The Perfect Timing For Sending Wedding Invites

Sending out wedding invitations is a crucial part of wedding planning, and timing is essential. The general rule of thumb is to mail invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding, allowing guests enough time to respond and make travel arrangements if needed. However, this timeline may be adjusted depending on various factors. For instance, sending invitations three to six months in advance is recommended if many guests are travelling from abroad or if the wedding falls on a holiday weekend. On the other hand, sending invitations too early, such as a year in advance, may result in guests forgetting the date or losing the invitation. Thus, striking a balance between providing ample notice and maintaining guests' interest is crucial.

Sending invites 6-8 weeks in advance is standard

Sending out your wedding invitations around 6-8 weeks in advance is standard practice. This is the perfect amount of time to give your guests a heads-up without risking them forgetting about your wedding day. Sending invites too early can lead to guests changing their plans, resulting in an inaccurate guest count for your vendors.

This standard timeline is also supported by wedding stationers, who recommend sending invites 6-8 weeks before the RSVP deadline, which is usually about 8-10 weeks before the wedding. This ensures you have enough time to chase down late responses without being too early.

It's also worth noting that sending invites 6-8 weeks in advance is in line with proper wedding invitation etiquette, according to experts like Diane Gottsman, owner of The Protocol School of Texas. This timeline allows your guests to clear their schedules and request RSVPs sooner, helping you finalise your seating charts and complete other planning tasks before the wedding crunch.

However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. If your wedding falls near a major holiday, such as Christmas, it's advisable to send invitations earlier, around 3 months in advance. This is because people tend to plan their holidays in advance, and you want to ensure your guests can attend. Similarly, if you have a large number of international guests, it's considerate to send their invitations 9-10 weeks in advance to account for shipping delays and travel arrangements.

In summary, sending wedding invitations 6-8 weeks in advance strikes a balance between giving your guests enough notice and minimising the chances of unexpected changes. It's a standard timeline supported by experts and professionals, ensuring you can focus on the other exciting aspects of your wedding planning journey.

Send earlier if many guests are travelling

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. While the general rule of thumb is to send out invitations six to eight weeks in advance, there are circumstances where sending them earlier is advisable. One such circumstance is when many of your guests will be travelling from out of town or from overseas.

If a large number of your guests will be travelling from out of town, it is recommended to send out your wedding invitations around eight to ten weeks before the wedding. This will give your guests enough time to make travel arrangements and book accommodations. It is also a good idea to include a response card with your invitations, requesting that guests RSVP one month before the wedding. This will allow you to get a final headcount and make any necessary adjustments to your plans.

For guests travelling from overseas, it is best to send their invitations even earlier, around twelve weeks in advance. This will allow them enough time to plan their travel and make any necessary visa or accommodation arrangements. If you are inviting a small number of international guests, you can send their invitations at the same time as the other guests, but be sure to give them a heads-up via phone or email so they can start planning their trip.

If you are having a destination wedding, it is especially important to give your guests plenty of notice. In this case, sending out your invitations three to six months in advance is recommended. This will give your guests time to save money and book their trips, which may involve more extensive travel arrangements.

To ensure your guests have all the information they need, it is a good idea to include an information or details card with your invitations. This can include accommodation options, transportation information, and any other relevant details to help your guests with their planning.

By sending out your wedding invitations earlier for guests who are travelling, you can ensure that they have enough time to make the necessary arrangements and that you have an accurate headcount for your big day.

Send Save-the-Dates 4-6 months in advance

Save-the-date cards are not mandatory, but they are a considerate way to ensure your guests can attend your wedding. They are especially helpful when many of your guests have to make travel arrangements or if accommodations near the wedding site are limited. Save-the-dates are typically sent out 4-6 months before the wedding, or even earlier if you're planning a destination wedding that may require more extensive travel arrangements.

Sending out save-the-dates early is a good idea, especially if your wedding falls on a holiday weekend or if many of your guests will need to travel. This gives your guests plenty of time to block off the date on their calendars and make any necessary travel or accommodation arrangements. It's also a good idea if you want to get a rough idea of how many guests will be able to attend, especially for destination weddings where you need to communicate a guest count to your venue.

