WHEN TO SEND OUT YOUR WEDDING INVITATIONS
When to send out your invitations will vary depending on your personal circumstances, as each couples wedding is unique.
Here you have some questions that you should ask yourself beforehand, these will help you choose the right moment to send out your save the date’s and your invites, as there is no exact formula.
Is my wedding local or do I have out of town or international guests?
If your wedding is local:
It’s reasonable to send out your save the date 4 to 6 months before your wedding. This will give your guests enough time to plan ahead, and have your date in mind when any other plans appear. You can send out your wedding invitations 2 to 4 months beforehand, and do not forget to add a deadline for your RSVPs. Try to give yourself time and set it at 6 weeks before your wedding if you can so that you can chase those who have not yet answered and identify those who have lost the invitation under a pile of mail. This will let you handle your numbers at your own pace and send the venue your final numbers in advance.
If you have international guests:
You have to think of your guest's logistics, and help them save money. Send out your save the dates well in advance, 7 to 9 months so that your guests can book their flights and days off work if necessary.
It would be wise to include a separate accommodation card so that they can book in advance. In this case you should negotiate hotel room rates near your venue for your guests, give them at least 2 options to adapt to all budgets.
Send your wedding invites out 3 to 4 months beforehand.
Is my wedding overseas?
If your wedding is abroad you should send your save the date at least 7 to 9 months in advance because there are many more logistics to take into account, and you will help your guests save money once again.
They will have to book their flights, hotels, and maybe some extra days leave off work to take advantage to visit the surroundings.
Like in the case of international guests explained above, it is wise to send a separate accommodation card with your negotiated hotel options to give them piece of mind.
Send your wedding invites out 3 to 4 months beforehand.
Is my wedding during summer holidays? (or any other holiday such as Easter or Christmas?)
If your wedding is during the summer holidays, Easter or Christmas you should also send the save the date early because you won’t wont half of your guests answering that they have unfortunately already booked their holidays, or if you have unofficially given them a hint on the date, they will be waiting on you to confirm to be able to book their holidays.
Save the date: they should be sent 7 to 9 months before the wedding.
Wedding invitations: send 2 to 4 months before your wedding
Is my wedding more than a year and a half away?
If the wedding is in a couple of years: we do not recommend you to send out your wedding invitations more than 10 months before hand, and the wedding invitations 2 to 4 months beforehand. This is because they can get lost, and maybe your preferences concerning the friends that you want to invite will change.
In any case, give as many invitations (not save the date) as you can in hand, people will appreciate the personal treatment.
Image credits: Vintage Wedding invitation in brown paper from Etsy and Floral Wedding Invitation from Ginger Ray