationery Ideas to Surprise And Delight Your Guests 

I use the phrase “surprise and delight” a lot while I’m brainstorming wedding stationery ideas. Your wedding is a wonderful opportunity to show the people in your life how much you value them! When else will you have all the people you love in one place? Little details are a great way to create an exquisite experience for your guests. Here are a few of my favorite ways to surprise and delight your wedding guests through custom stationery. 

Save the Dates & Invitations 

I cannot exaggerate enough how important your save the dates and invitations are for setting the tone for your wedding! As the first things your guests receive, these items show your guests what they’re getting into. And there are so many fun ways to customize them! Colors, designs, textures, and illustrations are just the beginning. I once designed an invitation suite to convey the feeling of fall in West Virginia. From the monogram to the touch and feel of specialty papers and other materials, we set the tone for an elegant, sophisticated, layered experience. This allowed the guests to not only know what to expect from the wedding, but to have an understanding of the surrounding area and feel grounded while visiting! 

Programs 

Programs tell your guests exactly what’s happening at each point during your wedding. These are especially helpful for multi-day events, but are welcome at all weddings! Guests value programs because they can know exactly where to be during a long days that might involve traveling to different venues. Your programs can be fun, creative, and tie together all of the colors and designs throughout your wedding day. 

Seating Charts 

Seating charts are one of my favorite things to design. Why make things cookie-cutter and use folded cards on a linen-covered table when you can get creative and establish your aesthetic? Your seating chart is often the first thing your guests see when entering your reception, so it helps set the mood for your wedding evening! One of my favorite seating chart designs was a custom shelf decorated with mid-century modern decor. Each piece of decor had a name and table number on it. Not only did the seating chart direct guests, but it also added to the overall aesthetic of the event. 

Custom menus

Menus are an often-overlooked way to add personality to your stationery. If your wedding has a theme, menus are the perfect place to really draw it in! I’ve designed Ferris wheel-shaped menus for a Chicago wedding and color-coordinated umbrella menus with real wooden stands. For both events, guests were enamored with the menus! They create wonderful conversation pieces and even keepsakes! 

Table numbers 

Have you ever considered designing creative table numbers? Using a unique material like wood or acrylic, or incorporating a design to tie it back to your invitation suite, adds another layer of interest to your event. They don’t need to be big to be eye-catching and exciting! 

Share Your Wedding Stationery Ideas with Me! 

The sky is the limit when it comes to your wedding stationery. Whatever you dream up, we can create! That’s the benefit of working with a stationery artist with such varied experience. Whatever ideas you have, I will take them and create something completely unique to you. All of my designs are inspired by my couple’s love stories, and I would love to hear yours! Explore my wedding stationery services and contact me if you’re ready to bring yours to life.  

I adore working with Fig. 2 because the schedule is clear, the understanding and direction of the product is well established and the willingness to think outside the box is exciting! — Laura Ritchie, Grit & Grace

Vendors: 

Kendra & Mike

Planning & Design: Grit & Grace Events

Photography: Abby Jiu

Adam & Tim

Planning  & Design: Rocket Science Events

Photography: Photogen Inc.

Pippin Hill Event

Planning & Design: Haley Kelly Events

Photography: Josh & Dana Fernandez Photography

Tori & Aquiles

Planning & Design: Glint Events

Photography: David Abel