The Perfect Time To Shop For Wedding Invitations

Planning a wedding is an exciting but busy time, and it's important to get the timing right when it comes to sending out invitations. As a general rule, wedding invitations should be sent out around six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives guests enough time to clear their schedules and make any necessary travel arrangements, while also allowing the couple to request RSVPs and get a final headcount for the caterer and seating chart.

However, there are some circumstances where it may be necessary to send out invitations earlier. For destination weddings, it is recommended to give guests a bit more notice, with invitations sent out around two to three months in advance. Similarly, if the wedding falls around a major holiday, it is advisable to send invitations earlier to allow guests to plan in advance.

Couples should also consider the time needed to research and order invitations, especially if they plan to add any embellishments or use specialty printing. It is recommended to start researching stationers nine to eleven months before the wedding and to order invitations around six months in advance. This ensures there is plenty of time to assemble and mail the invitations without incurring any rush fees or added stress.

Invitations for destination weddings

Planning a destination wedding? It's important to give your guests a timely heads-up to allow them to make the necessary travel arrangements. Here are some tips and ideas for sending out invitations for your destination wedding:

Timing:

It is recommended to send out save-the-date cards for your destination wedding around four to six months in advance, or even earlier if extensive travel arrangements are required. This will give your guests ample time to plan their travels and make any necessary bookings. The actual wedding invitations should be sent out six to eight weeks before the wedding, which is the standard timeline for any wedding, regardless of location. However, if you have many international guests, consider sending their invitations nine to ten weeks in advance or even up to a year for a very far-flung destination wedding.

Destination Wedding Invitation Ideas:

Destination weddings offer a unique opportunity to get creative with your invitations and set the tone for your event. Here are some ideas to consider:

• Passport-style invitations: These invitations are designed to look like passports, complete with luxurious hot-stamping foil and your chosen country's crest. They are a fun and unique way to excite your guests about the destination.
• Boarding pass invitations: These invitations are designed to look like plane tickets or boarding passes, often with a photo or QR code included. They can be a playful way to invite your guests to join you on your wedding journey.
• Beach or tropical-themed invitations: If you're planning a beach wedding, consider invitations with a tropical or ocean-inspired design. These might feature palm trees, sandy beaches, or a nautical theme.
• Destination-themed colours and designs: Incorporate the colours and motifs of your destination into your invitations. For example, if you're getting married in Mexico, you might use vibrant colours and Mexican folk art-inspired designs.
• Digital invitations: Consider sending digital invitations to save time and money, especially if your wedding has a shorter lead time. Digital invitations can still be beautifully designed and personalised while offering the convenience of instant delivery to your guests' inboxes.

Other Considerations:

When planning a destination wedding, it's essential to provide your guests with additional information to facilitate their travels. Consider including the following with your invitations:

• A wedding website: Create a website with all the details of your wedding, including travel and accommodation information, local attractions, and any other relevant details. This will be a valuable resource for your guests as they plan their trip.
• Itinerary and timeline: Provide your guests with a clear timeline of events, including any pre- or post-wedding activities you have planned. This will help them make the necessary travel arrangements and ensure they don't miss out on any of the festivities.
• Response cards: Include response cards with your invitations to make it easy for your guests to RSVP. You can also offer the option of digital RSVPs, especially for international guests, to avoid responses getting lost in the mail.

Remember, when it comes to destination weddings, the earlier you can send out your save-the-dates and invitations, the better. This will give your guests the time they need to plan their travels and ensure they can join you on your special day.

Invitations for hometown weddings

Planning a wedding in your hometown? Here's everything you need to know about sending out those invitations.

When to Send Your Invitations

The general rule of thumb is to send out your wedding invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives your guests enough time to clear their schedules and make any necessary travel arrangements. It also means you can request RSVPs sooner, allowing you to finalise your headcount and complete your seating plan before the big day.

If you're inviting a lot of overseas guests, it's a good idea to send out invitations 12 weeks in advance. For a destination wedding, sending out invitations six months in advance is also an option.

How to Make Your Hometown Wedding Feel Like a Destination

If you're worried about your hometown wedding feeling underwhelming, there are ways to make it feel more like a destination wedding.

Choose a Unique Venue

Selecting an unexpected venue, such as a museum or aquarium, can make your wedding feel special and give it a different vibe from the usual banquet hall.

