Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, and it can be challenging to keep track of all the details involved in the process. One critical aspect of wedding planning is sending out save the dates and wedding invitations. Timing is crucial when it comes to these essential items, as it can significantly impact the success of your big day. Below we'll go over when to send save the dates and wedding invitations to ensure your guests can make it to your wedding.
Save the Dates: When to Send Them
Save the dates are a simple way to let your guests know you're getting married and to give them a heads up to reserve your wedding date. Here's a general timeline for when to send save the dates:
Six to Eight Months Before the Wedding
Sending save the dates six to eight months before the wedding is ideal, as it gives guests enough time to make travel arrangements and take time off work if needed. If you're having a destination wedding or planning a wedding during peak travel season, consider sending save the dates even earlier, up to a year in advance.
Make sure to include essential information on your save the dates, such as your names, wedding date, and location. You can also include your wedding website, where guests can find more information about your wedding.
Wedding Invitations: When to Send Them
Your wedding invitation is your guests' formal invitation to your wedding, so it's essential to get the timing right. Here's a general timeline for when to send wedding invitations:
Eight Weeks Before the Wedding
Traditionally, wedding invitations are sent out eight weeks before the wedding date. This timing ensures that guests have enough time to RSVP - including out of town guests - and you have enough time to finalize the guest count and seating chart.
However, if you're having a destination wedding or a wedding during peak travel season, you might want to consider sending your invitations even earlier, up to twelve weeks in advance. This gives guests enough time to make travel arrangements and take time off work if needed.
Save the Dates vs. Wedding Invitations
Save the dates and wedding invitations serve different purposes, and it's essential to understand the difference between the two. Save the dates are a heads up for your guests to reserve your wedding date, whereas wedding invitations are the formal invitation to your wedding.
It's important to note that sending a save the date does not mean that guests are automatically invited to your wedding, but it could mean they assume they'll be invited and may follow up about the invitation.
Sending save the dates and wedding invitations at the right time is crucial to ensure that your guests can make it to your wedding. Send save the dates six to eight months before the wedding and wedding invitations eight weeks before the wedding. If you're having a destination wedding or a wedding during peak travel season, consider sending your save the dates and wedding invitations earlier.
