When to Send Wedding Invitations and Save the Dates
When to send save the dates and wedding invitations, when RSVPs are due and when to order, with exact dates for a June wedding and reminders that work.
By the VowBirds team6 min read
The short answer: send save the dates 6 to 8 months before the wedding, mail invitations 6 to 8 weeks before, and make RSVPs due 3 to 4 weeks before. Destination and holiday weddings move everything earlier.
That’s the rule of thumb most etiquette guides agree on. Below is the full timeline, how to count back from your own date, and what to do when you’re short on time.
The quick timeline
| What | When (before the wedding) | Destination or holiday weekend |
|---|---|---|
| Save the dates | 6 to 8 months | 8 to 12 months |
| Order invitations | 12 to 14 weeks | 4 to 5 months |
| Mail invitations | 6 to 8 weeks | 10 to 12 weeks |
| RSVP deadline | 3 to 4 weeks | At least 4 weeks |
| Remind guests who haven’t replied | About 1 week before the RSVP deadline | Same |
| Final head count to your caterer | Whatever your contract says, often 1 to 2 weeks | Same |
When to send save the dates
Send save the dates 6 to 8 months before the wedding. That gives guests time to book time off and travel, while your plans are already firm. The Knot puts the standard window at six to eight months; Zola suggests four to six months for a local wedding.
- Destination wedding or holiday weekend: 8 to 12 months ahead, so guests can save up and book flights and hotels early.
- No earlier than about a year. Plans change, and guests forget.
- Less than 4 months to go? Skip save the dates and send the invitation instead.
A save the date only needs your names, the date, the city and “invitation to follow.” Add your wedding website address so guests can find hotel blocks and travel details as soon as they’re ready. If you haven’t built one yet, here’s what to put on your wedding website.
Digital save the dates
Digital save the dates are free, arrive instantly and can’t get lost in the mail, which makes them popular for large guest lists and short engagements. Plenty of couples send digital save the dates and printed invitations, or the other way around. You can design save the dates in Invite Studio and download them to print or share.
When to send wedding invitations
Mail wedding invitations 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding. Send paper invitations with a reply card closer to 8 weeks out, because guests mail their answer back; invitations with online RSVP can go closer to 6 weeks.
How far in advance to send wedding invitations for a destination wedding
Send them 10 to 12 weeks ahead, about 3 months. If guests are coming from overseas, aim for 9 to 10 weeks at the very least, and earlier if they need visas or long flights.
Holiday weekends
For a wedding on or near a holiday weekend, mail invitations 8 weeks to 3 months ahead. Guests’ calendars and flights fill up faster.
When to order invitations
Order invitations 12 to 14 weeks before the wedding, so they’re printed, addressed and ready to mail about 10 weeks out. Leave extra time for custom printing, calligraphy or letterpress.
When to mail wedding invitations: count back from your date
Here’s a real example for a wedding on Saturday, June 12, 2027:
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| Send save the dates | October 12 to December 12, 2026 |
| Order invitations | By March 6, 2027 |
| Mail invitations | April 17 to May 1, 2027 |
| RSVP deadline | May 15 to May 22, 2027 |
| Remind anyone who hasn’t replied | About a week before your deadline |
To do it for your own date, count back 8 months for save the dates, 8 weeks for invitations and 4 weeks for the RSVP deadline. If you’re getting married next summer, your save the dates go out this season.
Mailing tips
- Weigh one complete invitation at the post office before you buy stamps. Inserts, thick card stock and vellum add up quickly.
- Square envelopes cost extra. The US Postal Service treats square envelopes, and rigid or lumpy ones (wax seals, for example), as nonmachinable, which adds a surcharge to each one.
- Ask for hand canceling if you don’t want postmarks smudging your design.
- Order a few extra invitations for last-minute guests, addressing mistakes and keepsakes.
RSVP deadline for a wedding
Make RSVPs due 3 to 4 weeks before the wedding. You need that time to chase late replies, give your caterer and venue a final head count, and make the seating chart. Check your catering contract first: if the final number is due earlier than usual, move your RSVP deadline earlier too.
Following up: send a friendly reminder about a week before the deadline. After it passes, give it a few days, then contact anyone still missing directly. Most late replies come from guests who simply forgot.
Kindly reply by the fifteenth of May
With VowBirds, each household gets an email invitation with its own RSVP link, replies land in your guest list with meal choices attached, and you can send a reminder to just the households that haven’t answered.
Save the date vs. wedding invitation
| Save the date | Wedding invitation | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | “Keep this day free” | The formal invitation, with everything guests need |
| When | 6 to 8 months before | 6 to 8 weeks before |
| Includes | Names, date, city, website | Ceremony time and place, reception, dress code, RSVP details |
| Optional? | Yes, especially for short engagements | No |
Short on time?
If the wedding is less than 4 months away, skip save the dates. Send invitations as soon as your venue and time are confirmed, and use online RSVP so replies come back faster. Emailed invitations arrive the same day, so you lose nothing to printing and mail time. Here’s how digital wedding invitations work on VowBirds.
For everything else, see the wedding planning timeline and the full wedding planning checklist.
Frequently asked questions
When should wedding invitations be mailed?
6 to 8 weeks before the wedding, or 10 to 12 weeks before for a destination wedding. Order them 12 to 14 weeks ahead so they’re ready on time.
When do you send save the dates?
6 to 8 months before the wedding, or 8 to 12 months for a destination or holiday-weekend wedding. Don’t send them more than about a year ahead, and skip them if the wedding is less than 4 months away.
When should the RSVP deadline be for a wedding?
3 to 4 weeks before the wedding, or earlier if your caterer needs the final head count sooner.
Is 3 months too early to send wedding invitations?
For a local wedding it’s earlier than usual, and guests may forget to reply. For a destination wedding or a holiday weekend, about 3 months is right.
Do you need save the dates?
No. They’re most useful for destination weddings, holiday weekends and long engagements. If the wedding is less than 4 months away, send invitations instead.
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