When to Send Out Your Wedding Invitations (and everything else…)

All of your Wedding Invitation questions answered.

Katherine Collection

I won’t beat around the bush, there’s a fair few pieces of stationery needed before your big day. It might seem a bit overwhelming, but it’s definitely manageable once you’ve got your head round it. Even though you’ll spend countless hours go back and forth to the post office, it’s 100% worth it. You’ll look back at you invitations for each event as precious keepsakes in the years to come. But when it comes to your wedding and stationery, one of the biggest things to consider, is timing. Sending each invite out at the right time ensures your guests have all the information they need to plan and attend your wedding day, which is the whole point.

When to Send Save-the-Dates

Save-the-Dates are the perfect way to give your guests the heads up that they’re invited to your wedding. They can mark it in their calendars and start planning travel and accommodation if needed. Even if they’re local to you or your venue, it’s still worth giving them as much notice as you can.

When should I send the Save-the-Dates?

I’d suggest giving your guests at least twelve months notice. Once you’ve secured your wedding date and venue, now is the time to start thinking about your Save-the-Dates. If you’re planning a destination wedding, your guests will need more time to arrange travel and accommodation, so I’d suggest giving them anywhere between twelve to fifteen months notice, if you can.

When Should I order Save-the-Dates?

Great question! Lead times all depends on whether you’re looking for a custom invitation (designed especially for you), or if you’d like to use a semi-custom design from your favourite stationer (me, I hope). Custom designs can take anywhere from four to eight weeks to create, print and post, it really depends on the complexity of the design itself. A semi-custom Save-the-Date can take anywhere between two to six weeks for you to receive them.

Who Should Receive a Save-the-Date?

Only the guests who you know are definitely invited to the wedding (it’s a bit awkward taking back an invitation once it’s been sent). You might decide to send a selection of Save-the-Dates to your definite attendees at the beginning, while you finish finalising the rest of the guest list.

Lucy Collection

When to Send Wedding Invitations

A typical wedding invitation suite includes a main invitation (the biggest, most substantial piece) a details card containing helpful information (travel and accommodation, dress code, wedding website etc) and a response card with a self addressed envelope. You could also include a guest name card (my favourite personal touch) or a beautifully illustrated map.

When should I send the Wedding Invitations?

Typically, your wedding invitations need to be sent six to eight months before your wedding day. Even though your guests already have the heads up (thank you Save-the-Dates) now is the time to refine those travel plans, accommodation, organise their wedding outfits and make any other arrangements they need to attend your big day. If you’re having a destination wedding, I’d send these out eight to twelve months before because there’s more planning involved when travelling abroad.

When Should I order Wedding Invitations?

Another great question! Wedding Invitations are more complex than Save-the-Dates, they typically include a minimum of four items (invitation, details card, response card and envelope) so they need more design time. Custom Wedding Invitations can take anywhere from two to four months to create. This might seem like a long time, however, this is the first opportunity to create a beautiful piece of stationery that reflects your love story and wedding day, and it will give your guests an idea of what to expect. For example, you might be planning an elegant, luxury, formal wedding with a monochrome colour palette and beautiful gold elements (stunning.) Or you could be planning a bright, bold, colourful wedding with floral explosions throughout and a casual dress code. Both of these custom suites would be absolutely stunning (I’m designing in my head already) but it’s important that they reflect the style of your wedding day.

However, semi-custom suites are also very popular. These essentially remove majority of the design time, but you’ll still have a beautiful invitation suite that reflects your wedding style. Most of these collections will allow you to customise colour palettes and wedding details (of course) so they still match your aesthetic. These can take anywhere from six to twelve weeks, once they have been ordered and are a more budget friendly option.

Who Should Receive a Wedding Invitation?

Everyone on your guest list, but you only need to send one invitation per household.

How much time should I give my guests to RSVP?

I’d recommend your RSVP date be at least 3 months before your wedding day as there are still a fair few things to organise. Also take into account whether your RSVPs are physical, being posted back to you, or whether your guests can respond via your wedding website (a very popular choice, and much less faff). Should you opt for the digital version, make sure your invitation suite still includes a response card with the date to RSVP by, it’s very important. If you’re planning to give your guests different food options for your wedding breakfast (which is a lovely idea) you’ll need all this information from your guests, ready to give to your caterer. You’ll also need confirmed guest numbers for your On-the-Day Stationery, think table plan, place cards and individual menus. All these take time to organise, design and print (told you there was a lot left to do) so make sure you’re giving yourself enough time get it done.

What arrival time should we put on our Wedding Invitations?

A good rule of thumb is to ask your guests to arrive half an hour to 45 minutes before you’d like the ceremony to start. Remember to put this on your invitation, for example ‘please arrive by 1.30pm for a 2pm ceremony’. The last thing you want your guests to do is sit around wondering if you’re running late. You could even fill this time beforehand by asking your guests to sign your guest book, or serving a non-alcoholic drink.

Fleur Collection

Bari Collection

When to Send Thank-You Cards

Your wedding day might be over, but don’t forget your thank you cards! This is the last stationery step of your big day, so make sure you say a farewell to your local post-office!

When should I send the Wedding Invitations?

If you receive gifts prior to your wedding day, whether that’s at your engagement party (if you’re having one) at your hen-do or bridal shower, be sure to send a Thank-You Card two to three weeks afterwards, and definitely before your wedding day. For all your guests attending your wedding, post your Thank-You Cards within three months. Don’t forget to write a personal message inside for each one, reference their wedding gift or a particular memory you have of them from the day.

When Should I order Thank-You Cards?

This depends on what style of Thank-You Card you’d like to send your guests. These might include a photo of the two of you from the wedding day, in which case I’d be ordering them as soon as you receive your official photographs. They can take anywhere from two to four weeks to arrive. Or if you’ve seen a simple Thank-You Card without any custom details, you could order them two weeks before you intend to send them.

Who Should Receive a Thank-You Card?

Everyone who attended your wedding. Sending a Thank-You Card shows how much you appreciate them being there to celebrate with you.

Lily Collection

And there you have it! Plotting in each piece of stationery into your wedding timeline, including when to post, will be incredibly helpful when it comes to planning and organising your big day.

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