When to Send Out Wedding Invitations

Wedding invitations are an important part of your wedding planning timeline, and knowing when to send them out is crucial. Sending them too early can lead to guests forgetting about the event or making other plans, while sending them out too late may not give guests enough time to RSVP or make travel arrangements.

The general rule of thumb is to send out invitations 6-8 weeks before the wedding date. This gives guests plenty of time to save the date, book travel, and make any necessary arrangements. However, there are some factors that can affect when you should send out your invitations.

In the next section, we will explore these factors in more detail and provide specific recommendations for when to send out wedding invitations based on various scenarios.

When to Send Out Wedding Invitations

Consider the following factors when determining the best time to send out your wedding invitations:

• Guest travel distance
• Destination wedding
• Time of year
• Save-the-dates
• Guest response time
• Invitation type
• Budget

By taking these factors into account, you can ensure that your guests receive your invitations in a timely manner, giving them ample time to plan and attend your special day.

Guest Travel Distance

If your guests are traveling from out of town or even from a significant distance within your own city, you'll want to give them plenty of time to book travel and accommodations. In this case, it's best to send out your invitations 8-12 weeks before the wedding.

• Guests traveling by plane: Give guests at least 12 weeks' notice to allow them ample time to book flights and secure the best airfare deals.
• Guests traveling by car: Give guests at least 8 weeks' notice to allow them sufficient time to plan their road trip and make any necessary arrangements for lodging along the way.
• Guests traveling from within the same city: While guests may not need as much time to travel, it's still important to give them at least 6 weeks' notice to allow them to make any necessary arrangements, such as booking a hotel room or arranging for transportation.
• Destination weddings: If your wedding is taking place at a destination that requires significant travel for most guests, send out your invitations 12-16 weeks in advance to give guests ample time to plan and budget for the trip.

By considering the travel distance for your guests, you can ensure that they have enough time to make the necessary arrangements to attend your wedding.

Destination Wedding

If you're planning a destination wedding, it's essential to send out your invitations as early as possible, ideally 12-16 weeks before the wedding date. This gives your guests ample time to plan and budget for the trip, especially if they need to book flights, accommodations, and arrange for transportation.

Here are some additional factors to consider when sending out invitations for a destination wedding:

• Guest travel distance: If your guests are traveling from far and wide, give them as much notice as possible to allow them to secure the best deals on flights and accommodations.
• Time of year: If your wedding is taking place during peak season or a popular travel period, send out your invitations even earlier to allow guests to book their travel and accommodations well in advance.
• Destination wedding website: Create a wedding website with all the important details about your destination wedding, including travel information, accommodation options, and things to do in the area. This will help your guests plan their trip more easily.
• RSVP deadline: Set a clear RSVP deadline on your invitations, and encourage guests to RSVP as soon as possible to give you a better idea of how many people will be attending.

By sending out your invitations early and providing your guests with all the necessary information, you can help ensure that they have a smooth and enjoyable experience planning and attending your destination wedding.

Time of Year

The time of year can also affect when you should send out your wedding invitations. Here are a few things to consider:

• Peak wedding season: If you're getting married during peak wedding season (typically May through October), you'll want to send out your invitations earlier to give your guests plenty of time to book accommodations and make travel arrangements, especially if your wedding is taking place at a popular destination.
• Holiday weekends: If your wedding is taking place on a holiday weekend, send out your invitations at least 8-10 weeks in advance to give your guests ample time to request time off from work and make travel arrangements.
• Summer weddings: Summer weddings are popular, but they can also be hot and humid. If you're having an outdoor wedding, be sure to send out your invitations early so that guests can plan accordingly and make arrangements to stay cool and comfortable.
• Winter weddings: Winter weddings can be beautiful and romantic, but they can also be cold and unpredictable. If you're having a winter wedding, send out your invitations early to give your guests plenty of time to book travel and make arrangements to stay warm.

By considering the time of year when sending out your wedding invitations, you can help ensure that your guests have enough time to plan and attend your wedding, regardless of the season.

Save-the-Dates

Save-the-dates are a great way to give your guests a heads-up about your wedding date, especially if it's during peak wedding season or if you're having a destination wedding. Save-the-dates should be sent out 6-8 months before the wedding date, and they typically include the following information:

• Your names: The names of the couple getting married.
• Wedding date: The date of your wedding.
• Wedding location: The city and state where your wedding will take place.
• Website (optional): If you have a wedding website, you can include the URL so that guests can learn more about your wedding and RSVP online.

Save-the-dates are a great way to let your guests know about your wedding date and get them excited about your big day. They also give your guests plenty of time to mark the date on their calendars and make any necessary travel arrangements.

Guest Response Time

When sending out your wedding invitations, it's important to include a clear RSVP deadline. This will help you get a better idea of how many people will be attending your wedding and finalize your plans accordingly.

