Time is of the essence when it comes to wedding preparations. It might be challenging to anticipate how far in advance to plan various wedding-related activities, including making vendor reservations, performing engagement and bridal showers, and sending out invites.
Once you’ve decided on a wedding date and location, you may wonder when it’s appropriate to send out invitations.
You don’t want to invite people too far in advance, in case they have other plans that weekend, but is there a hard and fast rule on How Far in Advance to Send Wedding Invitations?
We will go through some of the more standard practices and protocols associated with the distribution of wedding invitations.
How Far in Advance to Send Wedding Invitations
It is much more crucial than you think to know when to send wedding invitations, so keep this in mind.
If you wait too long to mail them, you avoid providing your loved ones with sufficient warning for them to request time off from work, book hotels, or make other travel preparations.
If you send out your invitations too far in advance, there is a chance that your wedding won’t be fresh in the thoughts of your guests as the big day approaches.
You want to find that happy medium that allows everyone plenty of time to make arrangements but not too much time (but not enough time to lose track of that all-important date).
The Proper Time to Send Save-the-Dates
It’s important to note that a “save the date” card is not the same thing as an official wedding invitation.
They are a stand-in for the invitation so guests can clear their calendars or avoid making other plans for that particular day.
The standard recommendation is to send out save-the-dates between 6 and 12 months before the wedding, before the actual invites.
Sending out the save-the-date 12 months in advance is standard practice for lengthier engagements.
Couples all across the world have postponed their nuptials due to COVID-19. Many teams need help finding other venues, contacting their vendors, and informing their guests of the changes.
Sending out save-the-dates a little early may be a good idea if you plan on having your wedding soon after the conclusion of the global pandemic.
Dates are being snapped up rapidly since so many couples are rescheduling at once; you may need to tell people about your new date sooner rather than later so they can put it on their calendars.
Timing of Wedding Invitations
It can be challenging to strike the perfect balance when deciding when to send wedding invites.
Standard practice dictates invites be sent out between 8 and 12 weeks before the event (2 to 3 months out).
To achieve an accurate headcount, you can put a date on the invitation for attendees to RSVP, but you should be prepared for some guests to miss the deadline.
Only send out wedding invites by 16 weeks (4 months) before the ceremony if you are worried you will require extra time.
There are several reasons why it’s crucial to get a response to your wedding invitation. Not only do you want all your closest friends and family members to be there to celebrate your marriage.
But it would help if you also had an accurate headcount to ensure that you order enough food and drink, have enough tables and chairs, and plan out your seating arrangements accordingly with the venue.
How About International Guests?
Send invitations to your few international guests with the rest, but be sure to let them know they’ll need to allow extra time for delivery.
Call them or email them with all the pertinent information, including how to book hotels, so they can begin making travel plans in good time.
Do you have half a family overseas? You should think about getting them and the rest of your visitors in a faster-moving line.
Start planning your invitations a minimum of 12 weeks in advance, and start designing them a few weeks before you want to send them out.
As soon as the Plained dates are mailed, you should also have the wedding website up and running with all the details.
You’ll be happier in the end, but it means you’ll have to start working out the kinks in the hotel room block and transportation details sooner than you might like.
The foreign visitors will have everything they need, and you’ll be able to check even more items off your list.
When Should You Invite People From Out of Town to Your Wedding?
Traditional wedding invitation mailing times for out-of-town and out-of-state guests are four to eight weeks before the ceremony.
No of how many of your invitees will be traveling from out of town, we suggest sending out invitations simultaneously.
Since sending out invitations 8 weeks before the wedding is still the norm, it’s most convenient to do so in bulk.
You should send out invitations to guests from outside the United States at least two months in advance, but the question is, how long in advance is appropriate?
If possible, you should send those invitations around 9–10 weeks before the wedding, while the rest of your stack should still go out between 6–8 weeks beforehand.
Shipping and delivery might take a while, so adding an extra week or two will help ensure that your invitations reach your loved ones in one piece.
Frequently Asked Question
Are 4 months too early to send wedding invites?
The more advanced notice you give your guests, the better, especially if they take a while to respond. In light of this, save the dates should be sent out between six and twelve months before the wedding, and You should send invitations out three to four months beforehand at the very latest.
Are 13 weeks too early to send wedding invitations?
Final wedding invitation mailings should arrive six and ten weeks before the ceremony. Guests should be notified at least three months in advance if their wedding is at a remote location. Your guests will have plenty of time to book flights and lodging with this much notice.
What is the etiquette for wedding invitations?
Final wedding invitation mailings should arrive six and ten weeks before the ceremony. Guests should be notified at least three months in advance if their wedding is at a distant location. Your guests will have plenty of time to book flights and lodging with this much notice.