Nimanto

Guide

When to send wedding invitations

By Nimanto · · 5 min read

The short answer

Send wedding invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding, and save the dates six to eight months before, or eight to twelve months for a destination wedding. Set the RSVP deadline three to four weeks before the day, so you have time to chase late replies and give the caterer final numbers.

When should you send wedding invitations?

Six to eight weeks before the wedding is the standard. It is close enough that guests remember, and early enough to plan travel and time off. Send them about three months ahead if many guests are travelling, if the wedding falls on a holiday weekend, or if you skipped save the dates.

  • Local wedding, most guests nearby: six to eight weeks.
  • Many guests flying in: ten to twelve weeks.
  • Destination wedding: about three months, after save the dates.
  • Everyone gets their invitation at the same time. Sending in waves risks guests comparing notes.

When should save the dates go out?

Send save the dates six to eight months before the wedding, or eight to twelve months before for a destination wedding or one that falls in a busy season. A save the date only needs your names, the date and the city. Send one only to people you are certain to invite.

Save the date. Aisha and Omar are getting married on Saturday, June 12, 2027 in Chicago. Invitation to follow.

  • Anyone who gets a save the date must get an invitation, so finalise that part of the list first.
  • If you are not having a save the date, send the invitation a little earlier instead.

When should the RSVP deadline be?

Set the reply date three to four weeks before the wedding. Most caterers and venues want a final headcount one to two weeks before the day, and you need the days in between to follow up with guests who have not answered and to finish the seating plan. Check your contracts and work back from them.

Kindly reply by Saturday, May 15, 2027.

  • Write the full date, with the day of the week, so there is no doubt.
  • More on wording the reply line is in the guide to RSVPs and deadlines.

Destination weddings and guests travelling from abroad

Guests need much longer to plan a trip than to clear an evening. For a destination wedding, send save the dates eight to twelve months ahead and the invitation about three months ahead, with hotel and travel details ready. Guests who need a visa may need a formal invitation letter months in advance.

  • Share hotel blocks early, before the rooms you are holding are released.
  • Give the time and date in the wedding’s own time zone, and name the city.
  • Set the RSVP date a little earlier, six to eight weeks before, so guests book once they have replied.

Nimanto invitations can carry a page of hotels, each with its address, price and a way to book: see where to stay.

Timing for multi-day weddings

For a wedding over several days, send every invitation at the same time, using the timeline for the main event. List each function with its own date, time and venue, so guests can book the right nights. If some guests are invited only to some functions, make that clear in what each guest receives.

  • A welcome dinner, ceremony and farewell brunch can share one invitation with a schedule.
  • Ask guests which days they will attend, not just yes or no.
  • On Nimanto, each function sits on the schedule with its own time, and guests choose which days they will join: see the schedule.

When should you send reminders?

Send one friendly reminder about a week before the RSVP deadline to guests who have not replied, and a short note with the key details a day or two before the wedding. Anyone still silent after the deadline deserves a personal call or message rather than another general reminder.

Just a gentle reminder to let us know by May 15 if you can join us. We’d love to see you there.

Tomorrow is the day. The ceremony starts at 4 pm sharp at Willow Farm; parking is behind the barn.

A simple wedding invitation timeline

  • 12 months before: draft the guest list; for a destination wedding, send save the dates.
  • 6 to 8 months before: send save the dates.
  • 4 months before: finish the wording and the details pages.
  • 3 months before: send invitations for a destination wedding.
  • 6 to 8 weeks before: send invitations.
  • 4 to 5 weeks before: remind guests who have not replied.
  • 3 to 4 weeks before: RSVP deadline.
  • 2 to 3 weeks before: follow up personally, then give final numbers to the caterer.
  • 1 to 2 days before: send a short note with times, parking and anything that changed.

Questions people ask

How far in advance do you send wedding invitations?

Send them six to eight weeks before the wedding. Allow about three months for a destination wedding, a holiday weekend or a guest list with many people travelling. Save the dates go out earlier, six to eight months before, and eight to twelve months before for weddings that need travel.

Is 4 weeks too late to send wedding invitations?

Four weeks is late but workable for a small local wedding, especially if guests already had a save the date. Set the reply date about two weeks out, call close family directly, and expect some guests to have other plans. For a wedding that needs travel, four weeks is too short.

Can you send wedding invitations too early?

Yes. Invitations sent more than about three months ahead tend to be put aside and forgotten, and plans change in the meantime. If you need to give guests early notice, send a save the date first, then the full invitation six to eight weeks before the day.

Do you still send an invitation after a save the date?

Yes. A save the date only asks guests to keep the day free. The invitation follows with the time, the venue, the schedule and how to reply. Everyone who received a save the date should receive an invitation, so only send save the dates to guests you are certain to invite.