The Perfect Timing For Wedding Invites

Wedding planning can be fun, but it can also be time-consuming and frustrating. One of the most exciting steps in the planning journey is sending out wedding invitations. The proper wedding invitation timeline is six to eight weeks before the wedding, according to etiquette expert Diane Gottsman. This gives guests enough time to clear their schedules and make travel arrangements if needed. It's also enough time for the happy couple to request RSVPs and get a final headcount before the big day. Sending out wedding invitations is an important step in the wedding planning process, and it's crucial to get it right.

Send invites 6-8 weeks before the wedding

Sending out your wedding invites is one of the most exciting steps in your planning journey. It's important to get the timing right so that your guests have enough time to plan, but not so much time that they lose track of your big day.

The sweet spot for sending out wedding invitations is around six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives your guests plenty of time to clear their schedules and make any necessary travel arrangements, especially if your wedding is around a major holiday. 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 you're inviting out-of-town or out-of-state guests, it's customary to send their wedding invitations around eight weeks in advance. For guests outside the US, it's ideal to give them nine to ten weeks' notice to account for extended shipping and delivery times.

If you're skipping save-the-dates and have a standard engagement length, send your invitations about six months in advance. For shorter engagements, aim for two to three months before the wedding.

The latest you should send your invitations is around one and a half months before the wedding, with RSVPs requested by one month before the big day.

Send save-the-dates 6-8 months before

Sending save-the-dates is a crucial step in the wedding planning process. It is recommended to send them out six to eight months before the wedding, but they can be mailed up to a year in advance if you have your details finalized. This is especially important if you're having a destination wedding. Save-the-dates 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.

While sending save-the-dates is highly advised, they are not mandatory. If you choose to skip them and have a standard engagement length of around 16 months, stick to the typical wedding invitation timeline of six to eight weeks before the wedding. However, if your engagement is shorter, you may send out invitations two to three months in advance.

The save-the-date cards serve as an initial announcement of your wedding date and give your guests a sneak peek into the style or theme of your big day. They also allow your guests to block off that day in their calendars before receiving the more detailed wedding invitations. This is particularly helpful for guests who need to make travel arrangements or request time off work.

When creating your save-the-dates, you can include your wedding website URL, giving guests access to additional information such as travel and accommodation suggestions, registry links, and other important details. This helps build excitement and ensures your guests have all the information they need to plan their attendance.

Remember, sending save-the-dates six to eight months before the wedding is a key step in ensuring your guests have enough time to prepare for your special day.

RSVP deadline: 2-3 weeks before

Setting an RSVP deadline for your wedding is crucial to finalising the details of your big day. Here are some tips to keep in mind when setting an RSVP deadline:

Timing is Key

It is customary to set your RSVP deadline at least two to three weeks before your wedding date. This buffer allows you to chase up any late responses and finalise numbers for your caterers and seating plan. While it's important not to cut it too fine, you also don't want to set your deadline too far in advance of your wedding. Sending your invites and setting your RSVP deadline too early may cause your wedding to slip your guests' minds as the day approaches.

Be Prepared

Before sending out your invitations, it's a good idea to get organised. The Knot offers a free Guest List Manager tool to help you stay on top of your guest list, addresses, and RSVPs. You can also use this tool to track responses and share your list with other key people involved in the wedding planning.

Chase Up Non-Responders

Even with the best planning, you may find that some guests don't respond by your deadline. In this case, it's perfectly acceptable to give them a quick call to remind them to send their RSVPs. This is also a good opportunity to ask if they have any dietary requirements or need to be seated in a specific spot.

Consider Your Circumstances

While the two-to-three-week buffer is a good rule of thumb, you may need to adjust your deadline depending on your circumstances. For example, if you're having a destination wedding, it's a good idea to give your guests more time to plan and RSVP. Similarly, if your wedding falls on or near a major holiday, your guests will need extra time to plan, so be sure to account for this when setting your deadline.

Online vs. Paper RSVPs

The way you invite your guests may also influence your RSVP deadline. Digital invitations and RSVPs tend to be more efficient, as they save time on postage and make it easier to track responses. However, traditional paper invitations and RSVPs are still a popular choice and allow your guests to keep a physical memento. If you opt for paper RSVPs, be sure to include postage and the host's address on the response envelopes to make it as easy as possible for your guests to respond.

Send invites to out-of-town guests 8-10 weeks before

Sending out wedding invitations is one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning. It's also a crucial logistical element, so it's important to get it right.

If you're inviting out-of-town or out-of-state guests to your wedding, it's customary to send out their invitations around eight weeks before the big day. This gives them ample time to make travel arrangements and accommodations. Sending their invites eight weeks in advance is still considered typical timing, so it's best to send all your invites at the same time, regardless of how many guests live out of town.

If you're inviting guests from outside the US, it's a good idea to mail their invitations nine to ten weeks in advance to allow for extended shipping and delivery times. You can even send them up to a year in advance, according to etiquette expert Diane Gottsman. This is especially important if your wedding falls around a major holiday, like Christmas, when people need to plan further ahead.

To ensure you get your RSVPs back in time, give international guests the option to respond digitally, so you're not waiting for their responses to arrive by mail.

Include return address on invites

It is important to include a return address on your wedding invitations. This ensures that if an invite is not delivered, it will find its way back to you, and you can then reach out to the guest directly to update their address and send another invitation. This way, you avoid the risk of your guest not receiving their invitation and feeling left out when they hear of others who did.

The return address usually goes on the back flap of the envelope. It should be the address of the person or people designated to receive response cards, traditionally the host of the wedding. This is usually the couple getting married or their parents.

The Knot offers a free Guest List Manager tool, which allows you to seamlessly organise your guest list, gather addresses, collect and track RSVPs, and more. You can also use this tool to alphabetise guests' names and sort by the number of guests in each party.

It is also good etiquette to include the host's address and postage on the envelopes for response cards. Guests should not be expected to fill out this information or pay for the postage themselves.

Frequently asked questions