The age-old question: when to send out wedding invitations!
On Reddit, the community has shared their thoughts and experiences on this topic. Here are some general guidelines and insights:
**When to Send Out Wedding Invitations:**
* 6-8 weeks before the wedding date: This is a common timeframe for sending out formal invitations.
* 3-4 months in advance: If you're having a destination wedding or a large guest list, consider sending out invites even earlier to give your guests ample time to plan their travel and accommodations.
**When Not to Send Out Wedding Invitations:**
* Too early: Avoid sending out invites too far in advance (e.g., 9-12 months). Your guests may forget or lose interest.
* Too late: Don't wait until the last minute (e.g., a week before the wedding). You want your guests to have enough time to RSVP and make travel arrangements.
**Additional Tips from Reddit:**
1. **Create a sense of urgency**: Include a deadline for RSVPs to encourage guests to respond promptly.
2. **Make it clear what's expected**: Specify whether you're hosting a weekend-long celebration or just the wedding day itself, so guests know how long they should plan to stay.
3. **Consider your guest list size**: If you have a small guest list (less than 50), you might be able to get away with sending out invites even earlier.
4. **Keep it simple**: Avoid overcomplicating the invitation process by including too much information or asking guests to RSVP via multiple channels.
**Popular Wedding Invitation Types:**
1. Paper invitations
2. Digital invitations (e.g., Evite, Canva)
3. Hybrid invitations (combining paper and digital)
Remember to tailor your approach to your unique situation, wedding style, and guest list size.
Sources:
* Reddit threads on wedding planning and etiquette
* Wedding experts' advice and best practices
When are you planning to send out your wedding invitations?
When to send out wedding invitations and when to set the RSVP deadline are important considerations to ensure your guests can plan accordingly. Here's a general guideline:
**Send out wedding invitations:**
* Typically, 6-8 weeks before the wedding date is a good timeline for sending out formal wedding invitations.
* If you're having a destination wedding or a larger event, consider sending them out 12-14 weeks in advance to give guests ample time to plan their travel and accommodations.
**Set the RSVP deadline:**
* For a weekday wedding, set the RSVP deadline 2-3 weeks before the wedding date.
* For a weekend wedding, set the RSVP deadline 1-2 weeks before the wedding date.
* If you're having a destination wedding or a larger event, consider setting the RSVP deadline 4-6 weeks in advance to ensure accurate headcounts for catering and seating.
**Why these timelines?**
* Giving guests enough time to respond: You want your guests to have enough time to clear their schedules and make travel arrangements if needed.
* Allowing for changes: Life is unpredictable, and unexpected events may arise. Leaving a buffer allows for last-minute changes or cancellations.
* Helping you plan: Knowing the exact number of attendees helps with catering, seating, and other logistical preparations.
**Additional tips:**
* Include an RSVP deadline on your invitations to encourage prompt responses.
* Consider setting up an online RSVP system through a wedding website or invitation platform to make it easy for guests to respond.
* Make sure to include a contact method (e.g., email address, phone number) for guests who prefer not to use the online system.
Remember to stay organized and communicate clearly with your guests throughout the planning process.
When sending out wedding invitations for a destination wedding, it's generally recommended to allow guests more time to plan and make travel arrangements. Here are some guidelines:
1. **6-8 months before the wedding**: Start sending out save-the-dates or "save-the-date" notifications to give your guests an idea of the upcoming event.
2. **4-5 months before the wedding**: Send out formal wedding invitations, including all the details they'll need to know (date, time, location, dress code, etc.).
3. **3-4 weeks before the wedding**: Follow up with a "final reminder" or a "travel and accommodation" email/letter to encourage guests to book their travel and accommodations as soon as possible.
Keep in mind that these are general guidelines, and you may need to adjust based on your specific situation:
* If you're having a smaller, more intimate wedding, you might send out invitations 3-4 months in advance.
* If you're having a larger or more formal destination wedding, you might send out invitations 6-9 months in advance.
Additionally, consider the following when sending out wedding invitations for a destination wedding:
* Include travel information: Provide your guests with details on how to get to and around your destination (flights, transportation, etc.).
* Offer accommodations suggestions: Suggest hotels or resorts that have partnered with you or offer special rates to your guests.
* Provide a "must-do" list: Give your guests an idea of what they can expect to do during their trip (beach activities, local tours, etc.).
Remember to also include RSVP information and any specific dress code or activity requirements for the wedding.
In general, it's considered polite to give your guests a reasonable amount of time to plan and prepare for your special day. Here are some guidelines:
* For local events or intimate gatherings (less than 50 guests), you can consider sending out invitations 2-3 months in advance.
* For larger events or destination weddings (more than 50 guests), it's generally recommended to send out invitations 4-6 months in advance.
Sending out wedding invitations too early, especially for a destination wedding, might be perceived as inconsiderate. You want to give your guests enough time to plan and make travel arrangements, but you also don't want to overwhelm them with too much notice.
If you're planning a summer wedding, it's generally better to send out invitations earlier (3-4 months) since summer is peak season for travel and vacations.
However, if you have specific reasons for sending out invitations early, such as:
1. You're having a destination wedding, and guests need to make travel arrangements.
2. You're planning an outdoor or seasonal event that's only feasible during a certain time of year.
3. You want to ensure your most important guests (e.g., family members) can attend.
Consider sending out "save the dates" 6-9 months in advance, followed by formal invitations about 3-4 months later. This way, you're giving your guests ample notice without overwhelming them with too much information too early.
Remember to include all the necessary details, such as date, time, location, dress code, and RSVP information, on both the save the dates and the formal invitations.
Ultimately, the key is to strike a balance between giving your guests enough time to plan and respecting their schedules.
