Free Wedding Samples: Request Invitation Samples by Mail

Why You Should Actually Request Samples by Mail

Okay so here’s the thing about wedding invitation samples that I learned the hard way back in spring 2023 when I had this bride who ordered like 150 invitations without ever touching a sample first and then had a complete meltdown because the cardstock wasn’t what she expected from looking at her laptop screen. You absolutely need to request physical samples before committing to anything, and honestly most companies will send them to you for free or like super cheap.

The colors look different in person. The weight of the paper matters more than you think. That “linen texture” you see online might feel cheap or it might feel luxurious and you literally cannot tell until you’re holding it. I’ve been doing this for almost 15 years now and I still get surprised by how different things look when they arrive versus what I saw on a website.

How to Actually Request the Samples

Most invitation companies have a samples page somewhere on their website, but it’s not always obvious where it is. Sometimes it’s in the main navigation, sometimes it’s buried in the footer, and sometimes—this is gonna annoy you—you have to email them directly because they don’t advertise it at all.

Start with making a list of the companies or specific designs you’re interested in. I usually tell couples to pick like 5-8 different options max because otherwise you’re gonna get overwhelmed with papers everywhere. Trust me on this one.

The Free Sample Companies

These are the ones that’ll send you samples without charging anything upfront:

• Minted – they let you order up to 5 free samples at a time, just pay shipping which is usually around $3-5
• Shutterfly – similar deal, free samples but you cover shipping
• Zazzle – they do free samples on certain products, gotta check which ones
• Basic Invite – free samples but shipping costs apply
• Greenvelope (digital invites but they send physical sample books)

The Pay-for-Sample Companies

Some companies charge you for samples but then give you a credit toward your order:

• Artifact Uprising – charges like $1-2 per sample but quality is really good
• Paperless Post – has a physical line now and does samples for a small fee
• Bella Figura – samples are around $2 each but they’re letterpress so worth it if that’s your style
• Crane & Co – definitely charges for samples but we’re talking about the fancy stuff here

What to Look for When the Samples Arrive

When your samples show up in the mail it’s kinda exciting honestly, like getting little presents. My cat Felix always tries to sit on them which is… not helpful but anyway.

First thing I do is feel the paper weight. You want something that feels substantial, not flimsy. Most wedding invitations are printed on 110-130 lb cardstock. Anything less than that and it might feel cheap when your guests pull it out of the envelope. Hold it up to the light too – some papers are more translucent than others and that might matter depending on your design.

Check the print quality closely. Are the colors true to what you saw online? Is the text crisp or does it look fuzzy around the edges? With digital printing you shouldn’t see any blurriness but it happens sometimes with lower quality printers.

If you ordered letterpress samples the impression should be noticeable but not so deep that it’s creating bumps on the back of the card. I had this whole thing in summer 2021 where a vendor’s letterpress was set way too deep and you could like… almost poke your finger through the indentations. Not good.

Texture and Finish

Run your fingers over the surface. Some papers have:

• Smooth finish (modern, clean look)
• Linen texture (classic, traditional)
• Felt texture (soft, elegant)
• Recycled/organic texture (eco-friendly, rustic)
• Metallic or pearlescent finish (formal, glamorous)

The finish affects how ink sits on the paper too. Metallic papers can sometimes make dark inks look less saturated, which might or might not be what you want.

The Email Template Thing

If a company doesn’t have an obvious sample request form, you’re gonna need to email them. Here’s basically what I write (you can copy this):

Hi, I’m planning my wedding for [date] and I’m interested in ordering invitations from your company. Could you please send me samples of [specific design names or item numbers]? I’m happy to pay for samples and shipping if needed. My mailing address is [your address]. Thank you!

Keep it simple and include your wedding date because some companies prioritize requests from people getting married soon. Also always include your full mailing address in the first email so they don’t have to write back asking for it.

Timing This Whole Thing Out

Request samples like 8-10 months before your wedding if possible, or at minimum 6 months out. Most samples take 1-2 weeks to arrive but sometimes longer if the company is busy or if you’re ordering from a smaller boutique stationer.

One thing that really annoyed me is when companies advertise “free samples” but then take literally three weeks to ship them. Like what’s the point of offering samples if you’re gonna make people wait that long? By the time they arrive you’ve probably already moved on to looking at other options or you’re getting stressed about your timeline.

Order all your samples at roughly the same time so they arrive around the same period and you can compare them side by side. If you spread it out over months you’re not gonna remember what the first ones felt like.

What to Do With Samples Once You Have Them

Okay so this is where I get a little scattered because there’s a bunch of different things you should do but not necessarily in any order…

Take them outside in natural light. Indoor lighting lies to you. The color that looks perfect under your kitchen lights might look completely different in daylight and your guests are gonna see these in all kinds of lighting situations.

