All You Need to Know About Wedding Invitation Proofs and Orders with No Regrets

While choosing the perfect wedding invitation can be quite the task as is (hello endless options in every style!), the proofing and ordering process can be half the battle. We’re picking Lydia Wears with No Regrets‘ brain to get the scoop on this important process and all the to-dos behind the scenes. Read on:

1. I’ve chosen the invite/style I want to use. What’s the next step?

One of our trained bridal specialists will sit down with you to help you with wording and write up the invitation. We will help with proper etiquette and any guidance a bride may want as far as color, font and design options go. 

2. What is a proof?

A proof is a very important part of the invitation process. It is a digital image of what your invitation will look like when printed (whether the final print process is digital, thermography, letterpress, foil, engraving, etc.!). Proofing your invitation is one of the most important parts of the process because during that time, any information can still be changed and edited. 

3. How long does it take for a proof to be completed?

Depending on the company, we expect a digital proof to be emailed within 1-3 business days. 

4. What details should I be looking for while examining the proof?

This is one of the most important parts of the process! Be sure to have multiple people check it over as well. You should be checking for spelling, accurate information like time, date and location/address, layout, and that everything is exactly the way you want it to be printed! 

5. If there is a mistake with the proof, how much additional time does it take to redo my order? Do I receive another proof following this?

If there are items that need to be changed in your proof, it generally takes a day to receive an updated proof from a company. You will always receive one final proof where everything is correct and ready to be printed.

6. How many invites should I order?

This is such an important question and one of the first things we ask our brides. It is imperative that you know how many invitations you need to order, not how many people are coming to the wedding. Since most invitations are going to a couple or a family, the numbers can be drastically different. For example, if you are inviting 250 people, it is safe to assume you’ll need 125-150 invitations. We always want you to have a few extra invitations for any last minute guests that get invited and for parents/grandparents to have a few extra for scrapbooks/keepsakes!

7. Can I make changes to my order after I’ve submitted it? 

Unfortunately, most companies do not allow changes to be made once the order has been submitted. If a change needs to be made, we call the company immediately to see where it is in the production process. If we’re lucky, we can catch it in time for a change to be made. 

8. Once I place my order or approve my proof, how long will it take to have the completed invitations delivered?

Delivery time varies based on what company you use, but two to three weeks is a good timeline for the completed invitations to arrive. Of course, expedited shipping is always an option for a rush order. Rush production is sometimes available as well to cut down on the number of days for printing. 

Have more questions about the wedding invitation process? Take a peek at our invitation etiquette blog with Occasions here and get your invitation timeline questions answered by Paper + More here.

Photos from top to bottom: Kelsi Laine Photography, Atria Creative, Aubrey Marie Photography, Tammy Odell Photography, Aubrey Marie Photography