If you're sending out physical save-the-date cards, it's a good idea to start designing and ordering them early, especially if you want custom-made cards. The process can take several weeks or even months, so it's best to start at least 11-12 months before your wedding. This will give you plenty of time to find the right designer or supplier, place your order, and have it delivered.

If you're on a tighter timeline or budget, there are also many online digital providers that offer save-the-date cards. These can be purchased and shipped to you within 2-3 weeks, which is a more affordable and faster option.

In addition to sending out save-the-dates, it's also a good idea to create a wedding website. This way, you can include the URL on your save-the-date cards so that guests can easily access all the information they need about your wedding, such as accommodation options, travel recommendations, and any other relevant details.

When it comes to the actual wedding invitations, these are typically sent out 6-8 weeks before the wedding. This gives your guests enough time to RSVP and make any necessary arrangements without increasing the likelihood of unexpected changes.

Request RSVPs no later than 1 month before the wedding

When planning a wedding, it is important to give your guests enough time to respond to their invitations. The general rule of thumb is to request RSVPs no later than one month before the wedding, with some sources suggesting a deadline of three to four weeks. This gives you enough time to finalise your guest list and make any necessary arrangements, such as seating charts and catering numbers.

It is recommended that invitations are sent out six to eight weeks before the wedding, with a deadline for responses of around one month. This allows guests enough time to clear their schedules and make any necessary travel arrangements, without being too early that they forget to respond.

If you are planning a destination wedding, it is advisable to give your guests a little more time. In this case, you should send out invitations at least ten to twelve weeks in advance and request RSVPs by one month before the wedding.

It is important to consider the timing of your invitations and RSVPs to ensure you have an accurate idea of guest numbers. Sending invitations too early may result in guests changing their plans, while sending them out too late may not give your guests enough time to respond. The sweet spot is usually around six to eight weeks, with RSVPs requested by one month before the big day.

To ensure a timely response from your guests, it is recommended to include the deadline clearly on your invitations and wedding website. You can also send friendly reminders to guests who have not yet responded, either by phone, text, or email.

Include RSVP deadline on invites

When it comes to wedding planning, there are a few tasks that have guidelines, and one of the most important is knowing how far in advance to send out wedding invitations. The proper timeline for sending out wedding invitations is six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives your guests enough time to clear their schedules and make travel arrangements if needed. However, if your wedding is around a major holiday, such as Christmas, it is recommended to send out invitations earlier, as people will need more time to plan.

Now, let's focus on the importance of including an RSVP deadline on your wedding invitations:

It is essential to include an RSVP deadline on your wedding invitations to ensure you have a final headcount for your big day. This will help you with seating arrangements and providing accurate numbers to your caterers and other vendors. The RSVP deadline also allows you to invite guests on your B-list if needed. By setting a clear deadline, you can avoid last-minute stress and better organize your wedding plans.

The ideal time frame for the RSVP deadline is about one month before the wedding. This means if you are sending out your invitations six to eight weeks in advance, your guests will have a window of about one month to respond. It is not too early that they might forget and not too late that it becomes inconvenient for you to make the necessary arrangements.

To ensure that your guests respond by the deadline, you can implement a few strategies:

• Include a pre-addressed and pre-stamped return envelope with your invitation. This makes it convenient for your guests to send back their responses.
• Provide multiple options for RSVPs, such as mail-in cards and digital submissions through your wedding website. This caters to different preferences and ensures a quicker response.
• Choose clear and direct wording for your RSVP request. Instead of just writing "RSVP," you can say, "The favor of your reply is requested by [date]." This ensures that your guests understand a response is needed.
• Add a fun call to action on the response card, such as "RSVP with a song request" or "Share your favorite memory of the bride and groom." This makes the process more engaging for your guests.
• If you are having a destination wedding, give your guests more time to respond by setting the RSVP deadline about two months before the wedding. This accounts for the extra time needed to arrange travel plans.
• Make the RSVP date clear and legible on the invitation card and your wedding website. You can even include a countdown ticker on your website to create a sense of urgency.

Even with a well-planned strategy, there may be a few guests who don't respond by the deadline. In such cases, it is appropriate to follow up with them about a week after the deadline has passed. A friendly phone call or text message will politely remind them to send their response. This follow-up is crucial in finalizing your guest list and ensuring an accurate headcount for your wedding plans.

Frequently asked questions