When to Send Out Save-the-Dates, Wedding Invitations & Evites

This is by far one of the most asked wedding planning questions: when should I send my save-the-dates and formal invitations?

There’s actually a strategy behind both: you don’t want to send them too early or too late.

Several factors come in to play when deciding on a timeframe to send save-the-dates and invitations, including where you have your wedding. Let’s explore them.

Save-the-Dates.

The typical rule for sending your family and friends an announcement of your wedding date is 6 to 9 months prior to the official day.

Your save-the-dates should include your wedding date and city you plan to get married in even if you haven’t yet booked the venue. It gives your guests enough time to rearrange their schedule to attend your wedding day or allows them to make travel plans if they live far away.

If you’re having a destination wedding then you’ll want to send your save-the-dates about 9 to 12 months in advance of your wedding day. That will give your guests plenty of time to save money, book plane tickets and find accommodations as well as take time off work, if necessary.

Sending your save-the-dates more than a year before your Big Day creates the likelihood your guests may forget about your wedding day since it’s typically too early for them to start booking hotels or plane tickets and requesting vacation days from work.

Pro Tips: Do tell your guests about your wedding website. Do tell your guests if no kids will be allowed at your wedding with wording such as “Adult Ceremony/Reception Only” or “While We Love All Your Little Ones, We Really Want Moms and Dads to Have an Amazing Time Without Worrying About Their Kids.” Do tell your guests a formal invitation will follow. Don’t include your wedding registry.

Formal Invitations.

The rule for mailing out your formal invitations is typically 6 to 8 weeks before your wedding.

Anything earlier than that and your guests will likely lose their invitation, forget to RSVP or forget about your wedding date altogether. It’s best to send it just a few weeks before your Big Day so the quick deadline gives them motivation to immediately fill out the RSVP card and mail it back to you.

You also risk the chance of last-minute changes, if they go out too early. For example, we’ve seen guests who initially said “no” suddenly become a “yes,” because they had time to rearrange their schedule. You’ll find yourself in a pickle if your guests change their RSVPs after you’ve already given your caterer and venue a final headcount.

You also want to give yourself some time to modify your guest list in case of emergencies. For example, financial stress can lead to downsizing of the guest list or vendors can suddenly drop out or cancel.

If something comes up and your guests have already committed to attending your wedding because you sent your invitations too early, you’ll have to explain why they’re no longer invited if you have to make cuts.

When it comes to destination weddings, you’ll want to send out your invitations about 8 to 12 weeks before your wedding day so that guests have time to solidify their travel plans.

Pro Tips: Do include who is hosting, your names, wedding date, start time for your ceremony, dress code and whether this will be an adult only wedding on your formal invitations. Do add additional information for your reception if it’s located at a different venue than your ceremony. Do make it clear on the RSVP card if your guest is allowed a plus one or not. Don’t include your registry.

Evites.

Many couples are sending electronic invitations and ditching traditional invitations to save money and time. Evites also provide an easier way to keep track of who has and hasn’t RSVP’ed. If you’re sending an evite, the timelines above still apply.

Whatever you do, try not to send your save-the-dates or wedding invitations too early or too late. Too early and you may not get a high rate of response. Too late and you won’t give yourself enough time to track down those who didn’t RSVP.

Pro Tip: Remember it’s OK to bug your guests who don’t RSVP. Don’t assume if someone doesn’t RSVP that it’s a “no.” You wouldn’t want a surprise guest to show up on your wedding day, and throw off your catering bill or seating chart.

Written By Vows & Forever Founder and Veteran Journalist Maria Cid. V&F is a wedding vows & speech writing service that also specializes in speech coaching and wedding timeline coordination.