One of the questions we’re asked most often is when couples should send their save the dates and wedding invitations.
It’s one of those parts of wedding planning that can feel surprisingly confusing. Send them too early and guests may forget. Leave them too late and people may already have made other plans. The good news is that there are some simple guidelines that work for most weddings.
If you’re planning to send save the dates, we usually recommend sending them around 6 to 12 months before your wedding.
They’re particularly useful if:
- You’re getting married abroad.
- Guests will need to travel or book accommodation.
- Your wedding falls during school holidays or a particularly busy time of year.
- You’re giving guests plenty of notice to arrange time off work.
A save the date doesn’t need to include every detail. Its purpose is simply to let guests know when your wedding will take place so they can keep the date free.
For destination weddings, sending save the dates closer to 12 months in advance is often appreciated. It gives guests more time to organise travel plans and spread the cost of their trip.
Your formal wedding invitations are usually sent around 3 to 6 months before the wedding.
By this point, you’ll have all the important details confirmed, including timings, venues and RSVP information.
If you’re planning a wedding abroad, or expecting guests to travel from different parts of the UK or overseas, sending invitations a little earlier can be helpful.
One of the most common mistakes we see is couples setting their RSVP deadline too close to the wedding day.
Giving yourself at least four to six weeks between your RSVP deadline and the wedding allows plenty of time to confirm numbers with your venue, caterers and other suppliers. It can also save a lot of last-minute chasing.
A Simple Timeline
Every wedding is different, but as a general guide we recommend:
- Save the dates: 6–12 months before the wedding.
- Destination wedding save the dates: Around 12 months before.
- Wedding invitations: 3–6 months before the wedding.
- RSVP deadline: 4–6 weeks before the wedding.
Ultimately, the right timing depends on your plans, your guests and the type of celebration you’re creating. Every wedding is different, which is why we always start by getting to know you, your vision and what’s most important to you.
If you’re beginning to think about your save the dates, invitations or wedding stationery, we’d love to chat. A simple conversation is often the best place to start, and we’re here to guide you through every step of the process.