How soon should wedding invitations be sent out?

Wedding invitations are one of the first items on the to-do list for couples planning their nuptials. With so much to plan and so little time, it can be difficult to decide exactly when these invitations should be sent out. Understandably, couples want to give their guests enough time to plan ahead but also do not want to wait too long and risk being forgotten. To ensure your guests are appropriately notified of your special day, ideal guidelines suggest wedding invitations be mailed out six to eight weeks before the wedding date.

For destination weddings, sending wedding invitations earlier is recommended in order for guests enough time to make necessary travel plans. About eight to twelve weeks in advance should allow for more than enough time for travel arrangements and accommodation purposes if needed. As a guideline, consider sending out save-the-dates four months prior if sending out engagement announcements is also part of your tradition as this will give your guests ample time in advanced preparation.

Before sending any invites out though, there are a few important details that need to be taken care of. Many couples make the mistake of ordering their wedding invitations before confirming other forms of key components such as caterers and photographers with resulted in lack of availability or budgeting limitations due to last minute adjustments needs. Therefore, it is constantly suggested that these core vendors such as venues and caterers should be selected and secured before sending out those save-the-date cards or even welcome mailers - the earlier you start thinking about them the better off you'll be when it's time for RSVPs go back into your mailbox!

In addition, mailing etiquette must also be kept in mind when sending out wedding invites as this we must remember that there is a certain level of respect owed not only yourself but also your invited guests. Invitations should include essential information such as names of both partners getting married; hosts hosting (if applicable); ceremony & reception locations; hair & makeup appointments; any pre or post wedding events; reception attire preference; registry information; any required accommodations (if applicable) etc... This way your nearest and dearest can adequately covered all aspects leading up to your special day - this will essentially put you one step closer towards receiving those positive RSVPs!