Evening Wedding Invite Etiquette: When To Send Out Invites

Planning a wedding is an exciting time, and sending out invitations is a big part of that. While there are no hard and fast rules, it's important to give your guests enough notice. So, when is the best time to send out evening wedding invitations?

Evening wedding invitations are for guests who will be joining you for your evening party only. It is recommended that these invitations be sent out four to twelve weeks before the wedding. This will give your guests enough time to plan and make any necessary arrangements, such as booking time off work. Sending out invitations in this timeframe will also allow you to receive replies and confirm final numbers with your venue and caterers.

If you are sending out all day invitations, it is suggested to send them four to eight months ahead of the wedding. Evening invitations can be sent at the same time or a little later, depending on your preference and the flexibility of your guest list.

Send invites 6-8 weeks before the wedding

Sending your wedding invites in good time is essential to ensure your guests can plan their schedules and make travel arrangements if necessary. While there are no strict rules, it is generally recommended that you send your evening invitations 6-8 weeks before your wedding. This is the same timeline that applies to day guests, but if you are sending your day invites earlier (8 months in advance, for example), you might want to wait a little longer for your evening invites.

Evening guests may need less time to plan, as they are less likely to need to book time off work or accommodation. They may also be more flexible if your guest list changes, or if you want to upgrade some guests to a full day invitation. Sending your evening invites 6-8 weeks in advance will also give you enough time to receive replies and confirm final numbers for your venue and caterers.

If you are sending save-the-date cards, these should go out 6-8 months before the wedding, or even earlier if you are planning a destination wedding. This will give your guests plenty of notice to mark their calendars and make any necessary travel arrangements.

Send 'save the date' cards 6-12 months before

Save-the-date cards are typically sent out six to 12 months before your wedding day. Sending them out early gives your guests ample time to prepare and change their plans if necessary. It's particularly important to send them out early if you're marrying at a busy time of year or if your wedding is a destination wedding.

Save-the-date cards are not required, but they are a fun way to get your guests to mark their calendars. They are also helpful when many of your guests have to make travel arrangements or if accommodations near the wedding site are limited.

If you're at an age where there are lots of weddings each summer, sending out your save-the-date cards early can help you secure your friends' attendance at your wedding. That way, if another wedding comes up on the same day, your friends are already committed to attending yours.

Once your venue and wedding date are confirmed, there's no reason to delay sending out your save-the-date cards. Anytime from eight months to a year before your wedding is ideal.

If you're planning a destination wedding, it's advisable to send out your save-the-date cards as soon as you have a confirmed date. This allows guests ample time to plan their trip and make any necessary arrangements.

Your save-the-date cards should include the full names of you and your fiancé, as well as the hosts if you're using formal phrasing. They should also clearly list the time, date, month, and year of the wedding, as well as the full address of the venue.

Send invites 4-6 months before if no 'save the date'

Evening wedding invitations are sent to guests who will be joining you for your evening party only. If you are not sending save-the-date cards, it is recommended that you send your wedding invitations around six months in advance. This is especially important if a lot of your guests are travelling from out of town and need to make travel arrangements or book time off work. Sending your invitations four to six months before the wedding will allow you ample time to receive replies and confirm final numbers for your venue and caterers.

However, there are a few reasons why you might decide to send your evening invitations later than your daytime invitations. Evening guests might need less time to plan or book time off work. They are also less likely to need to arrange accommodation. Therefore, they won't need as much notice. However, if your evening guests do need more time to plan, it is a good idea to give them as much notice as possible, along with any additional details they might need.

Your evening guest list is likely to be less set in stone than your daytime guest list. Friendships and work colleagues can change, as can relationships. You might not want to commit to sending invitations as early as you need to for your daytime guest list. It's also likely that catering for your evening party will be more flexible than that for your daytime reception. Evening invitations can be sent closer to the wedding as numbers probably won't need to be confirmed until nearer the time.

If you delay sending your evening invites until after you've received replies for your daytime ones, you have the opportunity to send full-day invitations to those 'upgraded' evening guests in the event of any original daytime guests being unable to attend. If you haven't already sent your evening invitations, you can do this without anyone knowing they've been 'upgraded'.

