Rhiannon Hendricks
Planning a wedding can be a stressful time, and knowing when to send out your wedding invitations is a critical step in the process. Sending out save the dates is a good idea to give your guests a heads-up, especially if your wedding is a destination wedding or during a holiday weekend. These should be sent out 6-12 months before the wedding. The appropriate time to send out formal wedding invitations is generally considered to be 6-8 weeks before the wedding, giving guests enough time to plan and RSVP. For destination weddings, it is recommended to send invitations 4-6 months in advance to allow guests enough time for travel preparations.
What You'll Learn
Save-the-date cards
Timing:
It is recommended to send save-the-date cards four to six months before the wedding, or even earlier if you're planning a destination wedding or a wedding over a holiday weekend. This will give your guests enough time to make the necessary travel and accommodation arrangements. If you're sending out invitations early, it's a good idea to specify that it's a save-the-date card so that your guests don't confuse it with the official invitation.
Who to Send Them To:
What to Include:
Design and Format:
Follow-Up:
After sending out your save-the-date cards, it's a good idea to follow up with your guests, especially those who will need to make travel arrangements. This will ensure that they have received the card and are able to plan their attendance accordingly.
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Invitations for destination weddings
Planning a destination wedding is an exciting prospect, and you'll want to give your guests plenty of notice. It's generally recommended that wedding invitations be sent out six to eight weeks before the wedding date. However, in the case of a destination wedding, it's best to send out invitations around 12 weeks in advance. This will give your guests ample time to make travel arrangements and accommodation plans.
If you're sending save-the-date cards, it's advisable to send them even earlier—around six to 12 months in advance. This is especially important if your wedding falls on a holiday or if most of your guests will be travelling from far-off destinations. Sending save-the-date cards will give your guests a timely heads-up, making it easier for them to plan their attendance and boosting the number of positive RSVPs you receive.
When it comes to the invitations themselves, there are many creative options available to set the tone for your destination wedding. You can choose from passport-style invitations, boarding pass invitations, or even map-themed designs. These unique invitations will not only provide the necessary information but will also get your guests excited about the location you've chosen.
If you have international guests, it's a good idea to follow up with them promptly after sending the invitations to ensure they have started their travel arrangements. Additionally, consider including a wedding website on your invitation, where guests can easily access all the necessary information, such as travel and accommodation details.
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RSVP deadline
Setting an RSVP deadline is crucial to finalising your wedding plans. Here is a breakdown of what you need to know about RSVP deadlines:
It is recommended that you give your guests four to five weeks to respond to your wedding invitation. This gives them ample time to decide whether they can attend and make any necessary travel arrangements.
The deadline for RSVPs should be at least four weeks before the wedding, and no later than two weeks prior to the big day. The sweet spot for your RSVP deadline is around three to four weeks before the wedding. This gives you enough time to chase any late responses, finalise your guest list, and share the final headcount with your vendors.
When to Send Reminders
If your RSVP deadline has passed, wait about a week before sending follow-ups to guests who haven't responded. You can also send a friendly reminder to guests about one week ahead of the deadline. It is important to give yourself a couple of weeks to gather any outstanding responses and create your final guest list.
How to Ask for an RSVP
Your wedding invitation should include a way for guests to respond, such as an RSVP card and pre-addressed envelope, or a link to your wedding website. Be sure to indicate the RSVP deadline clearly on your invitations and website so that guests are aware of the date.
Setting an RSVP deadline helps you finalise your wedding planning details in the last few weeks before the wedding. It allows you to confirm the number of rentals, alcohol quantities, and finalise your seating chart.
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Choosing your invitations
Choosing your wedding invitations is an important step in the wedding planning process. They are the first hint of your wedding's style that your guests will receive and are designed to make your loved ones want to attend. Here are some tips to help you choose the right invitations:
Budget
The price of wedding invitations can vary, from a few cents per invite to upwards of $50 per invite. Be sure to consider your budget and the number of guests you plan to invite. Ordering everything from one stationer can save you money and make the invitation process easier.
Theme and Colour Scheme
If you have a particular theme or colour scheme for your wedding, you can select invitations that match. For example, if you're going for a rustic theme, you might choose invitations with wooden patterns, burlap, or barn accents. Or, if you have specific wedding colours, you may want to incorporate them into your invitations.
Inserts
Most wedding invitation suites can be customized to include RSVP cards, direction cards, or cards for guests to note special dietary needs. Figure out what inserts you'll need before placing your order.
Shape and Size
The standard size for wedding invitations is 4.5 inches by 6.25 inches, but couples are also choosing more playful or modern shapes like circular, scalloped, or square invitations. Keep in mind that veering away from standard sizes and shapes can increase postage costs.
Paper Type
The paper type you choose will dictate the look and feel of your invitation. Popular options include cotton fibre, felt cardstock, matte, glossy, parchment, vellum, handmade paper, and linen. Choose a paper type that fits your theme and budget.
Additions
You can elevate the look and feel of your invitations with some extra additions. These could include foil stamping, inner envelopes, enclosure cards, wax seals, address labels, lace, or belly bands.
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When to send your invites
There are a few things to consider when deciding on the best time to send out your wedding invitations. Firstly, it is important to give your guests enough notice, especially if they will need to make travel arrangements. Secondly, you don't want to send your invites too early, as you run the risk of them getting lost or your guests forgetting the date. So, what is the ideal timeframe?
For local weddings, it is generally recommended to send out invitations six to eight weeks in advance. This gives your guests plenty of time to RSVP and make any necessary plans, without being too far in the future. If you are having a destination wedding, or the majority of your guests are travelling from overseas, it is considerate to allow a little more time. In this case, sending your invitations around three months in advance is a good idea. This gives your guests more time to plan their travel and accommodation arrangements.
If you are sending out Save the Dates, these should go out four to six months before the wedding, or even earlier if it is a destination wedding. This will ensure your guests have plenty of notice and can start making their plans. Then, you can follow up with the formal invitation around two months before the big day.
If you are having a shorter engagement, or your wedding is fast approaching, you may need to send your invitations out a little later. In this case, sending them at least one month in advance is advisable. This will still give your guests time to plan and RSVP, while ensuring the date stays fresh in their minds.
So, to summarise, the ideal timeframe for sending out wedding invitations is six to eight weeks in advance for local weddings, and around three months for destination weddings. Sending Save the Dates four to six months beforehand can also be helpful, especially for destination weddings. For shorter engagements or last-minute plans, sending invitations at least one month in advance is a good option.
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Frequently asked questions
Wedding invitations should be sent out six to eight weeks before the wedding date. This gives guests enough time to clear their schedules and make travel arrangements.
No, it is not too early, especially if a large percentage of your guest list lives abroad or you are planning a destination wedding. In these cases, it is recommended to send out invitations around three months or twelve weeks in advance.
It is generally not recommended to send out invitations less than six weeks before the wedding, as it may be considered inconsiderate and may hurt guest attendance. However, if you have already sent out Save-the-Dates, your guests will have the necessary information to plan their attendance.
