Sending Wedding Invites: How Early Is Too Early?

Sending wedding invitations in advance is a crucial part of planning a wedding. While the traditional recommendation is to send invitations six to eight weeks or two months before the wedding, some sources suggest that sending them three to six months in advance is also acceptable. This is especially true if many of your guests are travelling from abroad or if your wedding falls on a holiday weekend. Sending your invitations too early or too late can be inconsiderate and may hurt your guest attendance.

Sending invites 3 months in advance is generally acceptable

Sending your wedding invitations three months in advance is generally acceptable, especially if you have already sent out save-the-date cards. Sending invitations within this timeframe is a good idea if you are expecting a high number of out-of-town guests or if your wedding is during a busy holiday period. This will allow your guests to make the necessary travel arrangements and accommodations without feeling rushed.

It is also beneficial to send out your invitations three months in advance if you are offering meal choices. This will give your guests enough time to make their selections and for you to communicate these to your vendors.

While it is important to give your guests ample notice, you also don't want to send out your invitations too early. Ideally, you want to hit that sweet spot in between, giving everyone plenty of time to make plans without it being so far in advance that they forget or end up changing their plans.

If you are sending out your invitations three months in advance, it is a good idea to set the RSVP date back a little to give guests a longer window to respond. This will help you to avoid last-minute stress and give you a more accurate headcount for your vendors.

If you are concerned about your invitations arriving on time, it may be worth considering sending them out a little earlier, especially if you are inviting international guests or using a postal service with potential delivery delays.

In conclusion, sending your wedding invitations three months in advance is generally acceptable, and in some cases, it may be the best option to ensure your guests have enough time to plan and respond.

It's ideal to send invites 6-8 weeks before the wedding

Sending out wedding invitations is an exciting step in the planning journey. While there's no one-size-fits-all approach, it is generally ideal to send out invites six to eight weeks before the wedding. This timeline offers several benefits and ensures you stay in line with proper wedding invitation etiquette.

Firstly, sending invites six to eight weeks in advance gives your guests ample time to clear their schedules and make any necessary arrangements, such as booking time off work, sorting out babysitters, or planning travel. It also means that your guests won't receive the invite so early that they forget about it or change their plans, reducing the risk of an inaccurate guest count.

Secondly, requesting RSVPs with a deadline of around one month before the wedding gives you enough time to finalise the headcount, create seating charts, and make any necessary adjustments. Sending invites six to eight weeks in advance strikes a balance between giving your guests enough notice and not leaving too much room for plans to change.

Additionally, this timeline is flexible enough to accommodate any unique circumstances. For example, if your wedding falls on a major holiday or if a large number of your guests are travelling from abroad, you can send out invites a little earlier, around two to three months in advance, to allow for extra planning time. On the other hand, if you're concerned about mailing delays or if your wedding is taking place soon after your engagement, it's perfectly acceptable to send invites out as late as four weeks before the big day.

In summary, while there may be exceptions depending on your specific situation, sticking to the six-to-eight-week timeline for sending out wedding invitations is ideal. This timeframe ensures your guests have enough notice while also minimising the chances of last-minute changes, helping you secure a more accurate headcount for your special day.

Send save-the-dates 4-6 months before the wedding

Sending your wedding invitations three months in advance is not too early, especially if you have already sent out save-the-dates. The standard recommendation is to send out wedding invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding, but there are a few factors that might influence you to send them out earlier.

Save-the-dates are a fun way to get your guests to mark their calendars. They are especially helpful when many of your guests have to make travel arrangements or if accommodations near the wedding site are limited. Sending save-the-dates four to six months in advance gives your guests plenty of time to make the necessary plans to attend. This is also enough time to catch them before they've made other plans and allow them to block off the date on their calendars. It's considerate for guests who need to book travel or accommodations, and it's also a good idea if your wedding falls on a holiday weekend. If you're planning a destination wedding, it's advisable to send save-the-dates even earlier—six to twelve months before the wedding date.

Sending save-the-dates will also give you an idea in advance of how many of your friends and family will be able to make it, which is important for destination events where you need to communicate a rough number of guests with your wedding venue.

