Dear The Bridal Guru,
I am hearing all kinds of dates and timelines for sending out my wedding invitations and save the dates? What is the correct timeline?
Confused Bride
Dear Confused Bride,
You have a right to be confused because it can be confusing depending on where you are getting married. The location of your wedding determines the timeline for mailing Save the Date cards or announcements and your wedding invitations. The rule of thumb is this:
Local Wedding:
- Save the Date – 6 months before the wedding
- Wedding Invitations – 4-6 weeks prior to the wedding
Destination Wedding, especially International:
- Save the Date – 1 year before the wedding. You want to allow enough time for guests to get transportation and other arrangements made in order to attend your wedding.
- Wedding Invitation – 6-8 weeks before the wedding. Be courteous of your guests.
Keep in mind that with your Save the Date, you need to include pertinent information like:
- Date and location of your wedding. Include the time too.
- Accommodations and a code if there is a special rate
- Your contact information
- Do you have a couple’s website that gives more information and can keep guests updated.
Make your Save the Date fun and festive as this is something that guests will hold on to for a while.
With your invitations, allow enough time to order and get them addressed. For example:
- Invitations mailed two months before the wedding
- Addressing of invitations will take 4 – 6 weeks plus depending on the number and if you are using a calligrapher.
- Ordering the invitations may take another 4 – 6 weeks.
- And how long will it take you to decide.
- Consider if you are getting your invitations professionally designed and printed, that may take even longer.
All this to say, no less than six months prior to your wedding, and I recommend eight months, you need to be shopping and ordering your wedding invitations. Remember, you must allow time for the post office to deliver, allow time for the rsvp cards to come back to you, and allow enough time for Murphy’s Law. If you do this, it will lessen your stress level tremendously.
So Confused Bride, I hope I have helped you with your timeline for your Invites and your Save the Dates.
The Bridal Guru
If you are confused about something or have a question about your wedding, email The Bridal Guru at ask@msbridalguru.com. Check out The Bridal Guru every Wednesday for answers to your wedding questions.