Pick a Theme

Destination weddings often have a theme, like beach vibes for a wedding on a Caribbean island. Choosing a theme for your hometown wedding, such as a bookish theme or a Hollywood movie theme, can make it feel more like an event your guests need to travel for.

Have Multiple Celebrations

A trademark of destination weddings is that there are usually multiple celebrations. You can incorporate a welcome party, a farewell brunch, or a casual get-together like a bowling night to give your guests more opportunities to mingle and make your wedding feel more like an out-of-town event.

Include Welcome Bags

Welcome bags are a nice touch for destination weddings, but they can also work for hometown weddings, especially for out-of-town guests. You can leave them at the hotel or hand them out at a welcome party.

Offer Unique Food

Transport your guests to a different place by offering unique food or specialty desserts from around the world at your reception. You can also have a cocktail party with food that follows a particular cuisine theme.

Reception-Only Invitations

If you're having a small ceremony followed by a large reception, you might want to send out reception-only invitations. These can be more casual and inexpensive, and you can include extra information on the backside of the invitation, such as accommodation and travel details.

Reception-only invitations should be sent out 4-8 weeks before the party, and don't forget to send Save the Date cards 4-9 months in advance.

Save-the-date cards

It is recommended to send out save-the-date cards six to eight months before your wedding day. This gives your guests plenty of time to plan their schedules and make travel arrangements if needed. If you're planning a destination wedding or a wedding during peak season, it's best to send out save-the-date cards even earlier, around eight to 12 months before the wedding date. This will allow your guests ample time to make travel and accommodation arrangements.

It is also a good idea to make sure your guest list is finalized before sending out save-the-date cards to avoid any confusion or miscommunication. Save-the-date cards should only be sent to those whom you plan on inviting to the wedding.

In addition to the date and location of the wedding, a save-the-date card can include other relevant information to help your guests plan their attendance. Here are some details you may want to include:

• Names of the engaged couple
• Wedding website or social media page
• The city and state of the wedding venue
• An indication that a formal invitation will follow
• Travel and accommodation information, including hotel room block details and transportation options
• Your wedding hashtag, if you have one

Keep the save-the-date card simple and straightforward while still providing enough information to help your guests plan accordingly.

Timing for international guests

If you're inviting international guests to your wedding, it's a good idea to give them a little more notice than your local guests. This will allow for extended shipping and delivery times and give your overseas guests more time to plan their travel.

It's recommended that you send out invitations to international guests around nine to ten weeks in advance. However, some sources suggest that sending them up to a year in advance is not too early. Sending your invitations early will give you more time to follow up with anyone you haven't heard from, ensuring they have enough time to book their travel.

To save time and money on postage, consider giving international guests the option to RSVP digitally. This will also ensure that you receive their responses promptly, rather than waiting for them to arrive by mail.

If you're sending paper invitations, be sure to include postage stamps on the RSVP envelopes. This is standard etiquette and will increase the likelihood of your guests responding promptly.

If you're sending save-the-date cards, it's advisable to mail these even earlier—up to a year in advance if you have your details finalized. This will give your international guests a timely heads-up, making it easier for them to plan their attendance.

When sending invitations to out-of-town or out-of-state guests, it's customary to send them out around eight weeks before the wedding. However, if you have many international guests, you may want to send all your invitations at the same time to keep things simple.

Remember, the key is to avoid sending invitations too early or too late. Sending them too early may cause your wedding to slip your guests' minds as the day approaches, while sending them too late may not give your guests enough time to make the necessary arrangements.

When to order wedding invitations

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

However, if you're sending out invitations for a destination wedding, it's recommended to give guests a bit more notice—around two to three months in advance. This is to account for the extra time needed for travel planning and accommodations. Similarly, if your wedding falls around a major holiday, it's advisable to send invitations earlier as guests will need more time to plan.

To avoid rush fees and the stress of mailing invitations at the last minute, it's important to start the process early. Begin searching for a stationer and researching invitation styles as early as nine months before the wedding. This will give you plenty of time to compare options, decide on any embellishments, and place your order. Aim to order your invitations around six months in advance, allowing for a comfortable timeline for production and assembly.

9 Months Before: Start researching invitation styles and stationers.

8 Months Before: Order samples and finalize your guest list.

7 Months Before: Book your stationer and/or calligrapher, especially if you plan to use specialty printing or custom designs.

6 Months Before: Order your wedding invitations and finalize the wording details.

Frequently asked questions