Invitation Do’s And Don’ts: When To Mail Invitations
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When should you mail your invitations?
That depends.
Traditionally, it is advised to send out invitations eight weeks before your event.
We can hear you screaming “Eight weeks!”
We’ve found while this is a good idea with formal events and weddings…
It is just not possible with most every-day events.
Our customers tell us that they didn’t even think about having a party until 2-4 weeks before their event.
Obviously, the sooner you can notify your guests, the better, but don’t let this stress you out or prevent you from getting killer invitations at the last minute.
Anything goes and much is possible these days.
If you know you’re having a party for an event that is several months away, consider sending Save the Date Cards.
This is simply a notice to your guest list that you are planning an event for that date and to mark their calendars so they’ll be ready when the details follow by invitation closer to the party date when the details have been finalized.
Save the Date cards are almost a necessity for events taking place on
- holiday weekends
- events that will require out of state travel for guests
- a wedding to ensure vacations are not scheduled for the same time
- events like graduation parties where there will be a ton of parties in a short amount of time and your child will be attending several of them.
When Do You Send Out Wedding Invitations If Youre Hosting A Hometown Wedding
With hometown weddings, you can be a bit more flexible when it comes to when to send wedding invitations. Usually about six to eight weeks before the event is a sufficient amount of time, if a majority of your guests arent traveling a long distance to your event. Youll want to set your RSVP deadline for about two to three before your big day, to ensure you have enough time to plan your seating chart, create escort cards, and to give your caterer and venue a final headcount.
How To Address Save The Date Cards
A save the date card should go to every guest invited to your wedding, including members of your wedding party and family members. Using the same etiquette rules for how to address wedding invitations, weve provided the following guidelines for how to address your save the date cards with your guests in mind:
To a single guest, use the appropriate titles, Mr., Mrs. or Ms.
Mrs. Jones
San Francisco, CA 14002
Save the Date with a plus one, use the title Mr. or Ms. with the last name of the primary guest and write and guest.
Mr. Jones and Guest
San Francisco, CA 14002
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Wedding Rsvp Deadline Etiquette
Set your RSVP due date for 3-4 weeks prior to the wedding day. This has a few key benefits:
- Setting your RSVP deadline 3-4 weeks from the big day gives you the chance to follow up with anyone who hasnt responded in time.
- You are able to finalize your seating chart when you set the RSVP deadline a few weeks before the wedding day, rather than waiting until the last minute.
- Securing all RSVPs at the deadline allows you to share that information with your caterers, so they can begin to prep for the wedding day.
You want to set your RSVP deadline to be at least a couple weeks in advance of when you actually need that information from your guests. There will inevitably be wedding guests who do not send their RSVPs back in time, and this gives you the time you need to follow up with them after sending the wedding invitations.
Green Wedding Shoes Pro Tip: Make it easy for your guests to complete and send back your RSVP card before the deadline dont forget a stamp and a response envelope when you send your wedding invitations!
When To Send Out Your Wedding Invitations
When to send out your invitations will vary depending on your personal circumstances, as each couples wedding is unique.
Here you have some questions that you should ask yourself beforehand, these will help you choose the right moment to send out your save the dates and your invites, as there is no exact formula.
Is my wedding local or do I have out of town or international guests?
If your wedding is local:
Its reasonable to send out your save the date 4 to 6 months before your wedding. This will give your guests enough time to plan ahead, and have your date in mind when any other plans appear. You can send out your wedding invitations 2 to 4 months beforehand, and do not forget to add a deadline for your RSVPs. Try to give yourself time and set it at 6 weeks before your wedding if you can so that you can chase those who have not yet answered and identify those who have lost the invitation under a pile of mail. This will let you handle your numbers at your own pace and send the venue your final numbers in advance.
If you have international guests:
You have to think of your guest’s logistics, and help them save money. Send out your save the dates well in advance, 7 to 9 months so that your guests can book their flights and days off work if necessary.
Send your wedding invites out 3 to 4 months beforehand.
Is my wedding overseas?
Send your wedding invites out 3 to 4 months beforehand.
Is my wedding during summer holidays?
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Formal Or Casual: What To Include
First, decide what will be written on your invitation and how it should be worded. You and your fiancé may feel that since committing to one another is a very significant event, you would prefer to use formal phrasing on your wedding invitations.
This formal phrasing can work for any style of wedding. Its particularly appropriate if you will be having a more traditional wedding with a religious ceremony, followed by formal reception. It can give your guests a heads up to the fact that your event will be classy and elegant.
However, if you and your fiancé are hosting a more casual event, the phrasing on your wedding invitations can likewise be more casual.
Regardless of how formal or casual the phrasing on your wedding invitation is, there are some basics that always must be included: who, when, and where. This means the invitation should give the full names of the couple, and the full names of the hosts if youre using formal phrasing. It should clearly list the time, date, month and year of the wedding. Dont forget the full address of where it is being held! If you are requesting an RSVP, this should be written on the lower left corner of the invitation.
When To Send Wedding Invitations With No Save
If you choose not to send save-the-dates, feel free to send your wedding invitations out a bit earlier than if you had. In the 8 to 16 week range, you may want to lean more towards 16 weeks before the wedding for invitations if you did not send guests a save- the-date. This way, guests have a little more warning and more time to plan.
