When to Send Wedding Invitations

When to Send Wedding Invitations

when should wedding invitations be sent out

Planning a wedding involves juggling numerous tasks, but one key detail can make or break your event’s organization: when to send your wedding invitations.

Timing is everything, and sending your invitations too early or too late can lead to unnecessary stress or confusion for your guests.

In this guide, we’ll break down the essential timeline for sending out wedding invitations, including tips for save-the-dates, evening invites, and even digital options.

Whether you’re hosting a local celebration or a destination wedding, this timeline will ensure your guests are informed and ready for your special day.

When Should Wedding Invitations Be Sent Out?

Determining the right time to send out your wedding invitations is crucial for ensuring your guests can plan and RSVP without hassle. The general rule of thumb is to mail them 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding date.

This timeframe strikes the perfect balance—giving your guests ample notice without being so early that they might forget about the event.

For destination weddings or events requiring extensive travel, consider sending invitations 3 to 4 months in advance, allowing guests more time to make arrangements.

In this section, we’ll explore the factors that influence when to send your invitations and tips to ensure timely delivery for all your guests.

How Long Before the Wedding Should Invitations Be Sent?

When to Send Wedding Invitations

The timing for sending wedding invitations largely depends on the type of wedding and your guest list. For most traditional weddings, invitations should be sent 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding date. This gives your guests enough time to RSVP and make arrangements while keeping the event fresh in their minds.

If you’re hosting a destination wedding, or if many of your guests are traveling from far away, aim to send invitations 3 to 4 months in advance. This extended timeline ensures guests have enough time to plan flights, accommodations, and other logistics.

For save-the-dates, these should go out even earlier—typically 6 to 12 months before the wedding—to give guests an early heads-up.

In the next section, we’ll break down specific invitation timelines for various scenarios to help you stay on track.

How Early Is Too Early to Send Wedding Invitations?

While it’s tempting to check invitations off your to-do list early, sending them too far in advance can backfire. If guests receive their invitations too early—say 4 to 6 months before the wedding—there’s a risk they might misplace them, forget to RSVP, or overlook the date entirely amidst other plans.

To strike the right balance, stick to the recommended 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding timeline. For destination weddings, you can extend this to 3 to 4 months to accommodate travel planning, but anything earlier should be reserved for save-the-dates.

Sending your invitations at the right time ensures they remain top of mind for your guests while giving them enough time to prepare without feeling rushed.

Save the Dates: When and Who to Send Them To

when to send out wedding invitations

Ideally, save-the-dates should be sent out 6 to 12 months before the wedding.

This early notice gives guests ample time to make travel plans, book accommodations, and adjust their schedules, especially if your wedding is a destination event or falls during a busy season. For local weddings, sending them out 6 to 8 months ahead is usually sufficient.

Remember, save-the-dates are not invitations—so you don’t need to have all the details in place, but it’s important to provide your guests with a heads-up so they can save the date on their calendars.

Do You Send Save the Dates to Evening Guests?

The short answer is yes, you should send save-the-dates to evening guests if they are part of your wedding plans. Evening guests are still attending your wedding event, and they should have the same opportunity to prepare for the date in advance.

Whether they are coming for just the evening reception or the full celebration, they should be included in the save-the-date notification.

Keep in mind, this doesn’t mean you have to specify whether they’re attending the day event or evening reception in the save-the-date itself, but it ensures they don’t miss out on important wedding information.

Who Should Get Save the Dates?

Save-the-dates should be sent to anyone who you’re inviting to the wedding, but they are especially useful for guests who need to make travel or accommodation arrangements. Typically, this includes:

  • Out-of-town guests who need time to plan travel.
  • Destination wedding guests who need to book flights and hotels early.
  • Close family and friends who need to block off time in their calendars.

Even if you haven’t finalized your guest list, it’s helpful to send save-the-dates to anyone you’re likely to invite. If you’re planning to have separate evening guests, sending them save-the-dates ensures they can plan ahead too.

Wedding Invitation Timeline for Different Scenarios

when should wedding invitations be sent out

Timing your wedding invitations properly varies based on your guest list and the type of wedding you’re planning. Whether your guests are local, from afar, or international, each group requires different consideration. Here’s a breakdown of when to send wedding invitations based on various scenarios.

When to Send Invitations for Local Guests

For guests who live nearby or in the same region, the standard timeline is 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding. This gives your local guests enough time to RSVP, plan, and adjust their schedules, but it’s close enough to the event to keep it fresh in their minds.

If your wedding is during a busy season (such as holidays or summer), consider sending them out a little earlier—around 10 weeks—to give your guests ample notice.

When to Send Wedding Invitations to Out-of-Town Guests

When inviting guests who are traveling from other cities, it’s crucial to give them 3 to 4 months notice. This longer timeline allows them enough time to plan their travel, book accommodations, and potentially take time off work.

For special circumstances (such as weddings during busy travel seasons or major holidays), 6 months might be even more ideal.

Sending save-the-dates for out-of-town guests should be done as early as possible—around 6 to 12 months in advance—to ensure they have enough time to make all necessary arrangements.

