Wedding Invitations: Late Notices And Etiquette

Sending out wedding invitations is an exciting part of the wedding planning process. However, it is important to send them out at the right time to give your guests enough notice. So, when is the best time to send out wedding invitations? According to wedding etiquette, the ideal time to send out wedding invitations is six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives guests enough time to clear their schedules and make travel arrangements if needed. It also means that you can request RSVPs sooner and get a final headcount before the wedding. If you're having a destination wedding, it's recommended to send out invitations three months in advance. Sending out invitations too late can cause issues for guests, so it's important to stick to the recommended timeline.

Invites should be sent 6-8 weeks before the wedding

Sending out wedding invitations at the right time is crucial. It is recommended that wedding invitations be sent out six to eight weeks before the wedding. This is considered the perfect timeframe for several reasons.

Firstly, sending invitations 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, accommodation, or travel. This is especially important if your wedding falls on a holiday weekend or if many of your guests are travelling from out of town or overseas. In these cases, it is considerate to give your guests a heads-up by calling, texting, or emailing them the wedding details in advance so they can start planning their travels.

Secondly, sending invitations within this timeframe allows you to request RSVPs sooner, which is essential for proper wedding planning. It gives you enough time to receive a final headcount, invite guests on your B-list, and complete your seating charts before the final week of wedding preparations. It also reduces the likelihood of unexpected changes in your guests' plans.

While some couples may worry that sending invitations six to eight weeks in advance is too late, it is actually ideal. Sending invitations too early increases the chances of guests forgetting about the wedding or changing their plans. On the other hand, sending them too late may not give your loved ones enough time to make the necessary arrangements to attend. Therefore, sticking to the recommended timeline of six to eight weeks before the wedding is generally the best course of action.

To summarise, sending wedding invitations six to eight weeks in advance strikes a balance between giving your guests enough time to plan and reducing the chances of last-minute changes. It also aligns with proper wedding invitation etiquette and ensures you have the information you need to finalise your wedding details.

RSVPs should be due 2-3 weeks before the wedding

When it comes to wedding invitations, it's important to set an RSVP deadline and ensure it's adhered to. The ideal deadline for RSVPs is around two to four weeks before the wedding day. This gives you, the host, enough time to organise the final guest list and chase up any late responses. It also allows you to finalise the seating plan and share the final guest count with your caterer, venue and other vendors.

Six to Eight Weeks Before the Wedding

Send out your wedding invitations. This is the standard timeline for sending invitations, giving guests ample time to clear their schedules and make any necessary travel arrangements. If you're having a destination wedding, send invitations earlier—around 10 to 12 weeks in advance—to allow guests more time to plan their attendance.

Four to Five Weeks Before the Wedding

This is the ideal window for guests to send their RSVPs. It's enough time for them to decide on their attendance and make the necessary arrangements without being too far in advance that they might forget or make other plans.

Two to Three Weeks Before the Wedding

By this time, you should have received most RSVPs. However, there may be a few stragglers or guests who haven't responded. Start following up with these guests to ensure you receive their responses. It's important to have a clear idea of the final guest count at this stage to finalise details with your vendors.

One Week Before the Wedding

Finalise the details with your caterer, planner, venue coordinator, and other vendors. This is when you'll confirm the number of table settings, meals, wedding favours, and other guest-related items. You can also start working on the seating chart and deciding who will sit where.

To ensure you receive timely RSVPs, make it easy for your guests to respond. Include a pre-addressed and pre-stamped return envelope with the invitation. Alternatively, provide an option for guests to respond digitally through your wedding website. Clearly state the RSVP date, making it legible on the invitation card or using a countdown ticker on your website.

Include a map and accommodation details

When it comes to wedding invitations, it is important to include all the necessary information for your guests. This includes details such as the time, date, and location of the ceremony and reception. It is also helpful to include accommodation and travel information, especially for guests who are travelling from out of town.