When to send out wedding invitations

The general recommendation is to send out wedding invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives your guests enough time to clear their schedules and RSVP while staying in line with proper wedding invitation etiquette. Sending invitations at this time will also allow you to get a final headcount, invite guests on your B list if needed, and complete your seating charts before the week of the wedding.

However, there are some circumstances in which you may want to send out your invitations earlier than six to eight weeks before the wedding. If a large percentage of your guest list lives abroad, or if you are planning a destination wedding, it's best to add a few weeks to this timeline. Aim to send your invites around twelve weeks before your wedding date.

If you're inviting international guests, it's a good idea to give them a heads-up by calling or sending an email with the details, as well as information about booking accommodations. If half of your family lives abroad, you might want to consider bumping up the timeline for all of your guests and sending invitations a minimum of twelve weeks in advance.

If you're sending out invitations three months in advance, it's likely that most of your guests are travelling and need lots of time to plan their travel and time off work. Sending invitations at this time will also allow your guests to book accommodations and make travel arrangements.

When to ask for RSVPs

It's important to give your guests enough time to RSVP. The general recommendation is to ask for RSVPs no later than one month from your wedding date so that you and your vendors can have ample time to make the necessary preparations. This will give you a brief window to receive the invitation and consider their decision while also providing your wedding vendors with enough advance notice.

When to send wedding invitations without save-the-dates

If you choose to skip save-the-dates and have a standard engagement length, you should send wedding invitations around six months in advance. For couples who are only engaged a few months before tying the knot, the recommended timeline changes slightly: aim for two to three months before the wedding.

Request RSVPs no later than 1 month before the wedding

Sending out wedding invitations is an exciting step in your wedding planning journey. While there is no definitive rule on when to send out wedding invitations, it is important to give your guests enough notice.

Requesting RSVPs

It is recommended that you request RSVPs no later than one month before your wedding date. This allows you, your vendors, and your guests enough time to make the necessary preparations for your big day. It is also a good idea to indicate an RSVP deadline on your wedding invitations so that guests know when they need to respond.

Timing Considerations

• Destination Wedding: If you are having a destination wedding or a large percentage of your guest list lives abroad, it is advisable to send out your invitations and request RSVPs earlier. Aim for 12 weeks before your wedding date to give your guests enough time to make travel arrangements.
• Save-the-Dates: Sending out Save-the-Dates 4-6 months before your wedding date will give your guests a heads-up to mark their calendars and make any necessary plans. This is especially important if your wedding falls on a holiday or requires extensive travel arrangements.
• Final Headcount: Requesting RSVPs one month in advance will help you finalize your wedding planning details, such as the seating chart, menu selections, and cake size. It is also a good idea to order some extra invitations, just in case you need to invite additional guests.
• Timely Responses: While some guests will respond promptly, others may need a gentle reminder. Sending out your invitations and requesting RSVPs within the recommended timeframe will give you enough buffer to chase down late responses.
• Cultural and Regional Differences: The timing of wedding invitations can vary depending on your culture and location. For example, in Sweden, it is customary to send out wedding invitations a year in advance!

Remember, the most important thing is to give your guests enough notice, especially if they need to make travel plans. Sending out your invitations and requesting RSVPs within a reasonable timeframe will help ensure a smooth and well-organized wedding planning process.

Sending invites too early or too late can be inconsiderate

However, there are circumstances where sending invitations three months in advance is acceptable and even recommended. If your wedding is around a major holiday, such as Christmas, it is suggested to give your guests more time to plan in advance. Similarly, if you have many out-of-town or international guests, it is considerate to send invitations around three months before the wedding. This will allow them to book travel and accommodations without feeling rushed.

On the other hand, sending invitations too early can also be an issue. If you send invitations four to six months in advance, you risk them getting lost, and your guests may forget the date as it is so far in the future. It is a delicate balance, as you want to give your guests enough time to plan, but not so much time that they lose track of the date.

Therefore, while there is no hard and fast rule, it is generally best to stick to the two-month timeline for sending wedding invitations. This will ensure that your guests have enough time to prepare without being too early or too late, which could be considered inconsiderate.

Frequently asked questions