Rush Wedding Invitations: The Complete Guide to Getting Invites in Under Two Weeks

You—or your partner—finally popped the question (huge congrats, by the way!), and you just can’t wait any longer to start your life together. Although your wedding timeline may be short, your first thought is to let loved ones know about the big day. Sure, you can start by sending digital save-the-dates, but if you crave a mailed invitation, it’s possible to get them printed and in your hands quickly.

Or perhaps you have a major project coming up at work in a few weeks and want to use your downtime to order, address, and stamp your invitations so they’re ready to go once your busy season hits. No matter your reason for quick turnaround invitations, today’s digital printing technology and shipping options can relieve your mind.

By utilizing services like beautiful design templates, wedding stationery suites, and expedited shipping (all of which Zola has), you’ll be on your way to formally inviting friends and family to celebrate your big day. So, the short answer is yes. With Zola's rush services, you can get beautiful wedding invitations in less than two weeks.

While traditional invitation timelines recommend 6-8 weeks for production and delivery, our expedited options ensure you won't have to compromise on quality assurance when time is tight. Here’s what you need to know about Zola emergency wedding solutions leading up to your special day.

Rush Wedding Invitation Timeline Breakdown

If you need invitations in two weeks

• Days 1-2: Select, customize, and order your design. Perhaps you’ve already perused Zola’s design templates, so you’re ahead of the game. Even if you haven’t peeked yet, each template offers quick customization so that you can input your information and change simple things, such as font and color, in a snap. Don’t forget to look at digital proofs for accelerated proof approval if necessary.
• Days 3-5: Priority production and printing occur. For these three days, you can only sit and wait (and trust Zola!). Although you’ll have priority printing, the standard production time still takes a few days to ready and process before shipping.
• Days 6-10: Expedited shipping and delivery are available. You do have rush shipping options, whether you want your order in 5-10 business days (standard shipping), within five business days (two-day shipping), or within three business days (expedited shipping).
• Days 11-14: Check, address, and mail your invitations. When your wedding is near, use these final days to send your invitations to your potential guests.

If you need invitations in one week

• Day 1: Select, customize, and order your design. There’s no time to waste if you need fast wedding invitations, so sit down with your partner and check your invitations off your list.
• Days 2-4: Priority production and printing happen. Again, there is no skipping the production timeline, even if you need same-week wedding invitations.
• Days 5-7: Shipping and delivery occur. When you have last-minute wedding invites, it’s best to go with expedited shipping, which takes three business days.
• Day 8: Check, address, and mail the invitations. If your wedding is soon, track your order and plan to finish these steps as soon as they arrive.

Zola’s Rush Wedding Invitation Options

Looking for emergency wedding stationery and expedited invitations? Here are the Zola express design services we offer:

• Choose one of our easy-to-use design templates. Whether you’re just perusing or need a rush order process, Zola’s templates are simple to navigate. Just plug in your relevant information, change colors and fonts (or don’t!), add a photo if you choose, and feel secure by proofreading—and have your partner take a peek, too.
• Add 3-5 business days for printing. Unfortunately, there’s no way to rush the printing methods with Zola priority production, so this timeframe applies to every order, and there is no expedited production timeline.
• Choose speedy shipping to get your order quickly. Currently, Zola’s shipping options include the following (remember to add the 3-5 day turnaround time for printing):
  • Standard shipping - $5.99 + 5-10 business days
  • Two-day shipping - $11.95 + 3-5 business days
  • Rush shipping - $15.95 + up to 3 business days

Factors That Affect Rush Wedding Invitation Turnaround

Looking for a streamlined production process? Here are several design considerations for rush invitations that can hold up the process:

Printing Methods

Digital alternatives offer the fastest turnaround, while letterpress, foil stamping, and other premium techniques require additional time. Additionally, those upgraded features—in addition to magnets and double or triple-thick cards—are not eligible for rush orders.

Design Complexity

Pre-designed templates can be processed quickly and put in a priority design queue, while fully custom designs require additional time for design work. By choosing Zola’s quick customization templates, you’ll save time.

Quantity Needed

Need 1000 expedited invitations? Even with rush fees, that amount is hard to produce on a short wedding timeline. Smaller orders can generally be created more quickly than large quantities.

Shipping Method

Zola offers various expedited shipping options to ensure your invitations arrive when needed. Again, here’s a quick peek at your timed options:

• Standard - 5-10 business days
• Two-day - 3-5 business days
• Rush - up to 3 business days

Alternatives When Physical Invitations Can't Arrive in Time

Ordering too late, even for the Zola rush guarantee? That’s still ok—you have options for your last-minute wedding invites. Before you panic (we’ve got you!), here are some ideas:

Opt for digital invitations.

Sure, it’s not ideal, but chances are you’d rather have your friends and family save the date ASAP than wait for a paper invitation to arrive in the mail. Sending a digital wedding invitation can ease your mind and let everyone know you’re getting married and when. You can even briefly explain or acknowledge your tight wedding timeline.

Take a hybrid approach.

No time for a Zola rush wedding suite? Send digital invitations now and a paper one as soon as your order arrives. If your guests still won’t receive their mailed stationery in time, consider sending a wedding announcement instead. A “we’re married” announcement card waiting in the mail can help bring back fond memories of your big day. You can even wait and include a few wedding photos.

Text your guests.

Yes, we know this is against wedding etiquette, but it's ok to bend the rules when working on such a short timeline that you can’t receive rush wedding invitations. For smaller affairs, send a text invitation to your guests so that they can save the date. Follow up later with something in the mail, such as an announcement or a graciously written thank you note.

Utilize your wedding website to the fullest.

While you may not have time for a formal, printed wedding invitation, your guests will have fun perusing your website. Beef it up by including lots of details, such as your love story, why you’re getting married on short notice (if you so choose), and information about your bridal party. Additionally, include information about your wedding registry and hotel room blocks so guests know what to give and where to stay.

FAQ About Last-Minute Wedding Invites

Will rush wedding invitations cost more?

Although the physical invitations won’t cost more, rushed shipping options will. At Zola, our rush service fee starts at $11.95 for orders needed within two weeks.

Can I get address printing with rush orders?

Yes! Zola offers address printing even with rush orders, saving valuable time addressing envelopes (although you must input the information). You can also get your return address printed.

What's the absolute fastest I can get wedding invitations?

With our rushed services, Zola can deliver digital proofs within 24 hours and physical invitations in as little as 5-7 business days for the most urgent situations.

Will rush invitations be lower quality?

Zola prides itself on producing top-notch invitations, so your stationery suite will be of the same quality as non-rushed orders.

What if my rush invitations have a mistake?

Unfortunately, if your invitations arrive and show a mistake, your timeline will start all over again. That’s why we stress the importance of having several sets of eyes on your digital proof. In cases where you have more time, you can even order a sample of your invitation to proofread.

Need Wedding Invitations Fast?

Don't compromise on quality when time is tight. Zola's rush wedding invitation service delivers beautiful, customized invitations in less than two weeks. Whether you send them immediately or just need to check your invitations off your to-do list, trust Zola with all of your wedding stationery suite (and planning!) needs.