When To Send Out Invitations

loquaciouspunky · December 19, 2013

When should we send out formal invites? Our wedding is at the end of May.

awhiteside · December 19, 2013

When should we send out formal invites? Our wedding is at the end of May.

Our wedding is in the beginning of May.

We sent out our Save the Dates about a year out. We had planned to send our invites in September. But due to craziness of life, we are not sending them out till Next week. We are asking for a RSVP by mid February.

We actually have about 15 or more people book based off the save the date and our website . And I think 5 more next week.

We are actually a little glad that we are sending out them a little later. It seems 4-5 months ( well for us) is about the sweet spot of when people can figure out if they can go or not. Whether it be finances , being able to take time off , etc.

So, sending them out now kinda gives them that nudge to book since they are closer to the date or know if they can't go. Which we hope for faster RSVP's back.

I feel like if we did send them out as we had planned alot of our guests would have looked at it, put it away and kinda forget about it since they really couldn't make a decision till months later. Than we would have to reach out to them personally for their RSVP's.

For those guests who are planners and wanted to book in advance, they just went ahead and did so or reached out to us directly for travel questions.

I do know other couples send out it way more in advance though...

But for us, this seems to be working out timewise:)

brownsugarbride · December 20, 2013

My wedding is taking place at the end of April. I sent my save the dates sometime in August. Like awhiteside, I had INTENDED to send my invites out earlier, but just sent them out today (except some addresses that I don't have yet and a few family members that we'll see in person over the holidays). The deadline for booking will be February 1st. I made it a little earlier to give myself wiggle room for resort booking/catering. Unfortunately, no one has booked, including my family. I put the information down on the website, but I suppose everyone was waiting for an invite? I'm hoping that things work out for me as they have for awhiteside! LOL

KWitt · December 20, 2013

I ended up not even sending STDs and I just sent passport invites a year out. It seemed to work well, I put the wedding website in the passport and any updates I have had I just post to the website. I have 40 already booked and 12 planning to after the holidays. Good luck ladies

loquaciouspunky · December 23, 2013

Thanks for all the information. we are working on our invites now, and hopefully will send them out after the 1st of the year. I had no idea they were supposed to be sent out that much earlier!

WesnKris · December 29, 2013

It sounds that either way (waiting or doing it close to the date) can work. You just have to choose what is best for you and your guest. I wanted my guest to have some time to think about whether they will be coming by sending STDs 1 1/2 yrs (yes years LOL) before hand. This have given people to make smaller payments (including us) for the wedding. I plan to send out the formal invite along with the reception here at-home invites in October. That gives enough time for the last minute guests to book if they are coming.