Mailing Wedding Invites: How Early Is Too Early?

Sending out wedding invitations at the right time is crucial to ensure your guests have all the information they need to plan for and attend your big day. The general rule of thumb is to mail invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding date. This gives guests enough time to clear their schedules, make travel arrangements if necessary, and purchase gifts. It also allows the couple to request RSVPs sooner and get a final headcount for seating charts and vendor preparations. Sending invitations too early or too late can be inconsiderate and affect guest attendance. Couples may also choose to send out save the date cards four to six months in advance, especially if the wedding falls on a holiday or requires extensive travel plans.

Invites should be sent 6-8 weeks before the wedding

Sending out wedding invitations at the right time is crucial for a successful wedding. It can be inconsiderate and hurt your guest attendance if invites are sent out too late or too early.

The ideal time frame for sending out wedding invitations is six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives your guests plenty of time to clear their schedules and make any necessary arrangements, such as booking travel or accommodations. It also allows you to request RSVPs sooner while staying in line with proper wedding invitation etiquette. This will enable 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.

Sending invitations within this timeframe ensures that your guests have enough time to respond without increasing the likelihood of unexpected changes to their plans. It's essential to find a balance between giving enough notice and not sending the invites too early, as doing so may cause your wedding to slip your guests' minds as the day approaches.

If your wedding falls around a major holiday, such as Christmas, it is advisable to send the invitations earlier, allowing your guests more time to plan in advance. Similarly, if you have a large number of international guests or are planning a destination wedding, it is recommended to send the invitations 12 weeks in advance to account for travel arrangements.

To ensure your guests have all the necessary information, it is customary to send out "Save the Dates" four to six months before the wedding. This gives your guests a timely heads-up, making it easier for them to plan their attendance.

Send save-the-dates 4-6 months in advance

Save-the-dates are an exciting part of the wedding planning process, giving your guests a heads-up about your big day and allowing them to start making plans to attend. While they are not a requirement, they are a fun way to get your guests involved and are especially helpful when many guests need to make travel arrangements or if accommodations near the wedding site are limited.

The general rule of wedding etiquette is to send save-the-dates to your guest list around four to six months before your wedding date. This gives your guests plenty of time to block off the date on their calendars and make any necessary travel or accommodation arrangements. Sending save-the-dates in advance is also considerate for guests with busy schedules, allowing them to plan ahead and ensure they don't make conflicting plans.

If your wedding falls on a holiday weekend or is a destination wedding, it is advisable to send your save-the-dates even earlier, such as 6 to 12 months in advance. This is because your guests may need more time to plan their travel and accommodations during popular travel times or for more remote locations.

When creating your save-the-dates, you don't need to include all the detailed information about your wedding. However, it is a good idea to include the date, venue, and wedding website, if you have one. The wedding website can then be used to provide additional details, such as lodging options, for your guests to start planning their trip.

While sending save-the-dates is a fun and practical step in the wedding planning process, it is important to remember that they are just the first step. Your official wedding invitations should still be sent out six to eight weeks before your wedding date, giving your guests plenty of time to RSVP and make any final arrangements.

Request RSVPs no later than 1 month before the wedding

When planning a wedding, it is important to give your guests enough notice to be able to attend. The general rule of thumb is to send out your wedding invitations around six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives your guests enough time to clear their schedules and make any necessary travel arrangements.

However, it is recommended that you request RSVPs no later than one month before the wedding. This allows you to get a final headcount and make the necessary preparations, such as completing your seating chart and finalising menu selections. It also gives your vendors enough time to order and prepare supplies.

• Send Save-the-Dates: It is a good idea to send out Save-the-Date cards 4-6 months before the wedding, especially if your wedding falls on a holiday weekend or requires travel for most guests. This gives your guests a heads-up to block off the date on their calendars and makes planning easier for them.
• Include RSVP Deadline: Be sure to indicate an RSVP deadline on your wedding invitations. This could be around one month before the wedding, giving guests a brief window to respond while also providing you with enough time to plan.
• Follow Up on Late Responses: Despite your best efforts, there may be guests who don't respond by the RSVP deadline. It is important to follow up promptly with anyone you haven't heard from to ensure you have an accurate headcount.
• Consider Digital RSVPs: If you are inviting international guests, it is advisable to give them the option to RSVP digitally. This avoids the delay of waiting for their responses to arrive by mail.
• Send Invitations Early for Destination Weddings: If you are planning a destination wedding, it is recommended to send invitations 12 weeks in advance to give your guests ample time to plan their travel.

By following these suggestions, you can ensure that you receive timely RSVPs and can effectively plan the various aspects of your wedding, from seating arrangements to vendor preparations.

Send invites 12 weeks in advance if many guests live abroad

Sending out wedding invitations is a crucial part of wedding planning. The timing of your invites will depend on several factors, including the location of your wedding and the number of international guests.

If you have a large number of guests living abroad, it is recommended to send out your invitations 12 weeks in advance. This will give your international guests ample time to make travel arrangements and accommodations. It is also a good idea to follow up with them promptly to ensure they have enough time to book their flights.

To make things simpler, you can send all your invitations at once, regardless of how many guests live out of the country. Sending your invites 12 weeks in advance will ensure that everyone has enough time to plan and that you will have an accurate headcount for your venue and vendors.

It is also essential to consider other wedding stationery, such as save-the-dates and RSVP cards. Save-the-dates are typically sent out 4-6 months before the wedding, giving your guests enough time to block off the date on their calendars. Meanwhile, the RSVP deadline is usually set for one month before the wedding, providing a brief window for guests to respond while also giving your vendors enough notice.

Planning a wedding can be a busy and stressful time, but sending out your invitations at the right time will help ensure a smooth process and boost the number of positive RSVPs you receive.

Send invites 9-10 weeks in advance if guests need to book travel

Sending out wedding invitations is a crucial part of the planning process. It is important to give your guests enough time to plan their attendance, especially if they need to book travel or accommodation.

If you have a lot of international guests or are planning a destination wedding, it is a good idea to send out invitations 9-10 weeks in advance. This will give your guests the time they need to make travel arrangements and book any necessary accommodations. It is also a good idea to follow up with guests who have not yet RSVP'd to ensure they have enough time to book their travel.

While it is important to give your guests enough notice, you also don't want to send out your invitations too early. If you send them out too far in advance, your wedding might not be at the top of your guests' minds as the day approaches. There is also a greater chance that their plans will change if they accept the invitation too early.

To strike a balance, it is recommended that you send Save the Dates 4-6 months before the wedding date. This will give your guests a heads-up to block off the date on their calendars and start making travel arrangements if necessary. Then, you can send the formal invitations 9-10 weeks in advance, which will give your guests plenty of time to RSVP and make the necessary preparations for your big day.

It is also important to consider the timing of your RSVP deadline. You want to give your guests enough time to respond, but you also need to leave enough time to finalize your wedding planning details, such as the seating chart, menu selections, and cake size. Ideally, you should request RSVPs about a month before the wedding. This will give you a brief window to receive the invitations and make any necessary changes to your guest count.

By following these recommendations, you can ensure that your guests have enough time to plan their attendance and that you have an accurate idea of how many people to expect on your wedding day.

Frequently asked questions