Sending out wedding invitations is an important part of the wedding planning process. It's a way to officially inform your guests about your big day and to provide them with all the essential details. But when is the best time to send out wedding invitations?
The answer to this question depends on a few factors, including the formality of your wedding, the size of your guest list, and the time of year you're getting married. However, there are some general guidelines you can follow.
As a general rule of thumb, you should send out wedding invitations **6-8 weeks** before your wedding date. This will give your guests enough time to save the date, make travel arrangements, and RSVP.
When to Send Wedding Invitations
Here are 7 important things to keep in mind when deciding when to send wedding invitations:
- Save-the-Dates: Send save-the-dates 6-8 months in advance.
- Formal Invitations: Send formal invitations 6-8 weeks before the wedding.
- Destination Weddings: Send invitations 8-12 weeks in advance.
- Holiday Weddings: Send invitations 10-12 weeks in advance.
- Large Guest List: Give guests more time to RSVP by sending invitations earlier.
- Online RSVPs: If you're using online RSVPs, send invitations a little earlier to give guests time to create an account and RSVP.
- Custom Invitations: If you're having custom invitations made, order them early to allow for design, printing, and mailing time.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your guests receive your wedding invitations in plenty of time to make arrangements to attend your big day.
Save-the-Dates: Send save-the-dates 6-8 months in advance.
Save-the-dates are informal notices that you send to your guests to let them know about your wedding date and location. They are typically sent out 6-8 months before the wedding, although you may want to send them sooner if you are having a destination wedding or a wedding during a popular time of year.
Save-the-dates serve two main purposes: they give your guests plenty of time to save the date on their calendars, and they help you to get a headcount for your wedding. When you send out save-the-dates, be sure to include the following information:
- Your names
- The date of your wedding
- The location of your wedding
- A way for guests to RSVP (optional)
You can send save-the-dates via email, text message, or mail. If you are sending them by mail, be sure to use a postage stamp that is appropriate for the weight of the envelope.
Once you have sent out save-the-dates, you can start to work on your formal wedding invitations. Formal invitations are typically sent out 6-8 weeks before the wedding.
Formal Invitations: Send formal invitations 6-8 weeks before the wedding.
Formal invitations are the official invitations to your wedding. They typically include all of the important details about your wedding, such as the date, time, location, and dress code. Formal invitations are typically sent out 6-8 weeks before the wedding.
- The guest list: When sending out formal invitations, be sure to include everyone on your guest list. If you are having a small wedding, you may want to send out invitations sooner so that your guests have plenty of time to RSVP.
- The RSVP information: Be sure to include RSVP information on your formal invitations. This could be an email address, a phone number, or a website where guests can RSVP online.
- The dress code: If you have a specific dress code for your wedding, be sure to include this information on your formal invitations. This will help your guests to choose appropriate attire.
- Any other important details: If there are any other important details that you want to share with your guests, such as information about transportation or accommodation, be sure to include this information on your formal invitations.
Once you have sent out your formal invitations, you can start to relax and enjoy the countdown to your big day!
Destination Weddings: Send invitations 8-12 weeks in advance.
If you are having a destination wedding, you will need to send out invitations earlier than usual. This will give your guests plenty of time to make travel arrangements and book accommodations.
- Save-the-dates: For destination weddings, it is a good idea to send out save-the-dates 8-12 months in advance. This will give your guests plenty of time to save the date and start planning their travel.
- Formal invitations: Formal invitations for destination weddings should be sent out 8-12 weeks before the wedding. This will give your guests enough time to book flights and accommodations, and to RSVP.
- Travel information: Be sure to include travel information on your formal invitations, such as the nearest airport and hotel accommodations. You may also want to provide information about group discounts on flights or accommodations.
- RSVP information: Be sure to include RSVP information on your formal invitations. This could be an email address, a phone number, or a website where guests can RSVP online.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your guests have plenty of time to plan for your destination wedding.
Holiday Weddings: Send invitations 10-12 weeks in advance.
If you are having a wedding during a popular holiday weekend, such as Christmas or New Year's Eve, you will need to send out invitations earlier than usual. This will give your guests plenty of time to make travel arrangements and book accommodations.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when sending out invitations for a holiday wedding:
- Save-the-dates: For holiday weddings, it is a good idea to send out save-the-dates 10-12 months in advance. This will give your guests plenty of time to save the date and start planning their travel.
- Formal invitations: Formal invitations for holiday weddings should be sent out 10-12 weeks before the wedding. This will give your guests enough time to book flights and accommodations, and to RSVP.
- Holiday-themed invitations: If you are having a holiday-themed wedding, you may want to consider sending out holiday-themed invitations. This could include using festive colors, fonts, and images on your invitations.
- RSVP information: Be sure to include RSVP information on your formal invitations. This could be an email address, a phone number, or a website where guests can RSVP online.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your guests have plenty of time to plan for your holiday wedding.
Large Guest List: Give guests more time to RSVP by sending invitations earlier.
If you are having a large guest list, you will need to send out invitations earlier than usual. This will give your guests more time to RSVP, and it will also help you to get a more accurate headcount for your wedding.
- Save-the-dates: For weddings with a large guest list, it is a good idea to send out save-the-dates 6-8 months in advance. This will give your guests plenty of time to save the date and start planning their travel.
