The Perfect Timing For Sending Out Wedding Invites

Sending out wedding invitations is an exciting part of the planning process. But when is the best time to do it? The general consensus is that invitations should be sent out six to eight weeks in advance of the wedding. This gives guests enough time to respond and allows you to get a final headcount and complete your seating chart. For destination weddings or weddings with many out-of-town guests, it is recommended to send invitations three months or even earlier to account for travel arrangements. Save-the-date cards can be sent out as early as a year in advance, especially if your wedding falls on a busy time of year.

Destination weddings: 3 months in advance

If you're planning a destination wedding, it's important to give your guests ample notice. While the general recommendation for sending out wedding invitations is six to eight weeks before the wedding, invitations for destination weddings should be sent out earlier—around three months in advance. This gives your guests more time to plan their travel and accommodation.

However, it's a good idea to send out save-the-date cards even earlier—nine to twelve months ahead of time. This will ensure that your guests have plenty of time to organise their plans and request time off work if necessary. It's also a good opportunity to include travel details and suggestions for places to stay.

When it comes to the invitations themselves, it's a good idea to include more information than you usually would. As well as the usual who, when, and where, you might want to add tips for places to visit and eat in the area, and information about the weather. This additional information can be included on a separate information card that you send with your invitation.

If you're having events in addition to the wedding, such as a dinner the evening before or lunch the following day, be sure to list these on your RSVP card so that guests can indicate which events they'll be attending.

Local weddings: 6-8 weeks in advance

For local weddings, it is recommended to send out invitations 6-8 weeks in advance. This is considered the "sweet spot" as it gives your guests enough time to respond with less chance of unexpected things coming up. Sending your invites too early may result in a higher number of guests changing their plans, giving you an inaccurate guest count to provide to your vendors.

If you are concerned about giving your guests enough time to plan and make travel arrangements, you can lengthen this to up to 12 weeks in advance. However, it is generally not recommended to go beyond this timeframe.

If you have already sent out Save the Dates, your guests will already have the key information they need to plan their attendance, such as the date, venue, and wedding website. This means they will only need a short amount of time to respond to your official invitation.

It is also worth noting that the latest you should send out your invitations is 6 weeks in advance, and you should request responses by around one month before the wedding.

B-list invites: send in batches

Sending out your wedding invites is one of the most exciting parts of the planning process. But what about your B-list guests? It's a tricky situation to navigate, but there are ways to ensure your B-list guests feel valued and that you get the numbers you need.

Firstly, it's important to know when to send out your B-list invites. The general rule is to send out wedding invites six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives your guests enough time to plan, but not so much time that their plans are likely to change. However, if you have a lot of out-of-town guests or your wedding is during a busy time of year, you may want to send them out a little earlier—around three months in advance. This is also a good option if you need to give your guests a heads-up about travel or accommodation.

So, when it comes to your B-list, the best approach is to send out your invites in batches. Send the first batch to your A-list guests around three months before the wedding. This will give you plenty of time to hear back from them and will also allow you to give your B-list guests enough notice. If you start getting a lot of declines, you can then send out your B-list invites around two months before the wedding. This way, you're still giving your B-list guests enough time to plan and RSVP, and you're also more likely to get an accurate headcount for your venue and vendors.

It's important to be discreet when sending out your B-list invites. You don't want your guests to feel like they're second-choice, so try to be thoughtful about who you're inviting and when. If you have a large number of B-list guests, you may want to consider sending out your invites in smaller batches to make it more manageable.

Remember, it's always a good idea to give your guests a save-the-date notice, especially if you're having a destination wedding or getting married during a busy season. This will give your guests a heads-up to mark their calendars, and you can then follow up with the official invitation closer to the date.

RSVP deadline: 4 weeks before the wedding

When it comes to wedding planning, there are many details to consider, and one of the most important is the timing of your wedding invitations. Sending out invitations at the right time is crucial, as it ensures your guests have enough time to plan their attendance and helps you finalise the guest list for your big day.

So, how early is too early, and when is too late? Here's why setting your RSVP deadline for four weeks before the wedding is a popular choice.

The RSVP Deadline: A Crucial Part of Wedding Planning

The RSVP deadline is an essential component of wedding planning. It helps you secure a confirmed headcount for your wedding, allowing you to finalise seating arrangements, catering, and other important details. While it's customary to send out invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding, setting the RSVP deadline for four weeks gives your guests ample time to respond.

A deadline of four weeks before the wedding strikes a balance between giving your guests enough time to respond and ensuring you receive responses before the final preparations. Here are some reasons why this timeline is beneficial:

• It allows you to receive responses early and have a more accurate guest count for your venue and vendors.
• Your guests will have enough time to respond, especially if they need to make travel arrangements.
• You'll have a clearer idea of your final guest count, making it easier to manage last-minute details.
• With a four-week deadline, you can start following up with guests who haven't responded yet without feeling rushed.
• This timeline aligns with traditional wedding invitation etiquette, ensuring your guests have a month to respond.

Making the Most of Your RSVP Deadline

To make the most of your RSVP deadline and encourage timely responses, consider the following tips:

• Include a pre-addressed and pre-stamped return envelope with your invitations to make it convenient for your guests to respond.
• Provide multiple options for RSVPing, such as mail-in cards and digital responses through your wedding website.
• Use clear wording on your invitations, indicating the deadline and specifying whether a response is needed even if guests are declining the invitation.
• Request song suggestions or favourite memories as part of the RSVP to make it more engaging for your guests.
• Make the RSVP date clear and legible on the invitation card, and consider including a countdown ticker on your wedding website.

Save-the-date: 6-12 months in advance

Save-the-date cards are typically sent out six to 12 months before the wedding day. Sending them out early is a good idea, especially if your wedding is at a busy time of year, like the peak summer season, or if there are lots of weddings each summer and you want yours to be the first in people's diaries. It's also a good idea if many of your guests are travelling and need lots of time to plan their trip and make necessary arrangements.

Save-the-date cards are a good way to give your guests a heads-up about your wedding date and venue, so they can book time off work and start making plans to attend. They are particularly useful if you are having a destination wedding. Sending them out early means your guests will be more likely to be able to attend, and you can request RSVPs sooner, making it easier to manage your guest list and complete your seating plan.

However, some people think that sending out save-the-date cards more than six months in advance is too early, as people's plans may change, and they may forget to RSVP. It's also worth bearing in mind that guests will need a reminder closer to the time, as your wedding might not be at the top of their minds after a few months.

If you're not sending save-the-date cards, it's recommended that you send out your wedding invitations four to six months before your wedding date.

Frequently asked questions