Save the dates plus invitations when to send out

deedeelala · September 27, 2013

Hello everyone

Hoping you can give me some advice. I am getting married November 27, 2014 in the Mayan Riviera. When I first got engaged in May this year I thought I had so much time to plan everything and I wouldn't be stressed out. Not the case at all haha I started working on my save the dates and made them in that boarding pass style except they had more than one "boarding pass" each (I am having a separate religious wedding on a different date but I included that info on the save the date as well) The boarding passes included the dates, resort, a magnet with the dates and a little note from us. I also started shopping around for travel agents and getting group quotes, I was able to find a good deal but the TA told me the deposit of $200 CAD from all the guests is due December 3rd this year. I told her I hadn't even finished handing out my save the dates just yet and tried to see if I could push the deposit deadline a bit longer because I was hoping to give everyone more time, unfortunately the TA said this wasn't possible because we would lose that price and risk the new price being more expensive.

So I have been delivering all my save the dates and got most of them handed out, but now I do not know what to do about my formal invitations. Should I deliver them to people before the deposit deadline or is it okay to do it after? I was planning on putting them inside a glass bottle so it can be a message in the bottle invitation so they do require a bit of work but I think I could have them ready by beginning of November.

I am just worried that it might be too soon to deliver them considering a lot of people only got their save the dates a few days ago, but at the same time is there any point in delivering them after the deposit deadline?

FYI the save the dates have our TA agent info and booking info on them.

Please let me know what you guys think.

Thanks soooo much!!!!

Tbasgall · September 30, 2013

I think over a year out is WAY too early. I mailed our STDs 10 months out and our formal invitations 6 months out. You should look into getting a different TA.

deedeelala · September 30, 2013

The reason I did it so far ahead is because a lot of our friends are students and would appreciate the extra time to save up for the trip. Also this TA offers monthly payment plans for everyone which would be really helpful to some of our guests.

My main question is when to send the formal invites now.....

shopnboard · September 30, 2013

I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to when to send invites, especially because it's a destination wedding. You know your guests best, and when you think it's appropriate should be fine. I've read on this forum that many ladies do send them early to give their guests enough time to book their rooms and travel arrangements. It did make me feel better because I wanted to send them out early too! I ended up paying the deposit for my room block, but I will get that back once the rooms have been filled, the reason is because the deposit was due 30 days after signing the contract and I didn't want to put that kind of pressure on my guests. I know the rooms will be filled so I'm not too worried. You still have plenty of time until December. What I did do recently was send an email to all the guests to ask them to pay the deposit if they know they're definitely going. I think people don't realize that only the deposit is due right now and they think they have to pay the total amount. That definitely help because I had people booking and asking questions. Hope that helps!