Timing is a significant factor when you’re planning a wedding. When to book suppliers, when to throw engagement parties and bridal showers, and how early to send out your wedding invites are all challenging tasks that require time and attention. When you have reserved your venue and set a wedding date, you might be thinking, ‘how far in advance should the wedding invitation be sent out?’ There is a guideline as to how far in advance to send wedding invitations. Here, I’ll break down the etiquette and standard practices for sending wedding invitations.
How Far In Advance To Send Wedding Invitations
If you still wonder how far in advance to send wedding invitations, wonder no more. Traditionally, six to eight weeks before the wedding should be the best time to send invitations. This will give your guests more time to clear their schedules and make travel plans. Give guests more time if it’s a destination wedding and carry them out three months before the wedding.
Many couples also send out save-the-date cards so that their guests can keep the day on their calendar before going into the nitty-gritty specifics. You should send out Save-the-Dates six to eight months before the wedding date.
When To Send Out Save-The-Dates Wedding
The general etiquette rule is that you should send the save-to-dates invitations around four to six months before your wedding date. You should allow a reasonable time to reach them if they have made other commitments and encourage them to clear their schedules from the date. It is also necessary to allow a few months of preparation for guests who need to book travel or hotels.
However, if your wedding date falls on a holiday weekend or takes place in a far-off destination, it is strongly recommended to give you save the dates much earlier, such as 6 to 12 months before your wedding date.
When To Ask For RSVPs
You must include a way for your guests to respond to your wedding invitation. You may want to have RSVP guests online through your wedding registry or send an RSVP card and pre-addressed envelope as part of your invitation suite. Make sure to mention an RSVP deadline so that guests know whenever they need to notify you of their answers.
The wedding invitation etiquette rule notes how far in advance to send wedding invitations. The ideal period is one month before your wedding date. It provides a brief window for guests to accept the invitation and decide their choice. It also offers an ample prior warning to order and arrange supplies for your wedding vendors. For those latecomers who won’t get their RSVP card on time, a one-month-prior deadline also adds some timetable padding.
Wedding Invitation Etiquette
The main invitation, a response card, and any other enclosure card that provides useful details for your guests. Reception card, travel, accommodation card, dress card, website card for weddings, etc. are included in a typical wedding invitation suite.
A reasonable rule of thumb is to announce the wedding when you want the marriage to begin for at least half an hour to 45 minutes. It will allow guests ample time to park or valet their vehicle, allow attendants coats and tux, and pick their seats.
Formal or Casual Ceremony
First, decide on your invitation, which will be written personally. You and your fiancé may feel like using formal wording on your wedding invites, and it’s ok, but keep it simple and sincere.
Some fundamentals must always be included, regardless of how formal or informal the phrasing on your wedding invitation is. It means that if you are using formal phrasing, the invites must give the full names of the pair and the guests’ full names. You should state the wedding time, date, month, and year. Don’t forget the full details of the place where and when it is held. You should print it in the lower-left corner of the invitation if you are seeking an RSVP.
Include Themes, Attire, Location Map, Accommodations
The concept of the invitation itself would be truly up to you to select. At the same time, try to think how far in advance to send wedding invitations to your guests. Experienced wedding planners frequently suggest that you connect it in some way by colors or design adornments into your wedding theme.
Wedding protocol specifies that only the above main event information be included in the invitation. The invitation suite will, however, include other significant details:
- the appropriate attire for the event
- a map to the event location
- accommodation details
- any wedding-related activities
You may also include an RSVP card that is approximately four weeks before your big day, with a ‘please respond by date’ note. Don’t forget a signed, self-addressed envelope. Wedding etiquette often requires that you leave your invitation suite with gift or registry information. Family members will help distribute this knowledge if you have planned a wedding registry for your guests’ convenience. Also, you can provide registry details, with easy references to follow, on your wedding registry.
Conclusion
My advice on how far in advance to send wedding invitations is 8 to 12 weeks before your wedding. But 16 weeks early is appropriate if you need more time. You may send out your invites whenever you like, but you should bear in mind that your guests can forget that you invited them if they receive it too early. They may RSVP or fail to reply. Use a save-the-date to allow them to mark their calendars if you’re concerned that visitors are double-booked. Know more about wedding invitations.