Wedding Invitation Etiquette For Out-Of-Town Guests

Planning a wedding can be a stressful task, and there are many details to consider, from the flowers to the colour palette. One of the most important planning tasks is sending out your wedding invitations at the right time. The general rule of thumb is to send invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding. However, if you have a lot of out-of-town guests or are planning a destination wedding, it is recommended to send invitations two to four months in advance to allow guests enough time to make travel arrangements and book accommodations.

Invites for destination weddings should be sent 3-4 months in advance

Planning a wedding can be stressful, but sending out your invitations on time doesn't have to be!

If you're planning a destination wedding, it's a good idea to send your invitations out 3-4 months in advance. This will give your guests plenty of time to make the necessary travel arrangements and ensure they have everything in order before your big day. It's also a good idea to send out "save the date" notices 6-12 months in advance so that your guests can start planning and request time off work.

While it's customary to send out invitations 8 weeks before the wedding, this timeline may not work for destination weddings or weddings with a large number of out-of-town guests. Sending out your invitations 3-4 months in advance will give your guests the time they need to prepare for the trip and will increase the likelihood that they will be able to attend.

It's important to remember that sending out invitations too early may cause your wedding to be forgotten, and sending them out too late may not give your guests enough time to plan. Finding the right balance is crucial!

Additionally, you can include other important details in your invitation suite, such as:

• Attire guidelines for guests
• A map to the event location
• Accommodation details
• Information about any wedding-related activities

Remember, the key details to include in your invitation are the full names of the happy couple, the hosts (if using formal phrasing), the time, date, month, and year of the wedding, and the full address of the venue.

Happy planning!

Send save-the-date cards 9-12 months ahead for destination weddings

Planning a destination wedding? It's a good idea to send out your save-the-date cards 9-12 months ahead of time. This gives your guests ample time to make the necessary travel arrangements and accommodations. It's also a good idea to set up a wedding website with all the relevant details, such as travel and accommodation information, that your guests can refer to.

While save-the-date cards are not required, they are a fun and considerate way to give your guests a heads-up, especially if they need to make extensive travel plans. Sending out these cards early on will also allow you to gauge interest and get a preliminary headcount for your big day.

If you're sending invitations to international guests, it's best to give them a heads-up through a quick call, text, or email, so they are aware of the wedding details and can start making their travel plans. You can send their formal invitations at the same time as your other guests, which is typically recommended to be 6-8 weeks before the wedding.

However, if a large percentage of your guest list lives abroad or you're planning a destination wedding where no one lives nearby, it's advisable to add a few weeks to this timeline. Aim to send out your invitations around 12 weeks in advance to give your international guests enough time to prepare.

Remember, the key to successful wedding planning is timely communication and keeping your guests informed. So, whether you're sending save-the-date cards or invitations, make sure to give your guests enough notice to plan their attendance at your special day!

Include travel and accommodation details in the invite

When it comes to wedding planning, there are many details to consider, and sending out invitations is one of the most important and exciting steps. The general rule of thumb is to send out invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding. However, when a large number of guests are travelling from out of town or from overseas, it is recommended to give them a little more time to plan their travels. In this case, sending out invitations around twelve weeks before the wedding is a good idea. This will give your guests ample time to make the necessary travel arrangements, such as booking flights, hotels, or rental cars.

To make the process smoother for your guests, it is a good idea to include travel and accommodation details in your wedding invitation suite. This can be done in the form of an enclosure card, providing helpful information such as a map to the event location, accommodation options, and transportation details. If you have a wedding website, be sure to include the link in your invitation suite as well. This way, your guests can easily access all the information they need to plan their trip.

• A list of recommended hotels or accommodation options near the wedding venue, along with their contact information or website links.
• Information about any group rates or room blocks you may have arranged for guests at specific hotels.
• Details about transportation options, such as rental car companies, taxi services, or public transportation routes and schedules.
• A map or directions to the wedding venue, especially if it is in a remote location or difficult to find.
• Information about any pre- or post-wedding events, such as a rehearsal dinner or brunch, that out-of-town guests may want to attend.

By providing these travel and accommodation details in your invitation suite, you can make the planning process easier for your out-of-town guests and ensure that they have a comfortable and enjoyable experience attending your wedding.

Send all invites at the same time, regardless of location

Sending your wedding invitations on time is an important part of wedding planning. It can be exciting to dispatch invites, but it is also essential to get the timing right. Sending them too early or too late can affect guest attendance, so it is important to follow wedding invitation etiquette.

The general consensus is that wedding invitations should be sent out six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives your guests plenty of time to clear their schedules and make any necessary travel arrangements. It also means you can request RSVPs sooner, allowing you to get a final headcount and complete your seating plan before the last-minute crunch.

If you are inviting a large number of out-of-town or international guests, it is advisable to send out all your invites at the same time, around eight weeks before the wedding. This gives everyone ample time to plan and ensures that your out-of-town guests have the necessary time to book travel and accommodations. Sending invites to international guests nine to ten weeks in advance is also acceptable, and you can go up to a year in advance if you wish.

If you are sending paper RSVP cards, be sure to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope to make it easy for your guests to respond. You can also give international guests the option to RSVP digitally, so you don't have to wait for their responses to arrive by mail.

While it is customary to send all invites simultaneously, there are a few things you can do to help your out-of-town guests. You can give them a heads-up by calling, texting, or emailing them with the wedding details so they can start making travel arrangements. You can also create a wedding website with all the necessary information, including travel and accommodation suggestions, and include the link on your save-the-date cards. This way, your out-of-town guests will have all the information they need even before they receive the formal invitation.

Give international guests the option to RSVP digitally

When it comes to wedding planning, timing is everything, especially when it comes to sending out invitations. While there are no hard and fast rules, there is traditional wedding invitation etiquette to follow.

For domestic guests, it is customary to send out invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives your guests ample time to clear their schedules and make any necessary travel arrangements. It also means you can request RSVPs sooner and get a final headcount to finalise seating charts and other details.

However, for international guests, it is advisable to send out invitations nine to ten weeks in advance, or even up to a year, to allow for extended shipping times and for your guests to plan their travels.

To make it easier for your international guests to respond in a timely manner, it is a good idea to give them the option to RSVP digitally. This way, you won't have to wait for their responses to arrive by mail, which can take several weeks.

By providing a digital RSVP option, such as through your wedding website, you can streamline the process and make it more convenient for your international guests. They can easily confirm their attendance with just a few clicks, and you can receive their responses much faster. This will help you stay organised and ensure you have an accurate guest count for your venue and vendors.

Additionally, a digital RSVP option can reduce the chances of losing responses in transit or having them delayed by postal services. It also eliminates the need for international guests to incur additional postage costs to send back their responses.

When creating your wedding invitations, consider including a separate RSVP card with a digital response option. This way, guests can choose their preferred method of response. Be sure to include a deadline for RSVPs, usually set about a month before the wedding, to help you stay on track with your planning.

By giving your international guests the option to RSVP digitally, you can make the process more efficient and convenient for both your guests and yourself. This simple step can help ensure a smooth and well-organised wedding planning journey.

Frequently asked questions