So you’re planning a wedding and you have guests to invite. It’s time to think of how you will get the word out to alert people of your approaching nuptials. There have been an array of what we would consider “informal” ways created to invite guests to weddings. But there is nothing that has stood the test of time quite like the old tried and true method of alerting anticipated wedding guests by mail. Mailing a beautifully designed handheld invitation drives a sense of excitement to those you are inviting. Not only that, it gives them a glimpse of what to expect for this grand celebration. In today’s post, we want to share how to properly get the word out to the people you want to be present on your wedding day. So let’s discuss when you should mail your wedding invitations.
But first, save the date…
Save the dates are used when you want to be sure people know in advance about your wedding date. This type of stationery is not mandatory, but it is helpful. It is best to not send save the dates to people you aren’t planning to invite to your wedding. Be sure your guests list is final before sending them out. Generally, these are sent to guests one year to eight months before your wedding. The idea is to send them far enough in advance for guests to their attendance. However, don’t send them too close to the time of you sending out your actual wedding invitations. If you have a highly popular wedding date, if it is around a holiday, or if you plan to invite a large number of out-of-town guests, you want to send save the dates. We also aren’t against you sending them to guests if you just think they are a cute idea. This is a judgement free zone for all things wedding related and pretty.
Now, your invitations…
Your wedding invitations would generally be mailed two months before your wedding. Regardless of the day of the week you decide to get married, or whether or not you plan to invite children, plans have to be made for attendance. Your guests are excited about your big day. Giving them time to shop to look the part, or to even shop for the perfect gift for you would be great. Also, if you plan to have your guests RSVP by a certain deadline, then you will need to give yourself time to get the final head count to the vendors who need to know.
And, out-of-town is different
If you have a nice amount of out-of-town guests, you will want to alert them of your wedding date pretty far in advance. Travel plans have never been super easy. If you don’t send save the dates, you may want to consider sending invitations to those guests at an earlier time. You don’t want to send it too early. However, you do want to give them time to make travel arrangements. They have to make hotel reservations, transportation plans for traveling in the city, and let’s not even bring up child care and time off from work. You want to be considerate of their time and what they will have to go through to make it to your wedding. Three months would be ideal for notifying them of your wish for their attendance, but nothing less than that.
At the end of the day, we are fans of save the dates to give advance notice to those you plan to invite to your wedding. We suggest your wedding guests who have to make travel plans receive invitation at the very least three months before the wedding. Last, sending invitations to in-town guests two months before the wedding is more beneficial to you than it is to them. Nothing will make your wedding vendors happier than receiving your final guests count on or before the deadline they requested.
We hope we have shared some things that will help you in your wedding planning journey.
Until next time…
be sweet & happy planning!
~Tish
(photo credit: Simone Elise Events and AL Photography)
Premier Wedding Planning and Event Studio Owned by Husband and Wife Planner and Event Designer Team Darius and Tish Clay. Simone Elise Events offers Wedding Day Event Management Services, Full Service Wedding Planning Services, and Wedding and Event Design Services for all your Wedding, Social, and Corporate Events. Simone Elise Events caters to Weddings and Events in Memphis Tennessee and surrounding Tennessee areas.
For more about us, visit: simoneeliseevents.com/about-us
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