Show them to your partner or whoever else is helping make decisions. Don’t just look at them alone and decide. I’ve seen so many situations where one person falls in love with something and the other person is like “umm that’s not really what I pictured” and then there’s a whole thing.

If you’re working with a wedding planner (hi, that’s what I do) bring the samples to your next meeting. We can help you think about how they fit with your overall wedding aesthetic and whether they’re gonna work with your budget when you multiply by however many guests you’re inviting.

The Comparison Spreadsheet

I know this sounds kinda intense but make a simple spreadsheet with:

• Company name
• Design name/number
• Paper weight
• Price per invitation (usually based on quantity of 100)
• Shipping cost
• Turnaround time
• Your notes on quality/feel
• Whether they offer matching pieces (programs, menus, etc)

You think you’ll remember which sample was from which company but you won’t. They start blending together after you’ve looked at like ten different cream-colored cardstocks with script fonts.

Sample Packs vs Individual Samples

Some companies offer curated sample packs which include multiple designs in one package. These are great if you’re just starting out and don’t really know what style you want yet. Like Minted has these sample packs organized by theme—rustic, modern, floral, whatever.

But if you already know exactly which designs you like, order those specific samples instead. No point getting a whole pack of stuff you’re not interested in just to get the one design you actually want to see.

Wedding Paper Divas used to have the best sample packs before they got absorbed into Shutterfly and I’m still sorta bitter about that because their organization was really good for indecisive couples.

Red Flags to Watch For

If a sample arrives and the printing looks off—colors are weird, text is blurry, there are smudges or marks—don’t assume your actual order will be better. It might be, but it might not be. That sample is supposed to represent their quality standards.

Also watch out for companies that make you pay for samples but don’t offer any kind of credit or refund toward your order. That’s just them making extra money off you for what should be part of their normal sales process.

If samples take more than 3 weeks to arrive without any explanation or tracking info, that’s telling you something about how they run their business. Your actual invitation order might have the same delays.

The Envelope Situation

This is something people forget about—request envelope samples too if the company offers them separately. The envelope color needs to work with your invitation design and you can’t always tell from photos whether “cream” matches “ivory” or if they’re gonna look weird together.

Some companies include envelopes with invitation samples automatically, others don’t. If you don’t see an envelope in your sample package, email and ask if you can get one. They usually will send it.

I once had a bride who ordered invitations in this beautiful dusty blue and then the envelopes arrived in what can only be described as baby boy blue and the whole thing looked wrong. She ended up ordering different envelopes from a separate company which added to her costs and stress.

International Samples

If you’re ordering from overseas companies (there are some gorgeous UK and Australian stationers out there), be prepared for samples to take longer and shipping to cost more. Sometimes significantly more.

Etsy shops based internationally often have beautiful unique designs but requesting samples can get complicated. Some will send them, some won’t, some charge a lot for international shipping. Always message the seller first before assuming they’ll ship samples to your country.

Digital Printing vs Letterpress vs Foil

You really cannot tell the difference between these printing methods from looking at a screen. You just can’t.

Letterpress has that tactile impression in the paper that you can feel with your fingers. It’s traditional and expensive but gorgeous. Foil has that shiny metallic element that catches light. Digital printing is flat but can do full color photos and intricate designs that other methods can’t.

Request samples of different printing methods even if you think you know what you want because you might be surprised. I thought I hated foil printing until I felt a really well-done rose gold foil sample and completely changed my mind about it for certain design styles.

Keeping Track of Everything

Get a big envelope or folder and keep all your samples together. Write on the back of each one where it came from and the price. I know this seems obvious but in the chaos of wedding planning you will forget.

Take photos of your favorites and keep them in a folder on your phone so you can reference them when you’re talking to your planner or your mom or whoever keeps asking what the invitations are gonna look like. It’s easier than carrying around physical samples everywhere.

Some people make like a whole inspiration board with their samples pinned up next to fabric swatches and color samples and honestly if that’s your thing go for it, but it’s not necessary. Just don’t lose them before you’ve made your final decision.

When to Actually Order

After you’ve got your samples and compared everything and made your decision, order your invitations about 4-5 months before your wedding date. That gives you time for:

• Production (usually 2-3 weeks)
• Shipping to you
• Addressing envelopes
• Assembly if there are multiple pieces
• Mailing them out 6-8 weeks before the wedding
• Buffer time in case anything goes wrong

Don’t wait until you have your final guest count to order samples though. You can look at samples and make design decisions before you know exactly how many people you’re inviting.

Save the Dates vs Invitations

If you’re doing save the dates, you can request samples for those too, but honestly most people don’t bother. Save the dates are less formal and there’s more room for experimentation. But if you want your save the dates and invitations to match or coordinate, definitely look at samples from the same company to see how they work together.

I usually tell people to keep save the dates simple and save your budget for the actual invitations since those are what people really remember and keep sometimes… though honestly most people probably throw them away after the wedding which is fine, they served their purpose.