When to send out your Wedding Communications
Your wedding communications is one of the most important components of the wedding planning process. Along with providing critical information about the date, time, and location of your event, the wedding invite sets the tone and theme for your big day. Below is a general wedding invitation timeline to follow if choosing to mail or e-invite your save-the-dates, wedding invitations, and thank-you cards.
Send your Save-The-Dates: 6 - 12 months out
We advise the sooner you can mail your Save-The-Dates, the better — as long as you have your venue secured with your date and you both have approved of the guest list. If you’re having a destination wedding, sending your save-the-dates ASAP will give your wedding guests more time to block off their calendars, start budgeting for the trip, and making plans for traveling before/after the wedding.
Select, order or create wedding invitations: 6 months out
Your wedding invitation will set the tone for the wedding by giving guests a glimpse of your theme and color palette. Research wedding stationers and browsing invitation styles six months before your wedding. Leave yourself plenty of time to choose a design that you love and place your order so you can avoid rush fees and allow time to look over invitation samples and proofs. Typically, your stationery suite should include:
A response card with pre-posted envelope
Details about your wedding website
Where to find travel or hotel room block information
Send wedding invitations: 8 to 12 weeks out
Wedding invitations should be mailed to your guests between eight to twelve weeks before the wedding. For destination wedding invitations, we recommend sending them 12 weeks out to give your guests plenty of time to make the necessary travel arrangements if they haven't already.
Send welcome party and rehearsal dinner invitations
If you're hosting a welcome party for your guests the night before the wedding, that information should be included with the invitation suite or posted on your wedding website eight weeks out. You can also add RSVP information, such as who to contact (we recommend listing the phone number and/or email address for a trusted relative or wedding party member), the location, and dress code if applicable.
When you mail your wedding invitations, also share final details about your rehearsal dinner for anyone invited. This will typically include everyone in your wedding party, their plus-ones, your parents, and other close family members or close friends.
Finalize Wedding Day stationery: 4 weeks out
After you’ve mailed your wedding invitations, finalize your wedding day stationery which can include:
Welcome bag/hotel room inserts
Ceremony programs - though we don’t recommend these
Escort cards or a seating chart - we recommend a singular seating chart
Place cards or Menu cards
Table numbers
Welcome signage
Bar signage
Set your RSVP deadline: 4 - 6 weeks out
On your RSVP cards set a specific “reply by” date for your guests. The RSVP date should be four to six weeks before your wedding day or 2 week before your Catering head count is due. Always leave enough time to follow up with the guest RSVP stragglers and give your wedding vendors a final headcount.
Create your wedding reception seating chart: 2 weeks out
Once you know who will be attending, you can create your wedding reception seating chart. We advise to not start this work until one to two weeks out because most of our clients experience multiple guest RSVP changes up to the day of the wedding. You will need to send your seating chart to the printers typically 14 days in advance in order to have your seating chart printed and mailed to you.
Send thank-you notes: 2 to 6 weeks post receiving a wedding gift
Thank-you notes should be mailed within two weeks of receiving any gifts or cards. Writing your thank-you notes on a rolling basis as you receive gifts will make them seem less daunting.