Chinese Wedding Invitation Etiquette and Timeline (Complete Guide)
Are you planning a Chinese wedding and wondering when to send out your wedding invitations?
Complete Chinese Wedding Invitation Timeline
Here are the essential wedding invitation timelines for when to send out invites. From choosing the perfect theme to ensuring your invitations reach your guests on time, you’ll find all in the following guide!
9- 12 Months Before Your Wedding – Decide on the Theme of Your Wedding Invitation
The journey of Chinese wedding planning begins with a crucial decision: selecting the theme. Take your time to explore various themes that resonate with your love story and wedding style. Whether it’s a traditional, modern, floral, minimalist theme, your invitation should reflect your unique personality as a couple. Choosing the theme early gives you a clear direction for the design and ensures consistency in your wedding stationery.
9 Months Before Your Wedding – Look for Your Dream Wedding Invitation
Now that you have a clear vision of your invitation’s design elements, it’s time to shop for your wedding invitation. Visit local stationery stores, consult with invitation designers, or explore online options.
For easy buying experience, I would recommend buying online, for example Zazzle, which offer one-stop services and exquisite collections of designs. From personalizing to receiving the wedding cards, you can do comfortably at any time at your home. Remember, take your time to find the ideal invitation that aligns with your theme and wedding day.
8 Months Before Your Wedding – Decide on Paper Type, Size, Printing Method, and Languages
Once you’ve decided on a theme, it’s time to get into the nitty-gritty details of your wedding invitation. Decide on the paper type, size, printing method, and languages that align with your chosen theme as these small details will significantly impact the overall aesthetics.
For basic wedding invitation, you may consider using matte paper and digital printing method, while shimmer paper and gold foil printing can be used for a grand and luxurious wedding.
The larger and thicker of the cardstock may cost higher when sending your wedding invitation, but gives a more formal and luxurious impression. Yet, a smaller size wedding invite may offer a more intimate, cozier feeling which may be more suitable for micro-wedding.
Consider whether you want bilingual invitations – English and Chinese, to accommodate different guests. Your guests will feel warmly welcomed and respected when they read in a language they are familiar with. Also, adding Chinese wordings onto your wedding invitations will just make it looks more traditional and Chinese.
6-8 Months Before Your Wedding – Send Save the Date Cards
Save the date is more for western wedding and serves an announcement of your wedding date and location. It is sent to guests to before sending out wedding invitation to give them the basic information about your wedding day.
Traditionally, Chinese culture does not have the practice of sending out save the date. Yet, under the influence of modern western culture, save the date can be included and serve as a fun way to share your good news to your guests. A simple or basic save the date will do!
6-7 Months Before the Wedding – Estimate How Many Wedding Invitations Are Needed
To avoid ordering too many or too few invitations, briefly work on your guest list and estimate the number of cards needed. Consider sending one invitation per household or couple rather than per individual, which can help you manage your budget more efficiently.
6-7 Months Before the Wedding – Finalize the Wordings and Details
With the number of invitations determined, finalize the wordings and details that will be included in your invitation. This includes essential information such as the wedding venue, date, time, RSVP instructions, and any special requests. A well-worded invitation sets the tone for your wedding and ensures that your guests have all the necessary information. Also, proof-read the wordings and spelling as this is your once-in-a-lifetime event.
6 Months Before Your Wedding – Order Your Wedding Invitations
It’s time to make the purchase and get your invitations printed. Allow ample time for printing to ensure your invitations meet your expectations in terms of design and craftsmanship. If time allows, you may print out a small quantity for quality check and print in large batch afterwards.
5 Months Before the Wedding – Perform a Final Quality Check
Once your printed invitations arrive, perform a final quality check. Ensure that all details are accurate, and the invitations match your expectations. It’s easier to address any issues at this stage rather than closer to the wedding date when time is limited.
4-5 Months Before the Wedding – Obtain Names and Addresses from Your Guests
Now comes the task of collecting the names and addresses of your guests. Reach out to friends and family for this information, or use digital tools to streamline the process. Having accurate guest details is crucial for addressing envelopes and sending out the invitations.
3-4 Months Before the Wedding – Assembling the Cards into Wedding Invitation Suite
Assemble your invitation suite, which may include additional items like RSVP cards, details cards, or even red packets if you’re incorporating Chinese customs. Write the names and addresses on the envelopes, ensuring each is correctly labeled for sending.
6-8 Weeks Before Your Wedding (After the Betrothal Ceremony) – Send Wedding Invitations
Around two months before your wedding date, it’s time to mail your wedding invitations. Traditionally, wedding invitations should be sent after betrothal ceremony as it marks official engagement of the couple and acceptance by both their parents. Sending the invites early enough allows guests ample time to RSVP and make arrangements to attend your special day.
3-4 Weeks Before The Wedding – Request RSVPs
Lastly, a month before the wedding, remind your guests to RSVP. This final check ensures you have an accurate headcount for your big day and can make necessary arrangements for seating, catering, and other logistics.
2-3 Months After Your wedding – Send Thank You Cards
This is the final piece of wedding stationary you need to have to thank anybody who comes to your wedding. Send it your wedding guests, helpers to sincerely thank them for celebrating the special moment with you.
Sending Wedding Invitation Timeline For Traditional and Destination Wedding
Regardless if you are having a traditional wedding or planning a destination wedding, your timeline need to be sufficient for your guest who are attending.
It needs to be at least a few months before your official wedding date to allow your guests to prepare early in advance.
I would recommend you to send your save the date invitation with the following timeframe:
- Destination Wedding: 9-12 months before your wedding to allow your guests arrange for their holiday
- Traditional Wedding: 3 months before the wedding date to allow easy arrangement of their calendar.
Basic wedding invitation etiquette is a crucial part of your wedding planning and should not be neglected.
The above suggested wedding stationery timeline is a complete guide that ensure your invitations reaching your guests in a timely manner. Share your joy with your guests by sending them an exquisitely crafted invitation!
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