Knowing when is too early, or too late to send invitations is key to a successful wedding timeline.
In the main, wedding planning should be all about personal taste, self-expression, and the freedom to do things the way you want. There are no rules, essentially. It’s up to you how your cake looks. Big, small, or non-existent. Flowers can be any type, colour, or arrangement you feel suits your day. However, when it comes to wedding planning, there are a couple of tasks that cannot be so free-flowing, and actually have to be carefully choreographed. The timing of when to send wedding invitations is the perfect example.
Gauging when is the optimum time to post, or send digital wedding invitations is actually more critical than you may have first thought.
Your big day is a big event, and your loved ones will be so excited to be invited. But, if you request their attendance too far in advance, there’s a good chance the date might slip their mind. Or their enthusiasm for the event may not be as great as it could’ve been if you’d sent the invite later. Send invitations too late however, and your friends and family may well be booked up with holidays, work and potentially other weddings!
As you can see, when it comes to guests receiving wedding invitations, there is certainly a sweet spot.
When to Send Wedding Invitations
In this quick guide, we’ll share exactly when you should send out invitations, and hopefully help you nail this important part of the wedding planning timeline.
When Should You Send Save the Dates?
Before we look at when to send wedding invitations, it’s important to consider save the dates. As this little teaser invite also requires some thoughtful timing to ensure guests are on track with your plans.
Once you’ve secured a wedding venue and agreed on a date, you’re both going to be quite excited/nervous – this is the perfect time to send save the dates. Whether they’re physical, or digital, it’s nice for loved ones to share in your joy at this really exhilarating time.
During the early stages of wedding planning, if you’ve already decided on a theme (no problem if you haven’t). It’s fun to give loved ones a little taster of what they can expect on the day, by incorporating your themes’ colours and styles into the save the date design. It’s not essential to replicate your official invites, or the big day itself, but it helps to build excitement.
If you’re getting married during peak wedding season, it’s wise to send out save the dates as soon as possible, to try to get your date in guests’ diaries before anyone else’s. Between 8–12 months before the big day is a good time to send save the dates. As it should allow guests enough time to prepare.
Who Should Receive a Save the Date?
Traditionally, for medium to large weddings, there will be guests who are invited to the whole day. The ceremony, wedding breakfast and the evening reception. But there will also be guests who are only invited to the evening event. Colleagues, not so close friends and family members you have less of a connection with. This second group does not need to be sent a save the date.
By sending a save the date to evening guests, it will imply they’re invited to the entire day. Save yourself the awkward confusion, and formally invite them when you send out the main wedding invitations.
When to Send Wedding Invitations?
When it comes to sending out those all-important save the date cards and wedding invitations, timing is key. If you’re sending out save the dates, give yourself ample time, typically around 12 months before your big day, to ensure your guests have plenty of notice. Don’t push it any later than this, as you’ll want to provide your loved ones with a comfortable window of 4-9 months to request time off work and make necessary travel arrangements.
For those not opting for save the date cards, your timeline should be even further in advance. Plan to send your wedding invitations between 8-12 months before the wedding date. And if you have guests living overseas, the sooner you inform them, the better. It’s a considerate gesture to give them a heads-up as soon as possible.
Remember, the average wedding planning process typically spans 8-12 months, so once you’ve secured your venue, it’s time to get those save the date cards in the mail. As your big day draws nearer, usually around the 9-6 months mark, it’s time to send out those formal wedding invitations. Your guests will appreciate the thought and consideration you’ve put into ensuring they can be part of your special day.
We hope we have inspired your wedding planning, and helped you best understand when is the right time to send out invitations! It would be a pleasure to guide you further, and introduce you to our lovely wedding venue in Co Kildare. The Abbey is only an hour away from Dublin, and has an 18th century chapel on-site, a stunning ballroom, multiple events spaces and 38 contemporary style rooms.You are welcome to have a browse of our wedding venue online, and if you like what you see, please get in touch via our contact page to book a viewing. And while you wait for your visit, you can find out more about us via our online brochure.