Featuring Nellie Sparkman of Sparkman Studios (Kansas City Based Wedding Planner & Stationer)
I had the pleasure of collaborating with Nellie Sparkman, a wedding planner and stationer and the owner of Sparkman Studio. Nellie helps couples navigate the stationery process. I’m glad to welcome Nellie and share her expertise on the stationery side of weddings.
Welcome Nellie Sparkman!
When it comes to wedding details, stationery is so much more than paper. It is the very first glimpse your guests receive of your celebration. It sets the tone, offers a preview of your style, and creates a sense of anticipation for the day to come.
I am often asked about timelines, etiquette, and what truly belongs in a wedding stationery suite. To help guide you, I am sharing answers to the three most common questions couples bring to me, along with insider tips to keep the process seamless and intentional.
When should we send out our wedding invitations and save the dates?
Save the dates are typically mailed six to eight months before the wedding, earlier if it is a destination event. Formal invitations should be sent ten to twelve weeks prior. For weddings with a significant number of traveling guests, I recommend mailing save the dates four to six months in advance to give everyone plenty of time to make arrangements.
One important note: the design and production process takes time. Depending on the print method, you will want to allow two to three months before your mailing date. Letterpress, for example, can take four or more weeks, while digital printing is often ready within one to two weeks.
And here is my biggest PSA: start collecting addresses the moment you get engaged. Nothing delays a mailing faster than waiting on just a handful of missing addresses. I can design and produce everything right on schedule, but if we are chasing down Aunt Linda’s zip code, the entire timeline gets held up. Always order extra sets too. You will be grateful for them when you need to handwrite a last-minute address.
(Pro tip: Have your wedding website live and guest ready, with at least one or two hotel blocks, by the time your save the dates are mailed.)
How many invitations should we order?
This is one of the most common oversights I see. Couples often order invitations based on their guest count, but remember you only need one per household, not per guest.
As a safe guideline, order enough for your address list plus an additional fifteen to twenty sets. These extras are invaluable for keepsakes, any last-minute guest additions, or the occasional piece lost in the mail. Under-ordering can mean costly reprints, so building in a small cushion is always the smarter and less stressful choice.
How can we make our stationery feel personal to us?
This is where your stationery transforms from “pretty paper” to something truly memorable. Adding personal details, whether a custom monogram, a venue illustration, or a motif inspired by a favorite fabric, instantly makes your suite more meaningful.
Some of my favorite designs are those that create a subtle thread throughout the wedding. Architectural details from your venue might appear in an envelope liner, then reemerge on a seating chart backdrop. A pattern inspired by the linen on your cake table could quietly echo on your details card, bar signage, or menus. It is about creating small, thoughtful connections that tie everything together in ways your guests may not consciously notice, but will absolutely feel.
Your stationery sets the stage for your wedding day. It deserves to be intentional, personal, and polished. If you would like to explore custom or semi-custom designs that reflect your story, I would love to connect. You can browse more of my work on Instagram or get in touch via https://nelliesparkman.com to begin designing a suite that feels beautifully and unmistakably yours.
Nellie Sparkman | Owner and Lead Planner | Nellie Sparkman Events & Stationery Studio
Credits
Flowers | Of The Earth Florals | Lincoln, NE
Stationery & Design | Nellie Sparkman x Sparkman Studios | Kansas City
Wedding Photographer | The Leekers
Follow Nellie:
• Website: Nellie Sparkman Events & Stationery Studio
• Instagram: @nelliesparkman, @sparkmanstudio
• Inquiries: info@nelliesparkman.com
