When to Send
Photo by Kirsten Butler
…Save The Dates
Save the dates for weddings are typically sent out four to eight months before the wedding date with the best time to send them usually being 6 months before your wedding day. Give guests enough time to plan ahead, especially if the wedding is taking place during a peak travel season or if the guests need to make arrangements for accommodations or travel.
If your wedding is taking place during a holiday or a popular vacation time, or if you are having a destination wedding, it is a good idea to send save the dates six to eight months in advance. This will give your guests plenty of time to plan any necessary travel and request time off work.
On the other hand, if you’re having a local wedding or getting married in an off-season, sending save the dates six months in advance should be sufficient.
Keep in mind that your save the date should include your wedding date, location (city or town), and a note that a formal invitation will follow. You may also want to include other important details such as hotel blocks or transportation information if extensive travel will be required.
…Invitations
We recommend sending your formal wedding invitation 12 weeks before your wedding day. The recommendation used to be 8-10 weeks but the postal service has proven to be unreliable over the past several years, especially for invitations going outside of your city or state. 12 weeks will allow your guests time to finalize their travel arrangements (if needed) and give the USPS time to get your invitation to them and their RSVP back to you.
Speaking of RSVPs, make sure to include an RSVP card or RSVP instructions, along with any other important information such as the dress code, gift registry, wedding website, etc.
If you have already sent Save the Date cards, try to make the formal invitations consistent in style and design to create a cohesive wedding theme. If you sent your save the dates before you narrowed down your vision, don’t stress! Do your best and forget the rest!
It’s a good idea to order extra invitations in case of mistakes, lost mail, detail shots the day of the wedding or last-minute additions to your guest list. Additionally, make sure you order save the dates and invitations for your HOUSEHOLD guest list, not your number of guests invited. No need to order twice as many!
…Your RSVP Date
We recommend setting your RSVP date four to six weeks before your wedding date - preferably on a weekday versus a weekend just so it has less of a chance of getting lost in the chaos of weekend activities. Setting your RSVP date to the 1st, 15th, or 30th of the month will also help you guests keep track of the deadline. This time frame will give you enough time to finalize your guest count, confirm the final details with your vendors, and create a seating chart (if you choose to do so) for the reception.
Keep in mind any deadlines that your individual vendors may have provided for a final headcount. Most vendors require a final headcount at least 10 to 14 days before the wedding date. Make sure your RSVP deadline allows enough time for you to collect all the responses and provide final numbers to your vendors.
When your RSVP date approaches, split the remaining guests between yourself and your fiance or among family members. Do not take on the burden of following up with unresponsive invitees all by yourself! You have a lot going on so we highly recommend delegating to or sharing this task with others. Ultimately, we recommend using the number you have 5 days after your RSVP date as your final number. You know your guest list best but don’t let this part of wedding planning get the best of you!
You’re Doing Great!
The guest list, mailings, RSVPs, and the seating chart are arguably the most time consuming aspects of wedding planning. We hope you found this article helpful in your planning! No matter where you are in your planning process, we encourage you to stop what you are doing and take a few deep breaths. You are doing a great job and your big day is coming together! Cheers to planning!
