Rhiannon Hendricks
Save-the-date cards are a great way to let guests know about your wedding date in advance so that they can plan their attendance. The general consensus is that save-the-dates should be sent out 6 to 12 months before the wedding, with 8 to 10 months being the most recommended timeframe. Sending them out early is especially important if you have a destination wedding or are planning to get married during a holiday weekend, as guests will need more time to plan their travel and accommodations. In such cases, it is ideal to send out save-the-dates at least 10 months in advance, with some couples opting to give their guests up to a year to plan. On the other hand, if you have a short engagement and not enough time to send save-the-dates, it is perfectly acceptable to skip them and send out wedding invitations instead.
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What You'll Learn
- Save-the-date cards are sent out 8-12 months before the wedding
- Wedding invitations are sent out 2-4 months before the wedding
- Save-the-date cards are not the same as wedding invites
- It's important to send save-the-date cards early, especially for destination weddings
- Sending save-the-date cards too early can be a mistake
Save-the-date cards are sent out 8-12 months before the wedding
Save-the-date cards are typically sent out 8-12 months before the wedding. Sending them early gives your guests a heads-up about your wedding date so that they can plan their attendance. This is especially important if your wedding is at a far-flung location or over a holiday weekend, where guests will need to book travel and accommodation and perhaps save up money. Sending save-the-date cards also ensures that your guests do not make other plans, such as long vacations or attending another wedding.
You can send save-the-date cards even earlier, especially if your wedding is a destination wedding or if you are getting married during a popular time such as the summer. Sending your save-the-date cards early can also help you get your wedding date in your guests' diaries first, especially if there are lots of weddings each summer among your friends. Sending save-the-date cards 18 months to two years in advance is not uncommon.
However, sending save-the-date cards too early does come with some risks. Your guests may tuck the card away and forget about it, or their circumstances may change in the intervening time. Sending save-the-date cards too early may also mean that you have not had time to properly plan your wedding and finalise details such as the venue and date. It is also important to remember that save-the-date cards cannot be revoked, so you should only send them to people you absolutely must have at your wedding.
The save-the-date cards can be followed up with the official wedding invitations, which include more details about the day, such as the ceremony time and venue address. These are typically sent out 3-4 months before the wedding, or earlier if your wedding is abroad or guests are travelling from far away and need to make travel arrangements.
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Wedding invitations are sent out 2-4 months before the wedding
Wedding planning can be a stressful task, and there are many things to consider when sending out invitations. Sending out invitations 2-4 months before the wedding is a common practice, and there are several reasons why this is the case.
Firstly, it is essential to give your guests enough time to plan and prepare for your big day. Sending out invitations too late may result in your guests having other commitments, such as long vacations or other weddings. By sending them out earlier, you increase the chances of your loved ones being able to attend. This is especially important if your wedding is in a far-flung location or over a holiday weekend, as your guests will need extra time to book travel and accommodation.
Another reason to send out invitations in this timeframe is that it strikes a balance between giving your guests enough notice and not being too early that they forget or misplace the invitation. While it is exciting to want to share your wedding plans as soon as possible, sending out invitations too early can lead to guests putting the invitation aside and then forgetting about it.
In some cases, it may be appropriate to send out invitations even earlier than 4 months before the wedding, especially if you have already sent out "save the date" cards. "Save the date" cards are a great way to give your guests a heads-up about your wedding date and location, and they are typically sent out 8-12 months in advance. This is particularly important if you are planning a destination wedding or if your wedding falls on a holiday weekend.
However, there may be instances where sending out invitations 2-4 months in advance is not feasible, such as in the case of a short engagement. If the engagement period is very short, it may be more practical to skip the "save the date" cards and send out the invitations as soon as possible. In these cases, securing a venue and vendors takes priority, and the timeline for sending out invitations may be condensed.
In conclusion, sending out wedding invitations 2-4 months before the wedding is a common practice that allows your guests enough time to plan and prepare without being too early that they forget about it. However, there may be situations where sending them out earlier or later is more appropriate, depending on the specific circumstances of your wedding.
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Save-the-date cards are not the same as wedding invites
Wedding invites, on the other hand, are sent out much closer to the wedding date. The typical timeline for sending wedding invites is around 8 weeks before the wedding, but they can be sent earlier if you have guests travelling. Sending invites 3 months in advance is also common, especially if you need to secure accommodation for your guests.
