Friends! It’s the start of the new year…. YOUR WEDDING YEAR! AHHH! You are searching all over Pinterest, the knot, and so many other wedding websites and you see so many different things when it comes to sending out save the dates and invitations to your guests.
Since being in the wedding industry for a few years now, here is what I recommend when it comes to the timeline of your beautiful paper products!
SAVE THE DATES
- If you are planning a destination wedding it is recommended that you send out your Save The Dates 8-12 months before your wedding day.
- If you are planning a local wedding it is recommended that you send out your save the dates 6-8 Months before your wedding day.
Sending out Save the Dates are not a requirement in the wedding planning process, however, they are a great way to let guests decide to turn your wedding into a mini getaway. All save the dates sent out help to give your guests a friendly heads up that something special is happening this year and you want them there.
INVITATIONS
- Destination weddings should be sent out with plenty enough time so that your guests can make their travel plans. It is recommended that you send them out 3-4 months in advance. Proper travel and hotel accommodations will be needed.
- For a local wedding. sending them out too early is such a thing. It is recommended they be sent out 4-8 Weeks before your wedding day so that their anticipation to attend your wedding lines up with your wedding day.
RSVP DEADLINE
- Destination Weddings usually are about 3-5 weeks before to have the final count handed in
- Local weddings can be about 2-3 weeks depending on when your venue needs to know.
Your RSVP Deadline will depend on how much time is needed for your vendors to gather the information to put into play. The first one is to consider your meal count that the vendor will need. I advise you to check with your vendors to see when they would need a head count and have the RSVP date on the return card be what they recommend.
THANK YOU CARDS
Thank you cards should be send out immediately following your wedding day. Enjoy the honey moon and then get to work on creating your thank you cards.
Believe it or not, you will most likely begin to get gifts before you even walk down the aisle! Friends and family who can not attend your wedding may send you something in advance. You can send their thank you’s right away to minimize your workload after the wedding day.
Once you are home and settled in from your honeymoon. you can start preparing these. I recommend that you send them out no later than 4 weeks from your wedding day.