- Formal invitations: Formal invitations for weddings with a large guest list should be sent out 8-10 weeks before the wedding. This will give your guests enough time to RSVP and make any necessary travel arrangements.
- Online RSVP: If you are having a large guest list, you may want to consider using online RSVPs. This will make it easier for your guests to RSVP, and it will also help you to keep track of RSVPs.
- Multiple rounds of RSVPs: If you have a very large guest list, you may want to send out multiple rounds of RSVPs. This will help you to get a more accurate headcount for your wedding.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your guests have plenty of time to RSVP for your wedding, even if you have a large guest list.
Online RSVPs: If you're using online RSVPs, send invitations a little earlier to give guests time to create an account and RSVP.
If you are using online RSVPs for your wedding, you will need to send out invitations a little earlier than usual. This will give your guests enough time to create an account on your wedding website and RSVP.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when using online RSVPs:
- Create your wedding website: The first step is to create a wedding website. This website will be where your guests can RSVP, find information about your wedding, and learn more about you and your partner.
- Set up online RSVPs: Once you have created your wedding website, you will need to set up online RSVPs. Most website builders offer this feature, but be sure to check with your specific website builder to see how to set up online RSVPs.
- Send out invitations early: When sending out invitations, be sure to include the URL of your wedding website and the instructions for RSVPing online. You may also want to include a note on your invitations that guests can RSVP online.
- Follow up with guests: After you have sent out invitations, be sure to follow up with guests who have not yet RSVPed. You can do this by sending them an email or giving them a call.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your guests have plenty of time to RSVP for your wedding, even if you are using online RSVPs.
Custom Invitations: If you're having custom invitations made, order them early to allow for design, printing, and mailing time.
If you are having custom invitations made, you will need to order them early to allow for design, printing, and mailing time.
- Design process: The design process for custom invitations can take several weeks, depending on the complexity of the design. Be sure to allow enough time for the designer to create a design that you love.
- Printing: Once the design is finalized, the invitations will need to be printed. This can take several days or weeks, depending on the printing method and the quantity of invitations.
- Mailing: Once the invitations are printed, they will need to be mailed to your guests. Be sure to allow enough time for the invitations to be delivered.
- Order early: To ensure that your custom invitations arrive in plenty of time, be sure to order them at least 3-4 months before your wedding date.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your custom invitations are ordered and delivered in a timely manner.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about when to send wedding invitations:
Question 1: When should I send out save-the-dates?
Answer 1: Save-the-dates should be sent out 6-8 months before your wedding date.
Question 2: When should I send out formal invitations?
Answer 2: Formal invitations should be sent out 6-8 weeks before your wedding date.
Question 3: What should I include on my save-the-dates?
Answer 3: Save-the-dates should include the date, time, and location of your wedding, as well as your names.
Question 4: What should I include on my formal invitations?
Answer 4: Formal invitations should include all of the information on your save-the-dates, as well as the dress code, gift registry information, andRSVP information.
Question 5: What should I do if I need to change the date of my wedding?
Answer 5: If you need to change the date of your wedding, be sure to send out new save-the-dates and formal invitations as soon as possible.
Question 6: What should I do if I have a large guest list?
Answer 6: If you have a large guest list, you may want to send out save-the-dates and formal invitations earlier than usual.
Question 7: What should I do if I am having a destination wedding?
Answer 7: If you are having a destination wedding, you will need to send out save-the-dates and formal invitations earlier than usual to give your guests time to make travel arrangements.
Closing paragraph:
I hope this FAQ has answered your questions about when to send wedding invitations. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me.
In addition to the FAQ above, here are a few additional tips for sending wedding invitations:
Tips
Here are a few additional tips for sending wedding invitations:
Tip 1: Order your invitations early. This will give you plenty of time to design, print, and mail your invitations, and it will also help you to avoid any last-minute stress.
Tip 2: Send out save-the-dates as soon as possible. This will give your guests plenty of time to save the date and make any necessary travel arrangements.
Tip 3: Be clear and concise on your invitations. Include all of the important information, such as the date, time, location, dress code, and RSVP information.
Tip 4: Proofread your invitations carefully before sending them out. This will help you to avoid any embarrassing mistakes.
Closing Paragraph:
By following these tips, you can ensure that your wedding invitations are sent out on time and that they contain all of the important information.
When it comes to sending wedding invitations, it is always better to err on the side of caution and send them out earlier rather than later. This will give your guests plenty of time to save the date and make any necessary arrangements.
Conclusion
When it comes to sending wedding invitations, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The best time to send your invitations will depend on a number of factors, including the formality of your wedding, the size of your guest list, and the time of year you are getting married.
However, there are some general guidelines you can follow. As a general rule of thumb, you should send out save-the-dates 6-8 months before your wedding date, and formal invitations 6-8 weeks before your wedding date.
If you are having a destination wedding or a wedding during a popular time of year, you may want to send out your invitations earlier. You may also want to consider sending out online RSVPs to make it easier for your guests to RSVP.
No matter when you decide to send out your invitations, be sure to give your guests plenty of time to save the date and make any necessary travel arrangements.
Closing Message:
I hope this article has helped you to determine the best time to send out your wedding invitations. Congratulations on your engagement, and best wishes for a happy and memorable wedding day!