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When To Order Save The Dates: 6 To 12 Months Before The Wedding
So when should save the date cards be sent? And how does a destination wedding affect the timeline? In general, order, design, and send out save the date cards at least 6 to 12 months in advance of your wedding date. If you miss the 6 to 12 month period, try sending and ordering your save the date cards as soon as possible.
Why so much time? Giving your guests a year or more to plan will generate excitement and ensure a smooth guest experience, especially for out-of-towners.
What Should You Include In A Destination Wedding Invitation
There’s a lot more to plan for everyone with a destination wedding and that usually means there’ll be more information with your invitation than there traditionally is. If you haven’t already done so in your save the dates, information on how to reach your destination and where to stay is, obviously, rather important.
Further to that, you might want to add tips for places to visit and eat in the area for those moments when there is no official wedding activity taking place. And any information on what the weather may be like at the time of year is helpful for your guests to plan what to wear on your big day. This can all be on a separate information card that you send with your invitation. If you’re having various different events around the wedding, such as dinner the evening before, or lunch the following day, then you’ll want them all listed on your RSVP card so that guests can tick off which ones they’ll be attending.
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When To Send Out Wedding Save The Dates
Short Answer: 4-6 Months from Wedding Date
The general rule of wedding etiquette states that your save the dates should be sent to your guests list around four to six months before your wedding dateenough time to catch them before theyve made other plans and allow them to block off the date on their calendars. Allowing a few months of advance planning is also considerate for guests who need to book travel or accommodations. However if your wedding falls on a holiday weekend or will take place in a far-off destination wedding venue, sending your save the dates even earlier, like 6 to 12 months before your wedding date, is highly advisable.
When To Send Wedding Invitations: How Early Is Too Early
When youre planning a wedding, timing is an important consideration. Its hard to know when to book vendors, when to throw engagement parties and bridal showers, and how early to send out your wedding invitations.
Once youve booked your venue and set a date for your wedding, you may be wondering, how soon is too soon to send out the invitations? You dont want to wait too long and have guests unable to attend due to prior commitments, but is there a rule for how far in advance you can send out the invites?
Well break down wedding invitation etiquette and common practices for timing your wedding invitations.
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Sending Electronic Save The Dates
One of the main reasons to send digital save the dates is convenience. Traditional save-the-date cards require ordering, proofing, printing, waiting for delivery, addressing, applying postage, and physical mailing, all of which can take weeks.
Since most online stationery sites are so easy to navigate, you can select and pay for your design within an hour flat, all with a few clicks.
Burning Wedding Invitation Etiquette Questions Answered
So you and your partner have decided to get the ball rolling on your wedding plans. Youve visited reception venues, found one you like, and you booked it. Then you spent hours agonizing over your guest list. Now its time to get those invitations in the mail! As youre picking out different stationery elements and trying to figure out when to send them out, you may have a few questions. Dont worry, were here to help. We went to wedding planner Crystal Adair-Benning of Distinct Occasions with all of your most burning wedding invitation etiquette questions. These five tips will help you to ensure that everyone you know and love will show up for your special day.
1. When do I send my save-the-dates and what should I include on them?Save-the-dates are especially important for destination weddings or if you have many out-of-town guests. You should generally send out your save-the-dates nine to 12 months before your wedding, but for destination weddings, or if you have a lot of guests who are coming from out of town, you want to send your save-the-dates closer to 12 months in advance. If the people youre inviting will need to request time off for work, you want to give them ample time to do that, Adair-Benning explains.
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When To Send Out Invitations
When should the invitations be sent if you havent sent save the dates? It depends in part on whether you have given people an informal heads up i.e. telling them in person, via phone or email or through social media. Of course, even if you have informally let people know, the arrival of the formal invitation is when most people will make their plans, book their leave, and buy a dress/suit. Its only fair to your loved ones to give them plenty of notice. So if youre deciding when to mail out your invitations, think about how much time you would need to get ready if you were a guest. Then add a little time some people will likely need even longer than you would!
So when do you send invitations out if there was no save the date? Ultimately it depends on your situation, but we recommend six weeks as a minimum. A few months before your big day is ideal. If people will need longer than that to prepare, we highly recommend you consider a save the date as well, or that you take the time to let them all know the details informally ahead of time.
Creating The Wedding Invites
At Peppermint Press, its all about you. Whether you pick a style from one of our 8 collections, or decide to create a bespoke design, what you see on our website is inspiration for almost anything you want to create.
After we receive your order, we will personally be in touch with you for your design consultation. Unlike other websites where your order ends at checkout and you get what you get, we will work with you to personalise your wedding stationery exactly how you like. Depending on how your invites are printed, the process can take 10 to 15 days. Allow a few extra days to ship to you depending on where youre located in Australia and more if located internationally we can provide a shipping estimate at any time before purchase or during your design consultation.
Whether you work with us, design your own wedding stationery or go to another source, make sure to account for enough time to design, print and receive all your stationery. Proofreading is also essential as some companies dont allow for revisions or re-prints.
Soleil White on Black RSVP paired with White Envelope
We also offer envelope and return addressing to save you time on hand printing or writing each envelope or return card yourself. Be sure to check if this detail is included in your order elsewhere, or if you are doing it yourself, give yourself extra time and extra stationery as backup for any errors.
Do you have any wedding invitation or save the date questions? Let us know in the comments.
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