What stationery items will I need?
You won’t need everything!
Invitation:
Essential. Your invitation sets the tone and theme for your event, and your guests will get clues as to how formal the event is and what colours the bridal party may be wearing.
RSVP card:
Not essential. Consider how you would like your guests to RSVP. If you prefer them to phone or email include that information on the invitation. Alternately, order a small RSVP Card (with or without an envelope) or an RSVP Postcard.
Wishing Well/Gift Registry Cards:
Not essential. Many couples these days use some form of a Wishing Well or Gift/Honeymoon registry. Whilst tradition says it is impolite to include this in your invitation, many couples do to help their guests out. Include a small card to let your guests politely know what you would like to receive. It may be an elegant sentence or two or even a sweet poem. For examples of Wishing Well Poems or Gift Suggestion wording take a look at our Wording Guide.
Map:
Not essential. If your ceremony or reception is being held in an unusual location or if you have many guests who are not local to the area, you may wish to consider including a small map with directions. This will ensure that no guest becomes lost and that all turn up on time!
Rainy Day Card:
Outdoor ceremonies are beautiful, but are always at risk of inclement weather. If you have a plan ‘B’ in place for wet weather, consider letting your guests know in advance that they may receive an SMS or phone call to advise of the change of location.
Information Cards:
If you are providing accommodation or transport, let your guest know the booking name, pick up location or details with a small card.
THE CEREMONY
Ceremony Booklets:
These are not essential, however they are a thoughtful touch, especially if you are having a religious service, where your guests will need to respond, or where they may not know what is going on. Some couples like to give the guests a small ‘running order’ that includes the key parts of the ceremony, the special readings and their vows.
THE RECEPTION
Place Cards:
Essential. Your guests will need to know where their seat is (and to prevent any arguments on the day!). Place Cards also help reception staff quickly identify guests with dietary requirements and key members of the bride and groom’s families.
Menus:
Essential. Check with your reception centre first to see if they provide menus. Make sure you are happy with what they offer, and if you aren’t, consider ordering Menus. Menus can be personalized for each guest, or you may wish to have one or two large menus per table. A good guide is two table menus for 8-10 guests.
Seating Plan:
Essential. Pop a beautiful big plan at the entrance to your Reception to let your guests know where their allocated seat is.
Table Numbers:
Essential. Some couples choose to personalize their reception by naming their tables. You may like to use city names, or flowers, or your favourite footy team players. It’s completely up to you!
Bonbonniere:
Not essential. Bonbonniere is a little gift to say thank you to your guests. Traditionally it was 5 almonds, but these days couples look to delicious chocolates and truffles, fudge, wine stoppers, coasters, small perfume bottles, seedlings, potted plants and decorated tea lights. Consider what your bonbonniere will be before ordering boxes and tags.
Guest Book:
Not essential. Many couple chooses to have a guest book made to match their stationery. At the Reception the Guest Book is passed around to allow the guests to write happy messages for the new couple.
AFTERWARDS
Thank You Cards:
Essential. A Thank You can be in the form of a folded card, a flat card or simply an elegant piece of paper with your names on. A simple small Thank You is all that you need and tells your guests that you appreciated their company and gift.
Invitation:
Essential. Your invitation sets the tone and theme for your event, and your guests will get clues as to how formal the event is and what colours the bridal party may be wearing.
RSVP card:
Not essential. Consider how you would like your guests to RSVP. If you prefer them to phone or email include that information on the invitation. Alternately, order a small RSVP Card (with or without an envelope) or an RSVP Postcard.
Wishing Well/Gift Registry Cards:
Not essential. Many couples these days use some form of a Wishing Well or Gift/Honeymoon registry. Whilst tradition says it is impolite to include this in your invitation, many couples do to help their guests out. Include a small card to let your guests politely know what you would like to receive. It may be an elegant sentence or two or even a sweet poem. For examples of Wishing Well Poems or Gift Suggestion wording take a look at our Wording Guide.
Map:
Not essential. If your ceremony or reception is being held in an unusual location or if you have many guests who are not local to the area, you may wish to consider including a small map with directions. This will ensure that no guest becomes lost and that all turn up on time!
