When to send wedding invitations
Send invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding, and ten to twelve weeks for a destination wedding. Enter your date for every stationery deadline.
Type of wedding
Holiday weekends and peak summer dates get save the dates earlier because guests book travel sooner.
Pick your wedding date to see the timeline.
Drag to see why the dates work backwards
Every deadline is counted back from the day your caterer needs a final number, not from the wedding itself. Slide the caterer's deadline and watch the RSVP date and mailing date follow.
Final numbers 14 days out → RSVP date 21 days out (a week to chase stragglers) → invitations mailed 56 days out (about four weeks for guests to answer, plus postage).
The standard wedding stationery timeline
| What | Local wedding | Destination wedding |
|---|---|---|
| Save the dates | 6–8 months before | 8–12 months before |
| Order or make invitations | 4 months before | 5–6 months before |
| Mail invitations | 6–8 weeks before | 10–12 weeks before |
| RSVP deadline | 3–4 weeks before | 4–6 weeks before |
| Final numbers to caterer | 1–2 weeks before | 2–3 weeks before |
| Thank-you notes | Within three months of the wedding | |
Mailing invitations too early (more than three months ahead for a local wedding) makes them easy to forget; too late, and guests have made other plans. Weigh one complete invitation at the post office before buying stamps: thick card, wax seals and square envelopes often need extra postage.
Ready to make them? Start with the wedding invitation templates or the save the date maker.
Questions people ask
When should wedding invitations be sent out?
Six to eight weeks before the wedding for a local wedding, and ten to twelve weeks before for a destination wedding or when many guests must travel.
When should the RSVP date be?
Three to four weeks before the wedding, which leaves a week to chase late replies before your caterer needs final numbers.
Is it too late to send invitations 4 weeks before?
It is late but not wrong for a small or casual wedding; phone or message key guests first, and set a short RSVP date.
When do save the dates go out?
Six to eight months before, or eight to twelve months for a destination or holiday-weekend wedding.