Christmas Wedding Invitations: Designs, Wording & Mailing Tips

Your invitation is the first glimpse guests get of your Christmas wedding, and it lands in a season when mailboxes are already full of cards and catalogs. A good holiday invitation feels festive without looking like a greeting card, and it arrives early enough for guests to plan holiday travel. Below you will find design styles, paper and finishes, sample wording, mailing timelines and what Christmas wedding invitations typically cost.

Christmas Wedding Invitation Styles

Classic red and green

Deep red and evergreen on ivory paper feels warm and traditional. To keep it wedding-first, choose richer shades like cranberry and forest green and use them in one or two places, such as a botanical border and your names.

White winter

White, ivory and silver with pale gray or icy blue details, small frosted botanicals and plenty of open space.

Vintage

Inspired by old Christmas cards: muted reds, sepia tones, hand-drawn greenery and classic serif fonts. A deckled edge or a few vintage stamps on the envelope finish the look.

Modern minimal

Clean type, lots of white space and a single seasonal touch, such as a small pine sprig or dark green ink. It suits couples who want the season to be a hint, not a theme.

Gold foil

Gold foil catches the light the way ornaments and candles do. Use it for your names, a monogram or a thin border on cream, navy or deep green paper.

Velvet ribbon and wax seal

A band of velvet ribbon around the suite and a wax seal on the envelope feel like unwrapping a gift. Burgundy, emerald or ivory ribbon pairs well with a gold or deep red seal.

Paper and Finishes

Cotton paper is thick and soft and holds a pressed impression beautifully.

Letterpress presses the design into the paper for a soft, debossed look.

Foil stamping adds shine in gold, copper or silver.

Flat or digital printing is the most affordable option and handles full-color designs well.

Vellum overlays add a frosted layer that suits white winter suites.

Envelope liners in plaid, evergreen or a winter botanical print add a festive surprise without crowding the invitation.

Christmas Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Swap in your own details. Formal wording spells out dates and times.

Formal

Together with their families,

Emma Rose Carter and James Michael Hale

request the honor of your presence at their marriage

on Saturday, the eighteenth of December,

two thousand twenty-seven,

at four o'clock in the afternoon.

[Venue name], [City, State].

Reception to follow.

Traditionally, "the honor of your presence" is used for a house of worship and "the pleasure of your company" for other venues.

Casual

Emma and James are getting married!

Join us for dinner, dancing and plenty of holiday cheer

on Saturday, December 18, 2027, at 5 p.m.

[Venue name], [City, State].

Cozy sweaters welcome.

Christmas Eve

This Christmas Eve,

Emma Carter and James Hale will be married,

and we would love for you to be there.

Friday, December 24, 2027, at three o'clock.

[Venue name], [City, State].

An early supper follows, so everyone is home in time for Christmas morning.

Holiday-themed

Two hearts, one merry season.

Please join Emma and James

as they celebrate their marriage

among the evergreens and twinkle lights.

Saturday, December 11, 2027, at four o'clock.

[Venue name], [City, State].

Cocoa, carols and dancing to follow.

New Year's Eve

Ring in the new year with us.

Emma Carter and James Hale

invite you to celebrate their marriage

on Friday, December 31, 2027, at seven o'clock in the evening.

[Venue name], [City, State].

Dinner, dancing and a midnight toast. Black tie optional.

When to Send Save the Dates and Invitations

Holiday weddings compete with family plans and peak travel prices, so give guests more notice than usual.

• Save the dates: 8 to 12 months ahead, leaning toward 12 if many guests will fly.
• Invitations: 8 to 10 weeks before the wedding, or 10 to 12 weeks if many guests are traveling.
• RSVP deadline: about 3 to 4 weeks before the wedding. For a mid-December date, set it before Thanksgiving week so replies do not get lost in the holiday rush.

Planning Around Holiday Mail Delays

Mail slows down as the holidays get closer, so aim to have invitations in the mail by mid-October for a mid-December wedding. Have one fully assembled invitation weighed at the post office before you buy stamps, since square envelopes, wax seals, ribbon and thick suites often need extra postage. Ask about hand canceling to protect seals and embellishments. Mail international invitations a few weeks earlier, and offer an online RSVP option as a backup.

Combining With Holiday Cards

If your wedding is the following December, your holiday card can double as your save the date, since it arrives right around the 12-month mark. Pair an engagement photo with a line like "Save the date for our Christmas wedding," plus the date and city. Send this version only to people who are invited, and a regular holiday card to everyone else.

Digital Invitations

Digital invitations are quick, affordable and handy for guests overseas or anyone who has moved recently. A common approach is a digital save the date followed by mailed paper invitations. If you go fully digital, consider mailing paper invitations to older relatives, and link everything to a wedding website with travel details, hotel blocks and your RSVP form.

What Christmas Wedding Invitations Typically Cost

Prices depend on quantity, printing method and how many pieces are in the suite. As a rough US guide:

• Printed save the dates: often around $1 to $3 each.
• Online printed invitation suites: commonly $3 to $8 per set.
• Custom suites with letterpress or foil: often $10 to $25 per set, sometimes more.
• Wax seals, velvet ribbon and envelope liners: usually about 50 cents to $2 each per invitation.
• Calligraphy addressing: roughly $2 to $5 per envelope.
• Digital invitations: free basic templates up to about $150 for premium designs.

Postage is extra and changes over time, so check current USPS rates once your suite is assembled and weighed.

Mistakes to Skip

Mailing too late. Guests often book holiday travel months ahead, so early notice matters.

Guessing at postage. Ribbon, wax seals and square envelopes can push a suite into a higher rate. Weigh one complete invitation first.

Going full holiday card. Santa, candy canes and cartoon trees can make an invitation look like a greeting card. Choose a refined palette and one or two seasonal details.

Leaving out travel details. Holiday hotel rooms fill quickly. Include your wedding website so guests can find room blocks early.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should you send Christmas wedding invitations?

Mail them 8 to 10 weeks before the wedding, which usually means early to mid October for a mid-December date. Send save the dates 8 to 12 months ahead.

How do I use red and green without it looking like a holiday card?

Choose deeper shades like cranberry and forest green, use them sparingly on ivory or white paper and pair them with classic fonts and simple botanicals.

Is it okay to send digital Christmas wedding invitations?

Yes, especially for save the dates and guests who live far away. Consider mailing paper invitations to older relatives who may prefer them.

How much do Christmas wedding invitations cost?

Many US couples spend around $3 to $8 per suite from online printers, with letterpress, foil, ribbon and wax seals adding more.