Save The Date: October Nuptials Timeline Tips

Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, and timing is everything. Sending out save-the-dates is one of the first tasks you'll face, and it's important to get it right. Save-the-dates are preliminary notifications that let your guests know you've picked a wedding date and they are invited. They are typically sent out six to eight months before the wedding, but for destination weddings, it's best to give guests more notice – around nine to twelve months in advance. This gives your guests time to plan travel and accommodations and ensures your special day is marked in their calendars. While save-the-dates are not mandatory, they are a great way to get everyone excited about your wedding and give your guests a heads-up, especially if your wedding is during a busy season. So, for an October wedding, you'd want to send out those save-the-dates between April and June.

Send save-the-dates 6-12 months before the wedding

Sending out save-the-dates for your wedding is an important task and the right timing is crucial. Save-the-dates are preliminary notifications sent out to your guests to inform them about your wedding plans and ensure that they reserve your wedding day on their calendars. They are usually sent 6-12 months before the wedding date, with the top end of this range being preferable as it gives your guests the most time to prepare and change their plans if needed.

For a local wedding, it is recommended to send out save-the-dates six to eight months in advance. This gives your guests enough time to make travel arrangements, save money, take time off work, arrange childcare, and take care of other necessary tasks. Sending out save-the-dates early also increases the likelihood of having first dibs on guests who know other couples getting married on the same day.

However, if you are planning a destination wedding or getting married during a busy holiday season, it is advisable to send out save-the-dates nine to twelve months in advance. This is because destination weddings require more planning time for guests, especially if they need to travel outside their country of residence. By providing your guests with more notice, you ensure that they have ample time to make travel arrangements, secure accommodations, and plan their trip accordingly.

It is important to note that sending out save-the-dates too early can be counterproductive. Sending them out a year in advance may be too soon for people to request time off work or make concrete plans. Additionally, there is a higher chance of your guests forgetting about the save-the-date if it is sent out too early. Therefore, it is generally recommended to stick to the 6-12 month timeframe for sending out save-the-dates for an October wedding.

Send invitations 8 weeks before the wedding

Sending out your wedding invitations is one of the most exciting steps in your planning journey. It's important to send your invitations at the right time to give your guests plenty of time to plan. So, when is the right time?

The proper wedding invitation timeline is typically six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives your guests plenty of time to clear their schedules and make any necessary arrangements, such as booking time off work, sorting out childcare, or booking travel and accommodation. It also means you can request RSVPs sooner, allowing you to get a final headcount, invite any guests on your B-list, and complete your seating chart before the week of the wedding.

If your wedding is around a major holiday, such as Christmas, it's a good idea to give your guests more time to plan and send out invitations earlier. The same goes for destination weddings or weddings with many out-of-town guests—in these cases, mailing the invitations 10-12 weeks in advance is considered courteous.

If you're sending paper RSVPs, keep in mind that international guests will need extra time to respond by mail, so giving them the option to RSVP digitally is a good idea.

Save-the-Dates

Save-the-dates are typically sent out six to eight months before the wedding, or nine months to a year in advance for destination weddings. They are a fun way to get your guests excited about your big day and are especially helpful when many of your guests have to make travel arrangements or if accommodations near the wedding site are limited.

It's important to only send save-the-dates to people you're sure will be invited—once they receive one, you're obligated to send them a wedding invitation.

Send save-the-dates earlier for destination weddings

Save-the-dates are an important part of wedding planning, giving your guests a heads-up about your big day. They are especially crucial for destination weddings, where guests will need to plan their travel and accommodation. So, when is the best time to send out save-the-dates for a destination wedding in October?

The general rule of thumb for sending out save-the-dates for a destination wedding is nine to twelve months in advance. This gives your guests plenty of time to book flights and hotels, and perhaps even take advantage of early bird deals. It's also a good idea to set up a hotel room block and get your wedding website up and running before sending out your save-the-dates, so guests can access all the information they need in one place.

If you are planning a wedding abroad, it's a good idea to give your guests as much notice as possible. Sending out your save-the-dates nine to twelve months in advance is a courteous way to ensure your guests have ample time to plan their travels. This is especially important if your wedding is during a busy holiday season, as flight prices can increase and availability decreases.

However, it's worth noting that sending out save-the-dates too early may result in guests forgetting to mark their calendars or getting confused about the year. So, it's a delicate balance. If you have guests travelling from all over the world, it may be worth sending out your save-the-dates earlier, especially if you anticipate that they will need more than a year to plan and save for the trip.

For a destination wedding in October, sending out your save-the-dates between October of the previous year and January of that year would be a good timeframe. This gives your guests enough time to plan, without being too early.

Don't send save-the-dates to evening-only guests

When planning a wedding, one of the first tasks is to send out save-the-dates. These are preliminary notifications sent to your guests to inform them about your wedding date and venue, so they can plan their travel and accommodations. As a general rule of thumb, save-the-dates are sent out about six to eight months before the wedding, and nine to twelve months in advance for a destination wedding.

Now, when it comes to evening-only guests, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Some sources suggest that sending a save-the-date to an evening-only guest may cause confusion and lead them to assume they are invited for the whole day. To avoid any misunderstanding, it is recommended to send save-the-dates only to those on the "VIP day guest list". This ensures that your guests are clear about which part of the wedding they are invited to and can plan accordingly.

However, other sources suggest that sending save-the-dates to evening-only guests has several advantages. Firstly, it ensures that your evening guests are aware of the date and can keep the evening free. Secondly, it can make your evening guests feel special and valued. Thirdly, it can reduce the stress of wedding planning by giving your guests the information they need in advance. When sending save-the-dates to evening-only guests, it is crucial to word them correctly, making it clear that the invitation is for the evening reception only.

In conclusion, when deciding whether to send save-the-dates to evening-only guests, consider the potential for confusion and set the right expectations. If you choose to send them, ensure the wording is clear and they are sent in a timely manner, usually four to six months in advance for local weddings and twelve months for destination weddings.

Include vital info: date, location, wedding website

Save-the-dates are preliminary notifications sent out to your guests to inform them about your wedding plans and ensure they reserve your wedding day on their calendars. They are typically sent six to eight months before the wedding, or nine to twelve months before if it's a destination wedding.

The save-the-date should include the following vital information:

• The date of the wedding
• The location of the wedding, including the town or city if the venue is not yet confirmed
• The names of the couple getting married
• An indication of whether guests can bring a plus one
• The wedding website, where guests can find more detailed information about the wedding, such as the dress code, registry info, and travel details

Save-the-dates can be sent via post or digitally, and it's important to only send them to people you are sure will be invited to the wedding.

Frequently asked questions