When Should You Send Out Save the Date Cards and Wedding Invitations?

Should you send out save the date cards and wedding invitations as soon as possible? Or should you wait until closer to the big day?


When Should You Send Your Save the Dates and Wedding Invitations


Here are a few tips to help you determine when is the best time to send out your Save the Dates and Invitations!

There are pros and cons for mailing save-the-date cards and wedding invitations early or late, so it’s important to consider all of your options.

Timing can vary based on many different factors: where you’re getting married, how large your guest list is, what time of year it is, etc. So, let’s take a look at some general rules of thumb when deciding when to send out those all-important invites!


When to Send out Save the Dates and Wedding Invitations if You're Having a Traditional Wedding Ceremony and Reception

    • Traditional Save the Date and Wedding Invitation Timelines:
      • On average, it is common for most Save-The-Dates to be sent 6-8 months before the wedding. 
      • For wedding invitations
        • International guests: 12-14 weeks before the wedding
        • Domestic Guests: 8-12 weeks before the wedding
        • Remember, a good rule of thumb is to call for your RSVPs to be in about 4-6 weeks before your wedding date.


When to Send out Save the Dates and Wedding Invitations if You're Having a Destination Wedding Ceremony and Reception

  • Destination Wedding Save the Date and Wedding Invitation Timelines:
    • If it’s a destination wedding, 8-12 months is standard to send the save the dates!
    • For wedding Invitations:
      • International Guests: 12-16 weeks before the wedding
      • Domestic Guest: 10-12 weeks before the wedding
      • Remember, a good rule of thumb is to call for your RSVPs to be in about 4-6 weeks before your wedding date.


We know you want to give your guests the best experience from Day One and that it can feel complicated trying to figure out when to send save the dates vs. wedding invitations. 

You can do this! We think the timelines shared in today's blog post will help you feel organized and won’t leave your guests wondering if they should start saving up now or later!

Whether you have a destination or traditional wedding, there are considerations to take into account before deciding what date is best for sending save the dates and invites.

The key takeaway from this blog post is that people need plenty of notice! We hope we helped with some answers about how much time you will need in order to plan an amazing wedding—let us know if we can help with anything else along the way.

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