Planning your dream wedding comes with many exciting decisions, but timing is key—especially when it comes to sending out your save-the-dates and wedding invitations. This guide will help you navigate the timeline to ensure your guests are prepared and excited for your big day.
Below, we've broken down the steps to take, complete with advice for different types of weddings and unique considerations for your timeline.
1. Save-the-Dates: Giving Your Guests a Heads-Up
The purpose of save-the-dates is to notify your guests of your wedding date and location well in advance. This is especially important if you're having a destination wedding or if many of your guests will need to travel.
Ideally, you should send save-the-dates 6 to 12 months before your wedding.
Destination Weddings: If your wedding requires travel or falls during a busy time of year (like holidays), aim to send out your save-the-dates 8 to 12 months in advance. This gives guests plenty of time to make travel arrangements, take time off work, and plan financially.
Local Weddings: For weddings where most guests are local, a 6-month notice is generally sufficient. Guests will appreciate the heads-up and can mark their calendars without feeling rushed.
What Information to Include in Save-the-Dates
Your save-the-dates don't need to include every detail about your wedding. At this stage, the focus should be on the date and location. If you've launched a wedding website, you can include a link for guests to check for updates as you finalize your plans.
Key Details to Include:
Your names
Wedding date
City and venue (if finalized)
Wedding website link (optional)
2. Wedding Invitations: Formalizing the Invitation
When it comes to your formal invitations, timing is crucial to give guests all the important information while allowing enough time for RSVPs. Typically, invitations should be sent 6 to 8 weeks before your wedding date.
Local Weddings: For weddings where most guests are within a reasonable driving distance, 6 to 8 weeks is the standard window to send out invitations.
Destination Weddings: If your wedding requires travel, aim to send formal invitations 3 to 4 months in advance. This gives guests a chance to firm up their travel plans and submit their RSVPs on time.
What to Include in Wedding Invitations
Unlike save-the-dates, your formal invitations should include all the critical details of your wedding day. Here’s what to include:
Names of the couple
Wedding date and time
Venue name and address
RSVP instructions (and deadline)
Dress code (if applicable)
Any additional details, such as parking instructions or accommodation options
3. When to Request RSVPs
Your RSVP deadline is important for organizing the logistics of your wedding—finalizing the guest count for catering, seating, and more. You should aim to have your RSVP deadline set 2 to 3 weeks before your wedding date.
This gives you enough time to follow up with any guests who haven't responded and finalize the numbers with your vendors. For destination weddings, consider setting the deadline a bit earlier to allow for any last-minute changes to travel plans.
4. Special Considerations for Holiday Weddings and Events
If your wedding falls during a holiday season or other busy times of the year, send your invitations earlier than usual—up to 4 months in advance. This helps guests avoid scheduling conflicts and allows them to make travel or accommodation arrangements well ahead of time.
5. Should You Go Digital or Stick with Traditional Invitations?
With modern technology, couples now have the option to send digital invitations in place of traditional paper invites. Digital invitations can be sent closer to the wedding date, typically around 4 to 6 weeks before the wedding. They are a flexible option for couples looking to minimize costs or reduce their environmental impact.
However, paper invitations still hold a special place in wedding traditions, offering a tangible keepsake for both you and your guests. Consider using both digital and physical invites for different guest groups, or as a backup in case anyone misses the digital version.
Summary of the Wedding Invitation Timeline
12 Months Out: Send save-the-dates for destination weddings or if many guests will be traveling.
8 to 12 Months Out: Mail save-the-dates for destination or holiday weddings.
6 to 8 Weeks Out: Send formal invitations for local weddings.
3 to 4 Months Out: Send formal invitations for destination or holiday weddings.
2 to 3 Weeks Before the Wedding: Set your RSVP deadline.
By following this timeline, you can keep your wedding planning on track while ensuring that your guests have all the information they need to celebrate with you. Whether you're going traditional with paper invitations or opting for digital versions, the key is to give your guests plenty of notice while maintaining excitement for the big day.
Your wedding is a special occasion, and the invitations are the first glimpse your guests will get of the magical day to come. Make sure to choose designs that reflect your personal style and give you and your guests a beautiful memory to cherish!
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