Save-the-date cards are also different in that they require less finalised information. All you need is the date and location, and you can even include the venue if you wish. They are a great way to give your guests a nudge and ensure your wedding date is in their diary, without having to provide all the finer details.
Wedding invites, however, require more specific information. They should include details such as the ceremony time, venue address, accommodation options, dress code, and any other important information your guests may need. Wedding invites are the official invitation, with all the finalised plans, whereas save-the-date cards are more of a pre-invitation, giving your guests a friendly advance warning.
In some cases, if you have a very short engagement, you may choose to skip save-the-date cards altogether and send out wedding invites first. This is a condensed timeline and is more suitable for last-minute weddings.
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It's important to send save-the-date cards early, especially for destination weddings
Save-the-date cards are a great way to let your guests know about your wedding date in advance so that they can plan their attendance. Sending these cards early is important, especially if your wedding is at a far-flung location or during a holiday weekend.
For a typical wedding, it is recommended to send out save-the-dates around 8 to 12 months before the wedding. This gives your guests ample time to plan and make arrangements. They may need to request time off work, arrange childcare, make travel plans, or save money for accommodation and gifts. Sending save-the-dates early is also a good way to ensure that your guests do not make other plans, such as long vacations or attending another wedding.
If you're planning a destination wedding, it's a good idea to send out your save-the-dates even earlier, typically 10 to 12 months in advance. Destination weddings require more planning for your guests, who may need to obtain new passports or apply for visas. They will also need to budget for plane tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, and other travel expenses. Sending save-the-dates early gives your guests a better opportunity to attend your wedding and also allows you to have "first dibs" on your chosen date.
While it is important to send save-the-dates early, it is also recommended to avoid sending them too far in advance, as your guests may forget about the date. A good rule of thumb is to keep it under a year, as your wedding date may be too far away for your guests to keep it on their radar. Additionally, you will have more flexibility if you need to change the date or location.
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Sending save-the-date cards too early can be a mistake
Sending out save-the-date cards too early can be a mistake for several reasons. Firstly, it's important to have the wedding date and venue confirmed before sending out save-the-dates. Sending them out too early may result in embarrassment if the venue falls through, and it could confuse guests if the venue changes. It's also a good idea to have a finalised guest list before sending out save-the-dates, as these are usually sent to people who are invited to the wedding. Sending out save-the-dates too early could result in changes to the guest list, causing confusion and disappointment.
Another reason to avoid sending save-the-dates too early is that they may be forgotten by guests. While sending them out 12-14 months in advance may seem like a good idea, people may tuck the card away and forget about it, or they may struggle to plan that far in advance. It's also worth considering that plans can change, and you may wish to change the date or location of your wedding. Sending out save-the-dates too early can limit your flexibility and ability to make changes.
The ideal time frame for sending out save-the-dates is generally considered to be 6-12 months before the wedding. This gives guests enough time to plan, including booking travel and accommodation, requesting time off work, and arranging childcare if needed. Sending out save-the-dates within this time frame also helps to ensure your wedding stays on guests' radars, reducing the risk of conflicts with other plans.
For destination weddings or weddings during holiday periods, it is recommended to send out save-the-dates earlier, typically no later than 10 months before the wedding. This is because destination weddings require more planning and guests will need additional time to make travel arrangements, apply for visas (if necessary), and budget for the trip. Sending out save-the-dates 11 months or even a year in advance can be helpful in these cases.
In summary, while it's important to give guests enough notice, sending out save-the-date cards too early can lead to mistakes and complications. It's best to wait until you have confirmed plans and a finalised guest list, and to send out save-the-dates within a timeframe that gives guests enough time to plan without being too far in advance.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended to send save the dates 8 to 12 months before the wedding. If it's a destination wedding, it's best to send them 10-12 months in advance. If most of your guests are local, 6-8 months should be fine.
Sending save the dates early ensures your guests have enough time to plan and request time off work, confirm travel plans, save money, and organise accommodations and childcare. It also gives you "first dibs" on your chosen date.
Save the dates should include your names, wedding date(s), and location (city and state). You can also include the names of every intended guest on the envelope to be clear about who is invited.
It's not advisable to send save the dates before finalising your guest list because they cannot be revoked. Once they're in the mail, you can't change your mind about who you're inviting.
If you're having a short engagement and getting married in just a few months, you can skip save the dates and send out wedding invitations 3-4 months in advance.
