Explore options and timelines for the best time to send out your wedding invitations, save-the-date cards, and thank-you cards.
A question that comes up with every wedding is when to mail wedding invitations, save the date cards, and thank you cards to ensure that your guests are well-informed and able to attend your special day. It’s essential to allow ample time for your loved ones to make travel arrangements and RSVP.
Things to consider include whether you are having a destination wedding or staying close to home, as each option has unique challenges and advantages. The key question is whether your guests will need to make travel plans, hotel reservations, or childcare arrangements. For a destination wedding, consider how far guests must travel and what accommodations are available. It’s also important to think about any assistance with travel arrangements, like group rates or local attractions. Staying closer to home offers the convenience of easy access for guests. Ultimately, this decision will shape your celebration and the overall experience for everyone involved.
When to send out your Save the Date invitation Cards
Timeline – Send your Save the Date Cards about 4 to 6 months before your wedding. Unless you are planning a destination wedding that allows enough time for your guests to make travel arrangements, time off from work, and budget for such an expense. Then you should send Save the Dates out at least a year ahead.
However, a Save the Date is optional unless you are having a destination wedding. Many couples like to send this out to announce their engagement and showcase their beautiful photos.
Keep it simple and include
- Bride and Groom names (preferably first and last)
- Wedding Date
- Wedding location (city and state, and county (only if the location is international)
- SAVE THE DATE or SAVE OUR DATE wording
- It is important to add at the bottom INVITATION TO FOLLOW
Wedding Invitation time line
When to mail wedding invitations? Typically it is customary to send your invitation out 6 to 8 weeks prior to your wedding. However, some prefer to send out 10 to 12 weeks. You should consider and be careful if you send your invitations out too far from your event. Many people, will assume they have more than enough time, set it aside, and forget to come back and RSVP, leaving you to chase down your RSVP’s
Whether you choose a formal or a more modern style invitation, it is important to include
- The names of whoever is hosting the wedding. whether it be both parents, one set, or bride and groom
- The bride and groom’s names
- Wedding Start Time
- Wedding Location with full address
- If you are hosting a reception, the reception location and time, are either on the same invitation or a separate enclosure card.
- RSVP instructions, needed for your venue, caterer, and bartenders,
When to request your RSVP’s from guests
When to request your guests to RSVP would depend on when your caterer, venue, and bartenders require your “FINAL” guest count. This is usually 2 weeks before your wedding date. although many will forget to do so.
When to send your Rehearsal Dinner Invitations
It is a good idea to send your rehearsal dinner invitation out 3 to 6 weeks ahead. Who should you invite? Everyone in your wedding party, your officiant, as well as anyone who plays a special role, readers, ushers, personal attendants. You can also include close relatives, if you choose, and any out-of-town guests as a kind gesture for making the journey to your wedding day. If your caterer or venue requires a guest count, then add an RSVP to allow a week or 10 days to respond.
When to send out your Thank you cards
You will probably be receiving gifts well before your wedding, as well as on your wedding day, and even after your wedding. It is an absolute MUST that you send out a THANK YOU card for your wedding, bridal shower, and engagement gifts. Check out these tips for writing a thank you card.
- If you receive a wedding gift, prior to your wedding, send your thank you card within 2 weeks of receiving the gift. The earlier the better.
- Bridal shower gift thank you notes, should be sent out 2 to 3 weeks after your shower, again the earlier the better,
- For gifts you receive on your wedding day, You can send them out within 3 months, again earlier the better.
It is important to express your thanks and gratitude for the gifts, time, and kind thoughts, wishes, and sentiments. This is one very important element of your wedding. Also, don’t forget to write a heartfelt thank you card to all those close to you who helped, and assisted you with your special day, parents, siblings, special aunt best friends, officiant, etc.
When to mail wedding invitations, A handy timeline is below for your convenience
The timeline for all your wedding invitations and correspondence is important, It is important to allow your guests the correct information, enough time to respond, and show your gratitude and appreciation for sharing your special day. And everyone can share with you the joy, and excitement of your beautiful day.
| Save the Date Cards (Destination Wedding) | 1 year |
| Save the Date Cards | 6 to 8 months |
| Invitations | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Rehearsal Dinner Invitations | 3 to 5 weeks |
| Thank You Cards (gifts received through the year) | within 2 weeks |
| Thank You Cards (Bridal Shower, Engagement Gifts) | within 3 weeks |
| Thank you Cards (Gifts received at the Wedding) | withing 3 months |
It is ultimately up to you as the when to mail wedding invitations, But it is always good to make sure the timeline meets both you and your guest’s needs.
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