One way to provide accommodation details is to include an accommodations card with your invitation. This card can list the hotel where you have reserved a block of rooms for your guests. If you don't have a block reservation, you can provide a list of recommended hotels in the area. It is also proper etiquette to indicate on the card if you are covering your guests' accommodations. Be sure to include any information regarding transportation to and from the hotels to the wedding venue.

In addition to accommodation details, it is also a good idea to include a map or directions to the wedding venue. While most people use online maps and navigation tools, including a map or direction card ensures that your guests can find the venue easily, even if they have phone or reception issues. A custom weekend map can be a great addition to your invitation suite and can also serve as a keepsake for you and your guests.

If your wedding spans multiple events and locations, a map that highlights each event location can be very helpful. This can be included on a separate enclosure card or even on your wedding website. Providing clear and detailed information will ensure that your guests can easily navigate to all the wedding events and activities.

It is recommended that you send out your wedding invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives your guests enough time to make travel arrangements and book accommodations. Sending the invitations too late may cause issues for your guests, so it is important to allow ample time for planning.

Don't abbreviate the time and date

When it comes to wedding invitations, it is important to provide clear information about the date and time to your guests. Here are some tips to ensure that your invitations are both informative and stylish:

• Spell out the date: It is generally considered more formal and elegant to write out the date in full. For example, "Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October two thousand twenty-four". This format includes the day of the week, the date, and the year, all written out in words rather than using numerals.
• Capitalisation: When writing out the date, capitalise the day of the week and the month. For example, "Saturday, the Tenth of May". The year is typically written on a separate line and does not require capitalisation.
• Compound dates: For dates such as May 28th, use a hyphen and write it as "Saturday, the TWENTY-EIGHTH of May". Alternatively, a less traditional option is to write "Saturday, May twenty-eighth".
• Write out the time: It is recommended to spell out the time in full rather than using numerals. For example, for a 3:30 pm start time, write "half after three o'clock". This format is especially suitable for more traditional or formal wedding invitations.
• Use of "o'clock": When writing out the time, include "o'clock" for times on the hour. For example, "four o'clock". For times that are not on the hour, such as half-past or quarter-past, simply state "half after" or "quarter after" without using "o'clock".
• Time of day: Always indicate the time of day by specifying "in the morning", "noon", "in the afternoon", "in the evening", or "midnight". For example, "seven o'clock in the evening". The time of day can also be indicated using "a.m." or "p.m." when using numerical time formats.
• Consistency: Ensure that the format of the date and time on your invitation is consistent with any enclosures or accessory cards. This creates a cohesive and polished look for your wedding stationery.

Remember, while these guidelines can help ensure a traditional and formal tone, you can always adapt and personalise your invitations to match your wedding's style and theme. Working with a stationer can also help you refine the wording and format to create elegant and informative wedding invitations.

Send save-the-date cards 6-8 months before the wedding

Sending save-the-date cards is a great way to let guests know about your wedding date in advance so they can plan accordingly. It is recommended to send save-the-date cards 6 to 12 months before the wedding. This gives your guests ample time to make the necessary arrangements, such as requesting time off work, confirming travel plans, and saving money. Sending save-the-date cards earlier is especially important if your wedding is a destination wedding or falls on a holiday weekend.

While the save-the-date cards do not need to include all the details of the wedding, they should contain key information such as the date, the names of the couple, and the city of the event. It is also helpful to include a formal invitation and the wedding website. Save-the-date cards are typically sent to all guests who are invited to the wedding, including the wedding party and family members.

It is important to note that save-the-date cards are not a requirement, but they are a fun and practical way to get your guests excited about your upcoming celebration. After sending the save-the-date cards, the next step is to send the formal wedding invitations. The proper timeline for sending wedding invitations is six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives your guests enough time to plan and respond, allowing you to finalize your headcount and seating charts.

When creating your save-the-date cards, avoid common mistakes such as not being clear about who is invited and forgetting to include essential details. Sending them too late can also be an issue, as guests need sufficient notice to make travel and accommodation arrangements. Overall, sending save-the-date cards 6 to 8 months before the wedding is a crucial step in the wedding planning process, ensuring that your guests have the information they need to attend your special day.

Frequently asked questions