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How far in advance do you send out wedding invitations?


One of the most exciting times in life is getting engaged to the love of your life. As you start planning for your big day, you might be wondering when to send out your wedding invitations. Properly timing your invitations is crucial for giving your guests ample notice to plan their schedules, accommodations, transportation, and more.

The answer varies depending on your wedding date, location, and other details. However, it’s generally recommended that you send invitations out 4 to 5 months before your wedding. But why is this the ideal time frame, and what factors should you consider? Let’s take a closer look.

Why Send Wedding Invitations Early?

Your wedding invitations serve as the official announcement of your nuptials and include essential details that your guests need to know. In addition to your names and the date/time of your wedding, your invitations should include the location of the ceremony and reception, dress code, gift registry, and RSVP information.

Sending your invitations early allows your guests ample time to make arrangements and schedules accordingly. Your guests may need to take off work, book travel accommodations and make arrangements for their children or pets. It’s also good practice to send save-the-date cards to your guests well in advance of your invitations.

Factors to Consider When Timing Your Invitations

There are a few things to consider when planning the timing of your wedding invitations, such as:

Destination Weddings

Destination weddings are typically held in locations that your guests will need to travel to, including overseas. If you’re planning a destination wedding, send out your invitations a little earlier than standard, so your guests have enough time to plan an international trip and get any necessary travel documents like visas and passports.

Busy Seasons

There are times of the year where people are busier or already have planned commitments. The Holiday season, for example, is usually a hectic time where people travel to see family or have other engagements. Similarly, summer is a very busy time for weddings, so if you’re planning a summer wedding, send your invitations out earlier in the year.

VIP Guests

VIP’s or people essential to your big day should receive their invitations earlier than standard. VIP guests could include immediate family members, best friends or anyone with whom your wedding hinges or requires some assistance in the planning process.

DIY Invitations

Making your invitations can take more time than traditional ones. If you’re planning for DIY invitations, plan enough time to craft, assemble, and address so you can still send them out well in advance, even if they take more time to make.

The Bottom Line

Planning a wedding is a ton of work, but sending out invitations on time ensures a well-organized and successful event. Give your guests plenty of time to plan in advance. Send out your invitations four to five months before your big day to make sure that everyone you want in attendance has time in their schedule to be there. So, when it comes to sending out your wedding invitations, timing is everything.

FAQ

Can I send wedding invitations 6 months in advance?


When it comes to sending out wedding invitations, there is no strict rule about exactly when they should be sent. However, most wedding invitation etiquette experts generally recommend sending invitations between eight to twelve weeks before the wedding day. It’s important not to send them too early – more than six months in advance, for example – because guests may misplace them or forget the wedding date altogether as it is so far in the future.

Wedding invitation suites typically include not just the invitation itself, but also response cards and any necessary enclosures such as directions or accommodations information. It can take time to finalize all of these pieces, so it’s worth making sure that you have all of the information you need well in advance of the eight-week mark.

That being said, there is one piece of wedding correspondence that can be sent much further in advance – namely, the save-the-date card. A save-the-date simply lets guests know that they are invited to the wedding, and it includes the date and location information so that they can begin planning their travel accordingly. Save-the-dates generally should be sent out six to twelve months before the wedding, depending on the circumstances.

If you’re planning a wedding that will require guests to make significant travel arrangements (such as a destination wedding), a save-the-date card that is sent out closer to twelve months in advance can be especially helpful. On the other hand, for a local wedding with fewer out-of-town guests, six months in advance may be sufficient.

While it is generally not recommended to send out wedding invitations more than six months before the wedding, it is perfectly acceptable to send save-the-date cards as much as twelve months ahead of time. the ideal timeline will depend on your specific wedding and your guests. By planning carefully and following generally accepted etiquette guidelines, you can help ensure that your guests are well-informed and excited for your big day.

How many guests is considered a small wedding?


When it comes to weddings, the size of the guest list is a crucial factor to consider. Deciding how many people to invite can greatly impact the overall cost, venue, and atmosphere of the wedding. While the number of guests can vary depending on personal preference, budget, and cultural or religious traditions, a small wedding is typically considered to have 50 guests or under.

A small wedding can provide an intimate and cozy atmosphere, allowing for a greater focus on meaningful connections between the couple and their loved ones. With a smaller guest list, the couple can also save money on things like catering, rentals, and decor. Additionally, a smaller venue may be more accessible and affordable than a larger one.

In contrast, a larger wedding with over 150 guests can create a more festive and lively atmosphere, but this typically comes with a higher price tag. These weddings may require larger venues, more extensive catering options, and a more elaborate decor. Depending on the couple’s preferences and budget, a larger wedding can also be a great option.

The number of guests considered to be a small wedding can vary from person to person, and each couple must make the decision that works best for them. Factors such as budget, venue, and personal preference should be considered when determining the appropriate size of the guest list.

Is it rude to RSVP and not show up?


When you receive an invitation to a party or event, it is considered polite to RSVP promptly, indicating whether you will attend or not. RSVP stands for “respondez, s’il vous plait,” a French phrase asking the guest to respond whether or not they will attend the event. This traditionally means that the host can plan accordingly, both in terms of food and drinks but also seating and space. RSVPs are important because they help event planners to prevent wasting resources and they also help them know the number of guests to expect.

However, there are cases when things come up and you cannot attend an event even though you had already confirmed your attendance. In such cases, it is always advisable to communicate as early as possible and let the host know of your change of plans. This is important so that the host can make necessary adjustments. For instance, if you were attending a wedding, the couple would have already paid per head for your attendance and not coming without communicating with them would set them back as they would have already made arrangements for your presence.

Although some unexpected circumstances like emergencies, work, or sickness may sometimes be unavoidable, it is rude to RSVP positively to an event and not show up. Doing so not only causes inconvenience but also shows a lack of respect for the people organizing the event, especially if it is a large or expensive event like a wedding or charity event. The hosts may have specifically budgeted their expenses based on the number of people expected to attend, and a no-show in this scenario means the host would be left with unneeded expenses.

Rsvping and not showing up is ill-advised and rude. It is best to be honest with the host, communicate any change of plans early, and avoid last-minute cancellations unless it is absolutely necessary. Being a responsible guest means respecting the host’s efforts and acknowledging the efforts they have put into planning and coordinating the event.