when to send out STDs

[chellycorn]

I am just needing some advice on when to send out my STDs.

We are planning on having our wedding next February 2011. Is sending them out a year in advance too early?? We don't have the resort booked yet but I kind of just want to give people tons of notice, and a general idea of what we are planning in order for them to save money and prepare.

What are others doing??

Thankyou !!

Chelly

[AlexsBride]

I'm in the same boat, planning a wedding in Feb. 2011 but so far have not selected dates or a resort. I still want to give people notice to save money etc. so if there are some suggestions on some quick and easy STD's and wording that would be fantastic. I was thinking of just doing a simple design on the computer, along with a picture of FI and me and printing them out on photo paper...But without a set date, can I just put "Feb/2011" and "Expect a formal invite this summer!" Thoughts, suggestions?

[Emmers]

Hi ladies and congrats to you both! Everything I had read recommended that you send them out anywhere between six months and a year in advance, but more than likely 6-8 months in advance. I think we ended up sending them out six months in advance...to the day. A year in advance is sort of pushing it because a lot of the hotels don't even have hotel pricing out until a year in advance. So you may have trouble locking in certain rates or suggesting hotel rates if they have not yet listed them for the following year. Instead, while we waited for the new pricing to come out, we started talking about it and having our families spread the word so people knew it was coming.

[Sheree10]

We sent out our STD magnets to our guests 11-12 months before the wedding. Then about 9 months before we provided them with our travel agent's info and group rates. We also created a wedding site with all of the information.

 

First you should book the resort/date and research travel rates before sending out the STD's. For now you can spread the word to your immediate family and friends.

[DWbridetobe]

We were just able to book our wedding for Nov 5, 2010. I plan on sending out our STD's at the end of February. I think that 8 months 'formal' notice is enough for our guests, and most are already aware of the wedding location. Since we were JUST able to actually book our wedding date, sending them out earlier than this was just impossible for us.

 

Formal invites will be sent out at the end of March, or as soon as I'm able to get them all put together since I'm taking the DIY route.

[Positanobride10]

I sent mine out about 10 months early because we are getting married in Europe. I am also going to send out a pre-travel package vice OOT bags due to logistic issues. That will go out in the next few weeks as we are 3 months from our wedding date.

 

So the pre-travel package will have OOT items in it like small travel sized sun screen, Tylenol, Pepto Bismol, a schedule of events, quick reference guide of the area, small Italian phrase book, pashminas for the ladies, and a picture frame for their favorite picture of their trip.

[Emmers]

I absolutely agree with Sheree that you should confirm your hotel first, since that impacts everything when it comes to your date. When we sent out our STDs, we included another sheet with the travel agent info along with sample rates from different locations for different periods of time so that people could either start booking then or get an idea of what it would cost.

[Mischaka]

wow!!! I plan on having mine in Feb 2011 also. don't have hotel and date confirm yet (still waiting for my TA to get back to me) but I will be sending mine out as soon as I confirm the date. but most of my folks already know what i'm planning. I sent out informal email and texts and called a few. I just didn't want to send out anything just in case it's a week later or even a month later.

 

So I would suggest you wait till you confirm the date and resort first. then you can stamp the date and place on there and send them out ASAP!!

[Mischaka]

wow!!! I plan on having mine in Feb 2011 also. don't have hotel and date confirm yet (still waiting for my TA to get back to me) but I will be sending mine out as soon as I confirm the date. but most of my folks already know what i'm planning. I sent out informal email and texts and called a few. I just didn't want to send out anything just in case it's a week later or even a month later.

 

So I would suggest you wait till you confirm the date and resort first. then you can stamp the date and place on there and send them out ASAP!!

[richarsd]

Hi Chellycorn,

We are getting married in March 2011 and I just put mine in the mail today! So I guess that makes it about 13-14 months in advance. Typically that's way early for a traditional wedding but I think DWs are different and typical rules go out the window. For us, we really wanted to give people as much notice as possible to "save the money" more so than "save the date".

And like you, we don't have a date or resort confirmed yet either. We've decided on Punta Cana, DR and probably the last week of March. So in our cards we just put "March 2011, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic". I also put in small lettering at the bottom "formal invitations and travel information to follow in summer 2010" so people know what to expect.

Hope that helps!