• Standard RSVP deadline: The standard RSVP deadline is 4-6 weeks before the wedding date. This gives guests plenty of time to respond, but it also gives you enough time to finalize your guest list and make any necessary arrangements.
• Destination wedding RSVP deadline: If you're having a destination wedding, you may want to set an earlier RSVP deadline, such as 8-10 weeks before the wedding date. This will give guests more time to plan and budget for the trip.
• Online RSVP: If you're using an online RSVP system, you can set a specific deadline for guests to RSVP online. This can help you track RSVPs more easily and get a more accurate headcount.
• Phone or email RSVP: If you're not using an online RSVP system, you can include a phone number or email address on your invitations for guests to RSVP. Be sure to set a clear deadline for guests to RSVP by phone or email as well.

By setting a clear RSVP deadline and providing guests with multiple ways to RSVP, you can ensure that you get a timely and accurate response from your guests.

Invitation Type

• Formal invitations: Formal invitations typically require more time to design, print, and mail than informal invitations. As a result, you should send them out further in advance - at least 8 weeks before the wedding.
• Informal invitations: Informal invitations are less formal than formal invitations and can be sent out closer to the wedding date - around 6 weeks before the wedding.
• Online invitations: Online invitations are a great option for couples who are looking to save time and money. They can be sent out at any time, even just a few weeks before the wedding.

Budget

Your budget can also affect when you send out your wedding invitations. If you're on a tight budget, you may want to send out your invitations closer to the wedding date to save on postage costs. However, if you have a more flexible budget, you can send out your invitations earlier to give your guests more time to plan and attend your wedding.

Here are a few tips for saving money on wedding invitations:

• Choose a less expensive invitation design: There are many beautiful and affordable invitation designs available. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get high-quality invitations.
• Print your own invitations: If you're crafty, you can save money by printing your own invitations at home. Just be sure to use high-quality paper and ink.
• Send invitations electronically: Online invitations are a great way to save money on postage costs. You can create and send online invitations for free using a variety of websites and services.

By following these tips, you can save money on your wedding invitations without sacrificing style or quality.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about when to send out wedding invitations:

Question 1: When should I send out save-the-dates?
Answer: Save-the-dates should be sent out 6-8 months before the wedding date.

Question 2: When should I send out formal invitations?
Answer: Formal invitations should be sent out 6-8 weeks before the wedding date.

Question 3: What should I include on my save-the-dates?
Answer: Save-the-dates should include the couple's names, the wedding date, and the wedding location.

Question 4: What should I include on my formal invitations?
Answer: Formal invitations should include the couple's names, the wedding date, the wedding time, the wedding location, the reception location (if different from the ceremony location), and the RSVP information.

Question 5: How should I send out my invitations?
Answer: Invitations can be sent out by mail, email, or online.

Question 6: What do I do if I need to change the wedding date?
Answer: If you need to change the wedding date, you should send out new save-the-dates and formal invitations as soon as possible.

Question 7: What do I do if I have guests who live out of town?
Answer: If you have guests who live out of town, you should send out your invitations earlier to give them enough time to plan and book travel.

These are just a few of the most frequently asked questions about when to send out wedding invitations. If you have any other questions, be sure to consult with a wedding planner or etiquette expert.

Now that you know when to send out your wedding invitations, here are a few tips to help you get started:

Tips

Here are a few tips to help you send out your wedding invitations on time and without stress:

1. Start early. The sooner you start planning your wedding invitations, the better. This will give you plenty of time to choose a design, order the invitations, and mail them out.

2. Be organized. Keep track of your guest list, RSVPs, and other important details in a spreadsheet or wedding planning app. This will help you stay on top of everything and avoid any last-minute surprises.

3. Send out save-the-dates. Save-the-dates are a great way to give your guests a heads-up about your wedding date, especially if it's during peak wedding season or if you're having a destination wedding. Save-the-dates should be sent out 6-8 months before the wedding date.

4. Order your invitations early. Once you have your guest list finalized, you can order your wedding invitations. Be sure to order them at least 8 weeks before the wedding date to give yourself enough time to proofread them, assemble them, and mail them out.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your wedding invitations are sent out on time and without any major hiccups.

Now that you know when to send out your wedding invitations and have some tips to help you get started, you can relax and enjoy the rest of your wedding planning process.

Conclusion

Sending out wedding invitations is an important part of the wedding planning process. By following the tips in this article, you can ensure that your invitations are sent out on time and without any major hiccups.

Here are the main points to remember:

• Send out save-the-dates 6-8 months before the wedding date.
• Send out formal invitations 6-8 weeks before the wedding date.
• Include all the important information on your invitations, such as the couple's names, the wedding date, the wedding time, the wedding location, the reception location (if different from the ceremony location), and the RSVP information.
• Send out your invitations early if you have guests who live out of town.
• Be organized and keep track of your guest list, RSVPs, and other important details.

By following these tips, you can send out your wedding invitations with confidence and ensure that your guests receive them in a timely manner.

Congratulations on your engagement! We wish you all the best in your wedding planning and hope that this article has been helpful.