The Perfect Timeline: Wedding Invitations And Advance Planning

Wedding planning involves taking care of a lot of details, and one of the most important is the wedding invitation. It sets the tone for the entire event and is the first step in your marriage arrangements. So, when is the right time to send out wedding invitations? The general rule of thumb is to send out invitations 6-8 weeks before the wedding date for local weddings, allowing guests enough time to make travel plans. For destination weddings, it is common to send invitations 3-6 months in advance, giving guests ample time to sort out travel and accommodation arrangements. Sending out invitations too early may reduce the urgency to RSVP, while sending them too late can cause unnecessary stress.

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

Save-the-date cards are an important part of your wedding planning. They are typically sent out 6-12 months in advance of your wedding, depending on the location and nature of your wedding. Sending them out early ensures your guests have ample notice and can plan their attendance, especially if they need to book time off work or school, or plan their vacations. It is also a good idea to send them to your wedding party and vendors, so everyone involved is aware of the date.

For local weddings, save-the-date cards can be sent out 6-8 months in advance. This gives your guests enough time to mark the date on their calendars and make any necessary arrangements, without being so early that they forget about it. Sending your save-the-date cards 8 to 10 months in advance is also acceptable, especially if you have a good portion of guests who will be travelling locally to attend your wedding. This gives them time to plan their trip and make any necessary bookings.

For destination weddings, it is best to send your save-the-date cards 10-12 months in advance. This is because destination weddings often require more planning for your guests, especially if they need to book time off work, arrange childcare, or save money for flights and accommodation. Sending your save-the-date cards a year in advance is a good idea if your wedding falls on a holiday weekend, as it gives your guests plenty of notice and ensures they are available to attend.

It is important to include some key details on your save-the-date cards, such as your names, the location of the wedding, and the date. If you have already created your wedding website, you can include the link, so guests can find more information. Save-the-date cards are not meant to be formal or full of information, but rather a sneak peek of what's to come.

Invitations: 2-3 months before the wedding

Sending out wedding invitations is one of the more complicated steps in the wedding planning process. Here is a timeline to help you with the process:

6-8 months before the wedding:

This is when you should send your 'Save the Date' cards to your wedding guests. This is especially important if your wedding is a destination wedding or if your guests are travelling internationally. This gives your guests enough time to plan their travel and accommodation.

4-6 months before the wedding:

Now is the time to hire an invitation designer to craft a custom wedding invite suite. This will give you enough time for the whole design process, including communication, design brainstorming, initial mockups, revision requests, artwork changes, paper orders, print production, specialty services, envelope calligraphy and assembly.

3 months before the wedding:

If you are planning a destination wedding or have guests travelling from abroad, send out your wedding invitations now. This is also a good time to send out rehearsal dinner invites. It's best to send your wedding invitations 4 to 5 months before your big day. This gives out-of-town guests enough time to plan their trips and allows for some late RSVPs.

2 months before the wedding:

For local weddings, send out your wedding invitations 2 months in advance. This is intended to give enough time for your wedding guests to receive their invitation, consider any travel plans and respond accordingly. Sending the invites too early may cause guests to forget, and sending them too late will cause unnecessary stress.

1 month before the wedding:

Ask for RSVPs no later than 1 month before the wedding so you and your vendors can have ample time to make the necessary preparations. This will give you time to finalise your seating chart and share the information with your caterers.

RSVPs: 4 weeks before the wedding

When planning a wedding, it's important to consider how far in advance your guests will need to receive their invitations. This will depend on several factors, including the type of wedding you are having and the distance your guests will need to travel.

