When To Send Wedding Invitations, Save the Dates, and RSVP

• Local Weddings (Guests Within 100 Miles): Send Save the Dates 6–8 months before the wedding. This gives local guests enough time to block the date on their calendars without making them wait too long for more details. It’s especially helpful if your wedding falls on a holiday weekend (like Labor Day or Christmas) when people often make plans months in advance.

• Destination Weddings (Guests Traveling More Than 100 Miles): For weddings that require flights, hotels, or time off work, extend this timeline to 8–12 months before the wedding. Think about it: your guests might need to save for airfare, request vacation days from their jobs, or coordinate with other family members attending. A Save the Date sent a year early takes the stress out of last-minute planning and increases the chances that your closest loved ones can attend.

• General Timeline for All Weddings: Send Wedding Invitations 6–8 weeks before the wedding. This sweet spot gives guests 3–4 weeks to confirm their attendance, which is enough time for them to check their schedules, coordinate with plus-ones, and mail back the RSVP card (or submit an online response, if you prefer).

• Destination Weddings (Again!): If you’re hosting a wedding away from home, add an extra 2 weeks—send Wedding Invitations 8–10 weeks before the wedding. This gives guests more time to finalize travel arrangements (like booking hotels or flights) and ensures they don’t feel rushed to make a decision. You can also include a separate “travel guide” with your invitations, highlighting nearby hotels, airport shuttles, and local attractions—this extra touch makes their planning easier and shows you care.

What to Include in Wedding Invitations with rsvp:

• A line for guests to write their names (e.g., “We have pleasure in accepting/declining your kind invitation for [Names]”).

• A checkbox for “accepts” or “declines” (to avoid confusion).

• A space for dietary restrictions (this is a lifesaver for planning your menu!).

• A clear RSVP deadline (usually 3–4 weeks before the wedding) and a return address (or a pre-stamped envelope—this increases the chances guests will send it back!).

• When to Follow Up: Wait 1 week after the RSVP deadline to start checking in. This gives stragglers a little extra time (life gets busy!) without delaying your own planning.

• How to Follow Up: Keep it friendly and low-pressure. A quick phone call, text, or email works best. For example: “Hi [Name]! I hope you’re doing well—just wanted to check if you had a chance to send back your RSVP for our wedding? We need to finalize our catering count soon, so let us know either way when you get a minute. Thanks so much!”

• What to Do If You Still Don’t Hear Back: If a guest doesn’t respond after your follow-up, it’s okay to assume they can’t attend. Most caterers require a final headcount 2 weeks before the wedding, so you’ll need to make a call by then. It’s better to undercount slightly than overcount (you don’t want to pay for extra meals that go uneaten!).

1. Keep You Organized: A physical or digital RSVP system lets you easily track who’s coming, who’s not, and any dietary needs—no more scrolling through text messages or Facebook comments to find details.

2. Show Respect to Guests: Sending a formal RSVP card (or offering an online alternative) lets guests know their attendance matters to you. It also gives them a clear way to decline without feeling awkward (no one wants to have to tell you they can’t make it over the phone!).

3. Help Vendors Deliver Their Best Work: Your caterer, florist, and venue need an accurate headcount to prepare. Wedding Invitations with rsvp ensure you can give them the numbers they need to create the wedding of your dreams—no last-minute scrambles or wasted resources.

• Order Extra Invitations: It’s always a good idea to order 10–15 extra Wedding Invitations with rsvp in case you need to invite last-minute guests (like a distant relative who just found out about the wedding) or if some get lost in the mail.

• Send Invitations in Batches (If Needed): If you have a large guest list, send invitations in two batches (a week apart) to make tracking responses easier. This way, you won’t be overwhelmed with RSVP cards all at once.

• Keep a Master List: Create a spreadsheet or use a wedding planning app to track every guest’s RSVP status. Include columns for their name, plus-one status, dietary restrictions, and whether they’ve responded. This will be your go-to resource when finalizing plans with vendors.