When To Send Wedding Invitations: One Month In Advance?

Sending out wedding invitations is a crucial part of wedding planning. It is important to send them out with enough time to allow guests to make travel arrangements. However, opinions vary on how far in advance is appropriate. While some sources suggest sending invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding, others recommend sending them three to six months in advance. Ultimately, the decision depends on personal circumstances and cultural norms. For destination weddings or weddings during holiday periods, it is advisable to send invitations earlier to allow guests to plan their travels. Sending out save the date cards in advance of the formal invitations is also an option to ensure guests can block off the date on their calendars.

Save-the-date cards can be sent up to a year in advance

Save-the-date cards are a fun and considerate way to give your wedding guests a heads-up, especially if many of them have to make travel and accommodation arrangements. While they are not a requirement, they are a good idea if you are planning a destination wedding or if your wedding falls on a holiday weekend. In this case, sending your save-the-date cards even earlier, from six to twelve months before your wedding date, is highly advisable.

If you are sending save-the-date cards, it is generally recommended that you send them out four to six months before your wedding. This gives your guests enough time to block off the date on their calendars and make any necessary travel plans. Sending save-the-date cards earlier than this can be helpful for destination weddings or weddings during busy holiday periods, as it allows your guests to make the necessary arrangements in good time.

However, it is important to note that sending invitations too early can backfire, as guests may forget about the wedding or lose the invitation. Therefore, it is generally recommended that official wedding invitations be sent out six to eight weeks before the wedding date. This gives guests enough time to reply and make travel arrangements if they haven't already, and it allows you to receive RSVPs sooner, making it easier to finalise your wedding planning details such as the seating chart and menu selections.

If you are only planning to invite a few international guests, it is advisable to send their formal invitations at the same time as those of your other guests, but be sure to give them a heads-up about the wedding details in advance via phone call, text, or email so that they have enough time to prepare.

The ideal time to send out invites is six to eight weeks before

The ideal time to send out wedding invitations is six to eight weeks before the wedding. This is considered the "sweet spot" as it gives your guests plenty of time to clear their schedules and make any necessary travel arrangements, especially if they are travelling from out of town. Sending your invites with this lead time also means that you can request RSVPs sooner, allowing you to get a final headcount, create your seating chart, and make any necessary adjustments to your guest list before the week of your wedding.

Sending your invitations six to eight weeks in advance also ensures that your wedding remains at the top of your guests' minds. Sending them too early may cause your guests to forget or lose the invite, and you might end up having to track them down for RSVPs. Sending them too late may not give your loved ones enough time to take time off work, book accommodations, or make travel plans.

If you are inviting international guests, it is a good idea to give them a heads-up by calling, texting, or emailing them with the wedding details so that they have ample time to prepare their travel arrangements. It is also advisable to send their formal invitations a little earlier than the other guests – around nine to ten weeks in advance or even a year in advance if your wedding is in a far-off destination.

If you are sending out save-the-date cards, these should go out four to six months before the wedding, or even earlier if it is a destination wedding. This will give your guests enough time to block off the date on their calendars and make any necessary travel and accommodation plans.

Invites for destination weddings should be sent three months in advance

Wedding invitations are typically sent out six to eight weeks before the wedding. However, in certain circumstances, sending out invites three months in advance is acceptable. This is especially true when your wedding is around a major holiday, like Christmas, as people will need more time to plan.

For destination weddings, it is recommended to send out invites three months in advance. This is because destination weddings often require more extensive travel arrangements and accommodations for guests. Sending out invites three months in advance gives guests enough time to book flights and hotels.

Some couples choose to send out "save-the-date" cards before the formal invitations. For destination weddings, save-the-dates should be sent out 9-12 months before the wedding. This gives guests a heads-up about the wedding and allows them to start making travel plans. The formal invitation then serves as a reminder for guests to finalise their travel arrangements.

If you are only planning to invite a few international guests to your destination wedding, it is still recommended to send their formal invitations three months in advance. However, you can give them a quick call, text, or email beforehand to let them know about the wedding details so that they have enough time to prepare.

RSVPs should be requested a month before the wedding

It is recommended that RSVPs be requested a month before the wedding. This is the perfect amount of time for guests to receive the invitation and make their decision, while also giving your vendors enough notice to prepare supplies. It also allows you to get a final headcount, create a seating chart, and invite guests on your B list if needed.

Requesting RSVPs a month in advance is a good idea because it gives your guests plenty of time to plan their response. They may need to book time off work, make travel arrangements, or organise babysitters. It also gives you a window to follow up with anyone you haven't heard from, ensuring you have plenty of time to get a full headcount.

It is also beneficial for your vendors to have an accurate guest count as soon as possible. This allows them to order and prepare supplies, and for you to finalise your wedding planning details, such as the seating chart, menu selections, and cake size.

When it comes to sending out the invitations, it is generally recommended to do so six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives your guests enough time to clear their schedules and make travel arrangements if needed. Sending the invitations in this timeframe also means you can request RSVPs sooner, while still adhering to proper wedding invitation etiquette.

However, there are some circumstances where it may be beneficial to send out invitations earlier. If you are having a destination wedding or your wedding falls on a major holiday, it is advisable to give your guests more advance notice. In these cases, sending invitations three months or even a year in advance is not uncommon.

On the other hand, sending invitations too early can also have its drawbacks. There is a risk that guests might forget about the wedding or lose the invitation if it is sent too far in advance. A happy medium is usually found by sending save-the-date cards four to six months before the wedding, followed by the formal invitation six to eight weeks before the wedding, and requesting RSVPs a month before the big day.

Sending invites too early or too late can be inconsiderate

Sending out wedding invitations too early or too late can be inconsiderate and may hurt your guest attendance. It is important to give your guests enough notice, especially if they need to make travel arrangements. However, sending out invitations too early means that your wedding might not be at the top of your guests' minds as the day approaches.

The general rule of wedding etiquette is to send out invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding date. This gives guests enough time to reply, make travel arrangements, and purchase gifts. It also allows the host to get a final headcount and complete seating charts before the wedding. If you are inviting international guests or having a destination wedding, it is advisable to send out invitations earlier, around 12 weeks before the wedding.

If you are concerned about giving your guests enough notice, you can send out "save the date" cards in advance. These are typically sent out four to six months before the wedding, or even earlier for destination weddings. Save the date cards give your guests a heads-up to block off the date on their calendars and make any necessary travel plans.

It is also important to consider the timing of your RSVP deadline. You should give your guests enough time to respond, but not so much time that they forget about the wedding. A good rule of thumb is to set the RSVP deadline for one month before the wedding. This will give you enough time to make the necessary preparations while also allowing your guests to receive the invitation and consider their response.

To ensure that your guests have all the information they need, it is recommended to include an RSVP card and a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your invitation. You can also include other important details such as attire suggestions, a map to the location, accommodation options, and information about any wedding-related activities.

Frequently asked questions