Send invites 3 months before for destination weddings

When it comes to destination weddings, it's important to give your guests ample notice. While the general recommendation for wedding invitations is to send them out six to eight weeks before the wedding, this timeframe can be extended for destination weddings.

• Advance Planning for Guests: Destination weddings often require guests to plan their travel, book accommodations, and make necessary arrangements. Sending invites three months in advance gives them sufficient time to organise their schedules, request time off from work, and make travel plans. This is especially important if your wedding date falls during a busy travel season or if guests need to arrange childcare or pet care.
• Save-the-Dates: It is advisable to send out save-the-dates for destination weddings. These should be sent nine to twelve months in advance to give your guests a heads-up about the wedding date and location. Sending save-the-dates early allows guests to start planning their attendance and making travel arrangements. It also gives you an idea of the expected guest count earlier in the planning process.
• Finalising Details: By sending invites three months in advance, you can receive RSVPs sooner and finalise the head count for your venue and caterers. This is crucial for destination weddings, as it helps you plan for any additional events, such as a welcome dinner or a lunch the day after the wedding. Sending invites earlier ensures you have a better understanding of the guest count and can plan accordingly.
• Providing Travel Information: Along with the save-the-dates, it is considerate to include travel details and accommodation suggestions. This gives your guests ample time to research flight options, book accommodations, and plan their itineraries. You can also include information about the local area, such as places to visit and eat, enhancing their overall travel experience.
• Flexibility for Changes: Wedding planning can be dynamic, with details evolving over time. Sending invites three months in advance allows for some flexibility if changes occur. For example, you may need to adjust the ceremony location, update your wedding website, or make last-minute adjustments to the guest list. Sending invites earlier reduces the risk of guests having already made non-refundable travel plans.

In conclusion, sending invites three months in advance for destination weddings is a thoughtful gesture that allows your guests to adequately plan their attendance. It also enables you to gather RSVPs earlier, finalise details with your vendors, and provide comprehensive travel information to ensure your guests have a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Send invites 8-12 weeks before for evening guests

Evening wedding invitations are sent to guests who will be joining you for your evening party only. They do not need to be sent to guests who will be with you for the whole day.

Evening guests will probably not need as long to plan for your wedding as day guests. It is less likely that they will need to arrange time off work, book accommodation, etc. Therefore, they won't need as much notice. Of course, this may not be the case, in which case you should give your evening guests as much notice as possible (along with any additional details they might need).

Your evening guest list is likely to be a bit less set in stone than your day guest list. Friendships and work colleagues can change, as can relationships. You might not want to commit to invitations as early as you need to for your day guest list. It's also likely that catering for your evening party will be a bit more flexible than that for your wedding breakfast. Evening invitations can be sent closer to the wedding as numbers probably won't need to be confirmed until nearer the time.

You might want to 'upgrade' guests. This can be a slightly taboo subject, but it's worth addressing. Do you have guests on your day list that you 'need' to invite but that probably won't come? Do you have guests on your evening list that, if you had the space/budget, you would 'upgrade' to a full day? Yes? That's OK – many couples are in the same boat.

If you delay sending your evening invites until after you've received replies for your day ones (this could be within 4 to 6 weeks), then you have the opportunity to send full-day invitations to those 'upgraded' evening guests in the event of any original day guests being unable to attend. If you haven't already sent your evening invitations, you can do this without anyone knowing they've been 'upgraded'.

So, when should you send evening wedding invitations? Well, there are no hard and fast rules. If you plan to send your day invitations at the later end of the scale (closer to four months in advance), then it's recommended that your evening invitations go out at around the same time. This will allow you ample time to receive your replies back and also confirm final numbers for your venue and caterers. If you are planning to send your day invitations out at the earlier end of the scale (around eight months in advance), then your evening ones could go a little later – maybe 6 to 8 weeks afterwards.

Whether you choose to send them at the same time as your day invitations or wait a little later, it's suggested that you send your evening invites out no later than 8 to 12 weeks before the wedding. This will ensure that you have enough time to get your replies back and confirm all your final numbers with your venue and caterers.

Frequently asked questions