Save The Dates: Timing For Out-Of-Town Weddings

Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, but the key to a well-executed celebration lies in the details and timing. One of the first tasks you'll face is sending out 'save the date' cards, which are preliminary notifications to inform your guests about your wedding plans and ensure they reserve your special day on their calendars. So, how early is too early to send these out, especially for an out-of-town wedding?

For a typical wedding, it is recommended to send 'save the dates' about six to eight months in advance. However, for an out-of-town wedding or a destination wedding, it is courteous to give your guests more time to make travel arrangements and accommodations. In such cases, it is best to send out your 'save the dates' nine to twelve months before your big day. This will give your guests ample time to request time off work, make travel plans and save money for any associated costs.

While it is exciting to want to share your wedding plans as soon as possible, sending out your 'save the dates' too early can backfire. It may be too early for your guests to plan properly, and they may forget about the date altogether. Additionally, you should only send 'save the dates' once you have confirmed your venue and wedding date to avoid any confusion or last-minute changes.

In summary, for an out-of-town wedding, sending out your 'save the dates' nine to twelve months in advance strikes the right balance between giving your guests enough notice and avoiding any potential planning pitfalls.

Send save-the-dates 8-12 months in advance

Sending your save-the-dates 8-12 months in advance is a great way to ensure your guests have ample time to plan and prepare for your out-of-town wedding. This is especially important if your wedding falls during a busy time of year, such as the peak summer season, or if there are multiple weddings happening at the same time. By giving your guests a heads-up, you increase the chances of your special day being their top priority.

The save-the-date cards are the first official announcement of your wedding, and they serve a significant purpose. They allow your guests to block off the dates and plan their travel, accommodation, and any other necessary arrangements. This is crucial information for those with children or jobs that require time off and advance planning. Sending your save-the-dates early will also build excitement for your big day and give your guests a taste of the style and theme of your wedding.

When creating your save-the-date cards, ensure you include the key details: the date(s) of the wedding, the names of the couple, and the location (city and state). It is also helpful to include your wedding website and any hotel information, especially if you have reserved a block of rooms with a discount rate. This ensures your guests have all the information they need to start planning their trip.

It is important to remember that once you send out your save-the-dates, you are obligated to send a formal invitation to those guests. So, be sure to finalise your guest list before sending them out. Sending your save-the-dates 8-12 months in advance gives you a good buffer to receive RSVPs and finalise numbers for your vendors.

Include the date, names and location

Save-the-date cards are a great way to get your guests excited about your wedding and give them a heads-up so they can plan their attendance. They are also a fun way to showcase your wedding theme and style.

The date, names and location are the most important pieces of information to include on your save-the-date cards. This is all the information you need to include, so it should be relatively easy to create your cards. The date and location are crucial in allowing your guests to plan their attendance, and the names are important so that more distant relatives and friends know who is getting married.

Full names are preferred, but first names are also acceptable, especially for casual and informal weddings. If you are having a destination wedding, it's a good idea to include the dates of the whole trip so that guests can plan their time off work.

If you know that any of your guests will be bringing a plus one, it's a good idea to include this on the save-the-date card. This will help them to arrange hotel bookings and transport. It also gives parents time to plan for childcare.

It's also a good idea to include your wedding website on the save-the-date card if you have one. This will give your guests a sense of the type of celebration you'll be having and they can find out other pertinent information, like the dress code and registry info.

Send invitations 8-12 weeks before the wedding

Sending out your wedding invitations is an important step in the wedding planning process, especially if you're having an out-of-town wedding. Here are some tips and suggestions to ensure your guests have enough time to prepare for your big day:

Timing is Key

It is recommended to send out your wedding invitations 8-12 weeks before the wedding, especially if most of your guests are travelling from out of town. This gives your guests enough time to make the necessary travel arrangements, such as booking flights and accommodation. It also allows them to request time off work and make any other necessary preparations.

Provide Accommodation Details

When sending out your invitations, be sure to include accommodation details, such as a link to your wedding website or a note with the hotel and group code information. This will make it easier for your guests to plan their trip and ensure they have a place to stay during your out-of-town wedding.

Consider Sending Save-the-Dates

If you haven't already, consider sending out save-the-dates, especially if you're having a destination wedding. Save-the-dates are typically sent out 8-12 months in advance and give your guests a heads-up about your wedding date and location. This is particularly important for out-of-town weddings as it allows your guests to start planning their travel and accommodations early.

Be Mindful of Peak Seasons

If your out-of-town wedding falls during a busy time of year, such as peak summer season, it's even more important to send out your invitations early. This ensures your guests can plan their holidays and events around your wedding date and increases the chances of them being able to attend.

Follow Up with RSVPs

Remember to include RSVP cards with your invitations and set a deadline for responses. This will help you finalise numbers for your vendors and ensure you have an accurate headcount for your venue and catering. A good rule of thumb is to set the RSVP deadline about 4-5 weeks before the wedding, giving yourself enough time to follow up with any guests who haven't responded.

By sending out your invitations 8-12 weeks in advance and providing clear accommodation details, you'll give your out-of-town guests the best chance to attend your wedding and ensure a smooth planning process for everyone involved.

Send save-the-dates before the wedding website is live

It is generally recommended that save-the-date cards are sent out 6 to 12 months before your wedding day. This is true for both local and destination weddings. Sending save-the-dates early is a good idea, especially if you are getting married during a busy time of year, as it ensures your guests can plan their schedules and book any necessary travel and accommodation.

However, it is not necessary to have your wedding website live before sending out your save-the-date cards. In fact, it is more important to include the date, location, and the names of the couple on the save-the-date cards. You can include your wedding website as an optional extra, but it is not necessary.

If you are planning a destination wedding or getting married on a major holiday, it is advisable to send out your save-the-dates as soon as you have chosen a venue and set up your hotel room block. This will give your guests extra time to book flights and accommodation.

It is also important to note that save-the-date cards should only be sent to guests who are invited to the whole wedding day. Anyone who receives a save-the-date card will expect to receive a formal invitation to the wedding, so it is important to finalise your guest list before sending them out.

Send save-the-dates to those invited to the whole day

Save-the-dates are typically sent out six to 12 months before your wedding day. Sending them early is a good idea, especially if you're planning a destination wedding or have a lot of guests travelling into town. It's also a good way to get everyone excited about your wedding and to give your guests time to plan.

Save-the-dates should only be sent to those invited to the whole day. Anyone receiving a save-the-date card will expect a formal invitation to follow, so only send them to guests you definitely want to be with you on your wedding day. It can be very misleading to send a save-the-date to an evening-only guest.

The purpose of save-the-date cards is to give your guests a heads-up about your wedding date, so they can reserve the date or weekend for your big celebration and start planning accordingly. They are particularly useful for out-of-town guests, who will need to book travel and accommodation.

It's best to be as clear as possible about who's invited, even at this early stage. By including the names of every intended guest on the envelope, you're less likely to have any assumed invitees or general confusion. If you know that you want one of your guests to bring a plus one, add this to your save-the-date card. This will help them to arrange hotel bookings and transport. Being clear about who is invited early on also gives parents time to plan for childcare.

Save-the-date cards should include the date of the wedding, the names of the couple, and the city and state of the event. You can also include hotel information and a link to your wedding website.

Frequently asked questions