It is recommended that you request RSVPs no later than 4 weeks before your wedding date. This allows you, your vendors, and your guests enough time to make the necessary preparations. Here are some reasons why this timeline is beneficial:

• Following up with guests: Setting the RSVP deadline 4 weeks before the wedding gives you the opportunity to follow up with anyone who hasn't responded. This helps ensure that you have an accurate guest count.
• Finalizing details: With the RSVP deadline a few weeks in advance, you can finalize your seating chart and share the guest count with your caterers and vendors. This allows them to begin their preparations and finalize details such as the seating chart, menu selections, and cake size.
• Reducing last-minute stress: By requesting RSVPs 4 weeks in advance, you avoid the stress of waiting until the last minute for responses. This gives you a buffer to handle any late responses or make alternative arrangements if needed.
• Guest experience: Asking for RSVPs 4 weeks before the wedding provides a reasonable timeframe for your guests. They will have enough time to receive and respond to the invitation, make travel arrangements if necessary, and plan their schedules accordingly.
• Venue requirements: Some venues may request the final numbers for your guest list a month before the wedding. Having the RSVPs returned 4 weeks in advance gives you time to provide the venue with accurate numbers and make any necessary adjustments.

Remember, it's important to include an RSVP card and a pre-addressed and stamped envelope with your invitations to make it convenient for your guests to respond.

Destination weddings: 3-7 months for invites

Planning a wedding can be a stressful experience, but knowing when to send out your wedding invitations can help you stay organised. If you're planning a destination wedding, it's important to give your guests plenty of notice so they can make the necessary travel arrangements. Here are some tips and advice for sending out invitations for your destination wedding:

Save the Dates:

It is common practice to send out "Save the Date" cards before the formal wedding invitations. For a destination wedding, it is recommended to send these out 12 months in advance. This gives your guests ample time to plan their vacations, request time off work, and make any other necessary arrangements. Sending a "Save the Date" card ensures your guests have plenty of notice and can start preparing financially if needed.

Invitations:

For destination weddings, it is recommended to send out invitations 3 to 7 months before the wedding. This is to account for the extra time your guests will need to sort out their travel plans, especially if they are travelling internationally. Sending the invitations within this time frame also allows for a stress-free planning process once your guest list is finalised.

RSVP deadline:

It is important to set an RSVP deadline to help with your wedding planning. For destination weddings, it is advisable to set the RSVP deadline at least 3 to 4 weeks before the wedding. This gives you enough time to follow up with any late responses and finalise your plans, such as catering and seating arrangements.

Additional Considerations:

When sending out invitations for a destination wedding, there are a few extra things to keep in mind:

• Mailing time: If you have international guests, consider the time it will take for the invitations to reach them and for them to send back their RSVPs. You may need to add extra time to your timeline to account for longer mailing times.
• Passports and visas: Depending on the destination, your guests may need to arrange passports or visas. Including this information in your invitation suite can be helpful.
• Accommodation and travel details: Providing your guests with accommodation and travel suggestions can ease their planning process. You may also include a map of the wedding location and any wedding-related activities.
• Attire and dress code: Letting your guests know the appropriate attire for the wedding and any wedding-related activities can be helpful, especially if the destination has a different climate or cultural norms.

International guests: 10-18 months for save-the-date cards

Planning a wedding can be a stressful task, especially when it comes to sending out invitations. Sending out invites too early can reduce the urgency to RSVP, while sending them out too late can cause unnecessary stress in the lead-up to your wedding day. It's important to give your international guests plenty of notice, so they have time to prepare financially and make travel arrangements.

For international guests, it is recommended that you send out a Save the Date card 10-18 months in advance of your wedding date. This will give your guests ample time to save money for flights and accommodation and make any necessary travel arrangements, such as requesting time off work or school. Sending out Save the Dates this early is especially important if your wedding is taking place overseas or at a destination that requires a lengthy travel time.

It is also a good idea to include some additional information with your Save the Date cards for international guests. Consider including details such as accommodation options, travel tips, and any wedding-related activities that guests may want to plan around. This will help your guests feel more prepared and excited about attending your wedding.

While sending out Save the Date cards early is important for international guests, you should also be mindful of not sending them out too far in advance. Sending Save the Dates more than 18 months before the wedding may cause guests to forget about the event altogether or lead to difficulties in booking flights and accommodation.

In addition to sending out Save the Date cards, it is also recommended to send formal invitations to your international guests. These can be sent out 3-7 months before the wedding date, giving your guests plenty of time to finalize their travel plans and make any necessary arrangements. Remember to include an RSVP card and a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your invitations to make it easy for your guests to respond.

Frequently asked questions