Save-The-Date: Sending Out Wedding Invites Early

Sending out wedding invitations is a crucial step in the wedding planning process. The timing of the invites can impact guests' ability to attend and the couple's ability to plan. So, how early should you invite someone to a wedding?

How early is too early to send wedding invites?

When it comes to wedding planning, timing is crucial. Sending out wedding invitations too early can be a mistake, but you also don't want to leave it too late and risk guests being unable to attend due to prior commitments. So, how early is too early?

The general consensus is that wedding invitations should be sent out six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives guests enough time to clear their schedules and make any necessary travel arrangements, without being too early that they forget to respond or end up changing their plans. Sending invitations too early can also make it more difficult to finalise your guest list numbers, as people's plans can change.

However, there are some circumstances in which it may be advisable to send invitations out earlier. If a large proportion of your guest list lives abroad or you are planning a destination wedding, it is recommended to send invitations around 12 weeks in advance. This gives international guests enough time to plan their travel and make any necessary arrangements.

It's also worth considering sending out save-the-date cards, especially if you're having a destination wedding or if many of your guests will need to make travel arrangements. Save-the-dates are typically sent out four to six months before the wedding, but can be sent up to a year in advance if you have your details finalised. This gives guests a heads-up to mark their calendars and ensures they don't make other plans.

So, while there is some flexibility depending on the specific circumstances of your wedding, sending invitations earlier than 12 weeks before the wedding is generally not recommended. Sticking to the six-to-eight-week timeframe will help ensure a smooth planning process and an accurate guest count for your big day.

How long before the wedding should the RSVP date be?

When it comes to wedding planning, there are a few important guidelines to keep in mind, and one of them is the timing of your wedding invitations and RSVPs.

It is recommended that your wedding invitations be sent out six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives your guests enough time to clear their schedules and make any necessary travel arrangements. Sending invitations within this time frame also allows you to request RSVPs sooner while staying within the boundaries of proper wedding invitation etiquette.

So, how long before the wedding should the RSVP date be? The ideal timeframe for your RSVP deadline is about three to four weeks before the wedding. This gives you, as the host, enough time to finalise the guest list and make necessary arrangements, such as seating charts and catering. It is important to set an RSVP deadline and stick to it to ensure a smooth planning process.

When setting the RSVP date, consider that some guests may respond after the deadline or forget to respond altogether. To account for this, it is recommended to set a buffer period of about one to two weeks before you need to provide final numbers to your caterer and venue. This way, you can spend some time following up with guests who have not yet responded without feeling rushed.

Additionally, when creating your invitations, it is helpful to include a pre-addressed and pre-stamped return envelope to make it easier for your guests to respond. You can also provide options for RSVPing, such as digitally through your wedding website, to increase the likelihood of timely responses.

In summary, sending invitations six to eight weeks in advance and setting an RSVP deadline of about three to four weeks before the wedding will help ensure a well-organised and less stressful planning process.

What time should be printed on the invites?

When it comes to what time to print on your wedding invites, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, it is generally recommended that you call the wedding for at least 30 minutes before you want the ceremony to begin and state this time on your invitation. This is because guests usually arrive early for weddings, so by placing a false start time on your invites, you risk your loved ones waiting longer than necessary. However, it is also important to be mindful of what your guests will do during this window of time before the ceremony starts. Etiquette expert Elaine Swann recommends having something for your guests to do during this time, such as signing the guest book or taking photos.

When it comes to the format of the time on your invites, this will depend on the formality of your wedding. For more traditional, formal invitations, it is customary to write out the time in full, for example, 'half after three o'clock' or 'three o'clock'. It is also worth noting that formal invitations traditionally say 'half after' rather than 'half past'. If your wedding is more casual, you can write the time in numerals, for example, '3:00 pm' or '3pm'.

If your reception is taking place several hours after the ceremony or in a different location, it is a good idea to include a separate reception card with your invitation suite to share these details.

When should international guests be invited?

When it comes to international guests, there are a few things to consider.

Firstly, it is recommended that you send out invitations to international guests around nine to twelve weeks in advance. This is to account for the extended shipping and delivery time needed to get the invites to your loved ones. It is also a good idea to give your international guests a heads-up by giving them a call or sending them an email with the details, including information about booking hotel rooms, so they can start arranging their travel plans.

Secondly, when it comes to RSVPs, it is advisable to give international guests the option to respond digitally, as waiting for their responses to arrive by mail may take longer. You could also suggest that they email or text their RSVP, or even RSVP through your wedding website if you have one.

Thirdly, if you are sending paper invitations, remember to include the correct postage for the RSVP cards. The amount of postage required may vary depending on the country, so it is worth checking with your local post office. Alternatively, you could let your international guests know that they can respond digitally, which avoids the issue of postage costs altogether.

Finally, if you are having a destination wedding, it is advisable to send out save-the-dates nine to twelve months in advance, giving your international guests plenty of time to organise their travel plans and accommodation. It is also a nice gesture to provide them with information about travel and accommodation options, as well as suggestions for places to visit and eat in the area.

What is the proper etiquette for sending invites?

Sending out wedding invitations is an exciting step in the planning journey. But what is the proper etiquette for sending invites?

Timing

The general rule of thumb is to send out wedding invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives guests plenty of time to clear their schedules and make travel arrangements if needed. It also means you can request RSVPs sooner, allowing you to get a final headcount, invite guests on your B list if needed, and complete your seating chart before the wedding crunch.

However, if you're sending out invitations to international guests, it's a good idea to add a few weeks to this timeline. Aim for around 12 weeks before the wedding date to give them ample time to plan their travel.

Save-the-Dates

Before sending out the official invitations, it's common to send out save-the-dates. These are typically sent out four to six months before the wedding, or even earlier if it's a destination wedding. Save-the-dates are a fun way to get your guests to mark their calendars, especially if many of your guests have to make travel arrangements.

RSVPs

It's important to set an RSVP deadline to help with your planning. As a general rule, you want to make your RSVP date at least two to three weeks before your wedding date. This gives you enough time to get a final headcount to the caterer and finalize your seating arrangements.

Digital Invites

Digital invitations don't align with traditional wedding invitation etiquette, but if you're planning an eco-friendly wedding, this may be an option. Just be mindful of your guests, and consider having a few physical invitations for older relatives who may be less tech-savvy.

Frequently asked questions