Rainy Day Card:
Outdoor ceremonies are beautiful, but are always at risk of inclement weather. If you have a plan ‘B’ in place for wet weather, consider letting your guests know in advance that they may receive an SMS or phone call to advise of the change of location.
Information Cards:
If you are providing accommodation or transport, let your guest know the booking name, pick up location or details with a small card.
THE CEREMONY
Ceremony Booklets:
These are not essential, however they are a thoughtful touch, especially if you are having a religious service, where your guests will need to respond, or where they may not know what is going on. Some couples like to give the guests a small ‘running order’ that includes the key parts of the ceremony, the special readings and their vows.
THE RECEPTION
Place Cards:
Essential. Your guests will need to know where their seat is (and to prevent any arguments on the day!). Place Cards also help reception staff quickly identify guests with dietary requirements and key members of the bride and groom’s families.
Menus:
Essential. Check with your reception centre first to see if they provide menus. Make sure you are happy with what they offer, and if you aren’t, consider ordering Menus. Menus can be personalized for each guest, or you may wish to have one or two large menus per table. A good guide is two table menus for 8-10 guests.
Seating Plan:
Essential. Pop a beautiful big plan at the entrance to your Reception to let your guests know where their allocated seat is.
Table Numbers:
Essential. Some couples choose to personalize their reception by naming their tables. You may like to use city names, or flowers, or your favourite footy team players. It’s completely up to you!
Bonbonniere:
Not essential. Bonbonniere is a little gift to say thank you to your guests. Traditionally it was 5 almonds, but these days couples look to delicious chocolates and truffles, fudge, wine stoppers, coasters, small perfume bottles, seedlings, potted plants and decorated tea lights. Consider what your bonbonniere will be before ordering boxes and tags.
Guest Book:
Not essential. Many couple chooses to have a guest book made to match their stationery. At the Reception the Guest Book is passed around to allow the guests to write happy messages for the new couple.
AFTERWARDS
Thank You Cards:
Essential. A Thank You can be in the form of a folded card, a flat card or simply an elegant piece of paper with your names on. A simple small Thank You is all that you need and tells your guests that you appreciated their company and gift.
How can I save money?
Consider what you really need. While it’s ‘nice’ to have everything, it’s not necessary.
1. Reduce the number of cards you include in your invitation – this eliminates the need for a pocket.
2. Do away with separate rsvp cards and include the information on the invitation.
3. Use the Registry Card that is provided by your registry service.
4. Combine elements. Instead of a place card and a bonbonniere, pop a small name tag on the bonbonniere, or instead of a place card and individual menu, have a personalized menu.
5. Use the table numbers and menus provided by your reception venue if they match with your theme.
6. Have a smaller seating plan. An A3 seating chart will be big enough for a guest list of up to 100 and still look gorgeous.
7. Share bonbonniere between families, instead of having individual ones.
8. Choose a smaller embellishment over a larger one. You can still have that pretty sparkly buckle or the gorgeous designer paper; just use an accent piece rather than covering the entire card.
9. Choose a DL (long and thin) or C6 shaped card over a square card. A DL and C6 envelope costs $1 to post compared to a square envelope which costs $2.
10. Choose a flat design over a folded design. It uses less cardboard.
11. Choose a simpler design for the majority of your guests and a stunning glam design for your special family and friends!
1. Reduce the number of cards you include in your invitation – this eliminates the need for a pocket.
2. Do away with separate rsvp cards and include the information on the invitation.
3. Use the Registry Card that is provided by your registry service.
4. Combine elements. Instead of a place card and a bonbonniere, pop a small name tag on the bonbonniere, or instead of a place card and individual menu, have a personalized menu.
5. Use the table numbers and menus provided by your reception venue if they match with your theme.
6. Have a smaller seating plan. An A3 seating chart will be big enough for a guest list of up to 100 and still look gorgeous.
7. Share bonbonniere between families, instead of having individual ones.
8. Choose a smaller embellishment over a larger one. You can still have that pretty sparkly buckle or the gorgeous designer paper; just use an accent piece rather than covering the entire card.
9. Choose a DL (long and thin) or C6 shaped card over a square card. A DL and C6 envelope costs $1 to post compared to a square envelope which costs $2.
