How many invites should I order?

The simplest way is to count households, not individual guests. A family of four living at one address needs one invitation. A couple living together needs one. A friend living alone needs one. Add extra invites for your own keepsake, your parents if they want one, and any guests you might add later.

A good rule is to add about 10 to 15 percent on top of your household count. That covers printing errors, envelopes that get damaged in the post, and the occasional guest you forgot. It also gives you spares for thank-you cards later if you want to match the design.

If you are having a separate evening guest list, send those guests their own invitation even if they are part of a daytime household. Order those separately. For save the dates, you usually need the same number as invitations, but you can order fewer if you are sending them by email.

Remember that some venues or stationers can reprint a small batch if you run out, but it is easier and often cheaper to order a few extra at the start. You cannot easily match paper and ink later.