When it comes to sending out wedding invitations without sending save-the-dates, the timing will depend on a few factors. Here are some general guidelines:
1. **Timing:** Typically, you'll want to send out wedding invitations 6-8 weeks before the big day. This allows guests ample time to clear their schedules and make travel arrangements if necessary.
2. **Guest list size:** If you have a smaller guest list (less than 50 people), you might be able to get away with sending out invitations 4-6 weeks in advance. For larger guest lists, it's better to send them out earlier to ensure everyone has enough notice.
3. **Formality of the wedding:** Formal weddings often require more time for guests to plan and prepare, so you may want to send out invitations 8-12 weeks in advance.
Here are some specific scenarios:
* If your wedding is during peak season (June to September), it's a good idea to send out invitations 10-12 weeks in advance to give guests plenty of time to make travel arrangements.
* For off-season weddings (October to May), you can send out invitations 6-8 weeks in advance, as there may be fewer conflicts with other events and travel schedules.
Remember to also consider the following:
* If your wedding is on a weekday or has a unique timing (e.g., brunch or morning ceremony), you may want to give guests more notice to adjust their schedules.
* If you're having a destination wedding or expecting out-of-town guests, it's crucial to send out invitations even earlier (12-14 weeks in advance) to ensure they can make travel arrangements.
In the end, the key is to strike a balance between giving your guests enough time to plan and not overwhelming them with too much notice.
When to send out wedding save-the-dates!
Save-the-date cards are a great way to give your guests advance notice of your special day and help them plan ahead. Here's a general guideline on when to send out wedding save-the-dates:
**Timing:**
* For a summer or fall wedding, send out save-the-dates 6-12 months in advance.
* For a winter or spring wedding, send out save-the-dates 4-9 months in advance.
**Why so far ahead?**
Save-the-dates are meant to be an early notification of your wedding date. By sending them out well in advance, you're giving your guests ample time to clear their schedules and make travel arrangements if necessary. It's also a good idea to send save-the-dates before the engagement is official (e.g., before you've designed and ordered custom invitations).
**When not to send:**
* Avoid sending save-the-dates too close to the wedding date, as this can create unnecessary pressure on your guests to RSVP quickly.
* Don't send save-the-dates if you're having a very small, intimate gathering or an elopement. In these cases, a simple invitation is usually sufficient.
**What to include:**
When sending out save-the-dates, make sure to include the following:
1. Your names
2. The wedding date (and possibly the venue or location)
3. A note indicating that formal invitations will follow
Remember, save-the-dates are meant to be a casual, early notification of your wedding plans. They don't need to include all the details you'll eventually share on the formal invitation.
Hope this helps!
A very practical and timely question!
The ideal time to send out wedding invitations depends on various factors, including the type of wedding, the guest list size, and the timing of other pre-wedding events. Here's a general guideline:
**For weekday weddings:**
* Send out invitations 6-8 weeks before the big day.
* This allows guests plenty of time to clear their schedules and make travel arrangements (if applicable).
**For weekend weddings:**
* Send out invitations 8-10 weeks before the wedding date.
* This gives guests more time to plan and prepare for a Saturday or Sunday celebration.
**For summer weddings:**
* Send out invitations 9-12 weeks before the wedding date, as people tend to have more vacation plans during this season.
**For holiday weekends (e.g., New Year's Eve):**
* Send out invitations 10-12 weeks before the wedding date, to ensure guests can adjust their holiday plans accordingly.
**For destination weddings:**
* Send out invitations 12-16 weeks before the wedding date, as travelers need more time to plan and book travel arrangements (flights, hotels, etc.).
Remember to also consider the following when deciding when to send out your wedding invitations:
1. RSVP deadlines: Make sure you give guests enough time to respond to your invitation.
2. Pre-wedding events: If you're having a rehearsal dinner, bachelor/bachelorette party, or other pre-wedding celebrations, factor those into your timeline.
3. Guest list size: Larger guest lists may require more lead time for guests to make travel arrangements and clear their schedules.
To simplify the process, here's a rough estimate of when to send out wedding invitations based on the above factors:
| Type of Wedding | Invitation Send-out Time |
| --- | --- |
| Weekday | 6-8 weeks before |
| Weekend | 8-10 weeks before |
| Summer | 9-12 weeks before |
| Holiday weekend | 10-12 weeks before |
| Destination wedding | 12-16 weeks before |
Keep in mind that these are general guidelines, and the best approach will depend on your specific situation.
Sending wedding invitations too early can be considered impolite or even premature, depending on the circumstances. Here are some reasons why:
1. **Guests may not be prepared**: If you send out invitations too far in advance, guests might not have a chance to clear their schedules or make travel arrangements before the invitation is sent.
2. **Changes in plans**: You might need to adjust your guest list, venue, or even the date of the wedding. Sending invitations too early can lead to confusion and inconvenience if you need to make last-minute changes.
3. **Guest fatigue**: Receiving an invitation six months prior to the event can feel like a commitment before people are ready to commit. It's essential to strike a balance between giving guests enough notice and not overwhelming them with too much information too early.
When deciding when to send out wedding invitations, consider the following guidelines:
1. **For local weddings**: 6-8 weeks prior to the event is usually a good starting point.
2. **For destination weddings or out-of-town events**: 12-16 weeks prior to the event allows guests sufficient time to plan their travel and accommodations.
3. **Consider your guest list size**: For smaller, more intimate gatherings, you might be able to send invitations with less notice (4-6 weeks).
Remember that every couple's situation is unique. If you're planning a destination wedding or have a large guest list, it's best to err on the side of caution and wait a bit longer before sending out invitations.
Ultimately, the key is to communicate with your guests in a clear and respectful manner. You want to make sure they receive the invitation at the right time, giving them enough notice to plan their attendance without feeling overwhelmed or rushed.