10. Choose a flat design over a folded design. It uses less cardboard.
11. Choose a simpler design for the majority of your guests and a stunning glam design for your special family and friends!
How many invitations should I order?
The number of invitations you require will be based on your guest list. As a general guide, you will need one invitation per couple and guest over 18 years. Usually this works out to be about half your guest list plus 10%. It is wise to order another 5 or so spares for any last minute or forgotten guests. A fee of $30 is applicable if you need to print extra invitations at a later date.
When should I order my invitations?
As a general guide the earlier the fussier you can be!
4-6 months: Consider your design options.
2-3 months: Confirm your order.
2 months: Send out your invitations.
4-6 weeks: This will be your RSVP date.
You should start to consider what stationery items you may need early on, however you do not need to order your reception items until closer to the date.
4-6 months: Consider your design options.
2-3 months: Confirm your order.
2 months: Send out your invitations.
4-6 weeks: This will be your RSVP date.
You should start to consider what stationery items you may need early on, however you do not need to order your reception items until closer to the date.
How much is shipping?
FREE! (For orders over $400) PrimaDonna Stationery ships your order to you via Australia Post Parcel Post free of charge. For orders under $400 a $35 postage fee is applicable. Please allow up to 10 business days for your order to be delivered. If you would like order delivered via Australia Post Express post the fee will be $60.
How much is the printing of guest names and addresses?
FREE! However you must use the provided PrimaDonna Stationery template and your guest list must be sent in one instance. If you receive an address after we have gone to print, that envelope will be left blank. Addresses not provided on this template will not be printed and a blank envelope will be provided. Addresses are printed directly onto the envelope using your matching gorgeous fonts . We do not use tacky labels!
How much will it cost to post my invitations to my guests?
DL (10cm x 210cm) is $1 within Australia.
C6 is $1 within Australia
Square (14cm x 14cm) is $2 within Australia
An invitation box is $2 posted within Australia. (It must weigh less than 200g and be less than 20mm thick. All PrimaDonna Stationery boxed designs will post for $2).
C6 is $1 within Australia
Square (14cm x 14cm) is $2 within Australia
An invitation box is $2 posted within Australia. (It must weigh less than 200g and be less than 20mm thick. All PrimaDonna Stationery boxed designs will post for $2).
Can I order a sample?
Yes, you can order a sample of our stunning invitations. Each sample will include the invitation with generic wording and matching envelope. Samples can be purchased for $25.00 each, including postage and handling. During peak wedding season, kindly allow up to two weeks for your sample to arrive. Please note, due to the number of requests for samples, only two samples are able to be purchased per customer. Should you place an order, the price of your chosen invitations design sample (excluding postage and handling) will be deducted from your final invoice.
Can I have a custom design?
Yes, PrimaDonna Stationery offers an obligation free design service. All of our stationery can be altered to suit your design and budget requirements. Simply Contact Us.
Can I include photographs or an emblem with our initials?
Yes, we certainly can. We don’t charge to include photos, or to create an insignia to be included, because every invitation should have a small personal touch. If you just require an insignia for your own DIY stationery, you can purchase a custom designed one for $30. Contact Us to request an Insignia.
Do you do rush orders?
Yes, we do. However, orders that are required to be filled within 2 weeks will incur a fee equivalent to 20% of the total invoice amount.
Do you give discounts for bulk orders?
For orders of 75 invitations and over we may be able to offer a bulk order discount. Please ask at time of ordering.
Can you give me a second opinion on a quote?
Yes, we certainly can. We are more than happy to give you an obligation free second opinion on any competitor’s quote. If they are doing a great job, we’ll tell you, and if we think we can do better, we’ll tell you! Please note, we will not replicate an exact copy of a competitor's design out of respect for their work.
Do you have a shop that I can visit?
PrimaDonna Stationery is an online business- that’s how we keep our costs down. If you would like to see your chosen invitation in person, you can order a sample simply by emailing, using our online form, or phoning.
Do you sell interstate/overseas?
Yes, we do. We are happy to do bespoke designs for all clients, no matter where they may be! Email is a blessing – we can take photos of custom designs so that even if you are sitting on a beach in the Maldives sipping French champagne you can see what your stunning design will look like.