When to Send Wedding Invitations to International Guests

For international guests, you’ll need to extend the timeline even further. Invitations should be sent out 4 to 6 months in advance, giving them enough time to secure visas, book flights, and prepare for international travel.

As with out-of-town guests, international guests should also receive save-the-dates well in advance, particularly if the wedding requires significant travel arrangements.

When to Send Destination Wedding Invitations

Destination weddings require more planning and earlier communication. Invitations for a destination wedding should go out 3 to 4 months before the event to ensure guests have ample time to arrange travel and accommodations.

It’s also crucial to send save-the-dates 6 to 12 months in advance for destination weddings so that guests can plan well in advance and adjust their schedules accordingly.

Evening Wedding Invitations: Timing and Best Practices

If you’re hosting a wedding with different time slots (such as a daytime ceremony and an evening reception), you’ll want to consider the timing for evening invitations.

Evening wedding invitations should generally go out 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding, just like regular invitations.

However, make sure to specify on the invitation if the guest is invited to the evening-only portion of the celebration, so they know what to expect and when. If you’re sending separate evening invitations, clarify the timing and details for those attending just the reception.

Setting the RSVP Date

evening wedding invites

Setting the right RSVP date is an essential part of wedding planning. It ensures you get responses in time to finalize your numbers, make necessary arrangements, and plan for any last-minute details. Here’s how to determine the best RSVP date and how to encourage your guests to respond on time.

When Should My RSVP Date Be?

Your RSVP date should ideally be 3 to 4 weeks before the wedding. This gives you enough time to finalize the guest count for catering, seating, and other logistics, while still leaving your guests ample time to make arrangements.

If your wedding is during a busy season or involves complex planning (such as a destination wedding), consider setting the RSVP date 4 to 6 weeks before the big day to allow guests extra time.

Additionally, remember that if you’re hosting a destination wedding or have many out-of-town guests, you’ll want to send out your invitations earlier and give them a bit more time to RSVP.

How to Encourage Guests to RSVP on Time

Getting guests to respond by your RSVP date can sometimes be a challenge. Here are a few tips to encourage timely responses:

  • Make It Easy to RSVP – Include a clear, simple way for guests to respond. Whether through a wedding website, an online form, or a pre-addressed RSVP card, make it as easy as possible for guests to submit their response.

 

  • Send Gentle Reminders – A few weeks before your RSVP deadline, send a polite reminder email or message to those who haven’t responded yet. This will prompt them to finalize their plans.

 

  • Set Clear Expectations – Be explicit in your invitation and on your wedding website about the importance of the RSVP deadline. Let guests know that timely responses help with planning and that you’ll need to confirm numbers in advance.

 

  • Offer Incentives – If appropriate, consider offering a small incentive for early RSVPs, such as a thank-you gift or a special mention at the wedding. While not always necessary, it can add a fun, motivating element to the process.

 

  • Make the Consequences Clear – Gently let guests know that the RSVP date is firm, as it directly affects wedding details like catering, seating, and venue arrangements.

Ordering and Sending Your Invitations

evening reception wedding invitations

Once you’ve determined the timing and final guest list for your wedding invitations, it’s time to focus on the next step: ordering and sending them. Here’s what you need to know about the process to ensure everything runs smoothly.

When Should You Order Wedding Invitations?

Ideally, you should order your wedding invitations 2 to 3 months before your wedding date. This timeline allows you to review and approve the designs, make any necessary changes, and account for printing and delivery time.

If you’re adding custom elements (like calligraphy or special designs), you may want to order even earlier—around 4 months in advance—to ensure everything is perfect and arrives on time.

It’s also a good idea to order extra invitations (about 10-15%) in case of mistakes, last-minute additions to your guest list, or changes in addresses.

How to Send Wedding Invitations (Digital vs. Traditional)

When it comes to sending your invitations, you have two primary options: digital or traditional paper invitations. Here’s a breakdown of each approach:

  • Traditional Paper Invitations
      • Classic Choice: Traditional paper invitations are timeless and create a lasting impression. These are often mailed via post to each guest, with formal wording and any additional information on RSVP cards or wedding details.
      • Best for Formal Weddings: If your wedding is formal or you’re inviting older guests who appreciate the personal touch of a mailed invitation, paper is the way to go.
      • Delivery Time: Consider the time it will take for your invitations to be printed, addressed, and mailed—this could take an additional 2 to 3 weeks after ordering, so plan accordingly.
  • Digital Invitations
    • Modern and Convenient: Digital invitations are eco-friendly, cost-effective, and convenient, especially for guests who prefer a quick and easy way to RSVP. These can be sent via email or a wedding website.
    • Best for Informal or Destination Weddings: If your wedding is more casual or you’re hosting a destination wedding, digital invites might be a great fit. They’re also ideal for tech-savvy guests who prefer online communication.
    • Instant Delivery: The major advantage of digital invitations is that they can be sent as soon as they’re ready. You can even include links to your wedding website, gift registries, and travel details directly within the invite.

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