When Should Wedding Invitations Be Sent?

October 12, 2025 Claudia Owen

When Should Wedding Invitations Be Sent?

For a local wedding, mail your printed invitations about 6–8 weeks before the big day. For a destination wedding (or one with many out-of-town guests), aim for 3–4 months ahead.

Why Timing Matters

Getting the timing right for your printed invitations gives your guests enough advance notice to make travel arrangements, block the date, and respond on time. If the invite goes out too early, it may get forgotten; if too late, you may face last-minute declines, delayed RSVPs, or missed deadlines.

Your mailing date will depend on a few key things: how many guests you’re inviting, where they live, and how long your printed invitations take to be designed and produced. Once your invitations are ready, you’ll just need time to have them addressed and mailed, and to allow for postal delivery so they reach your guests on time.

Standard Mailing Timeline

Local Wedding (most guests live nearby): Mail invitations about 6–8 weeks before the wedding date.
Destination Wedding or Out-of-Town Guests: Mail invitations about 3–4 months in advance so guests can plan travel and accommodation.

Suggested timeline

Save the Date → 6–12 months ahead
The save the date card is optional, but it’s incredibly useful — especially when you don’t have every detail finalized yet but already know your wedding date. Sending one early helps guests keep that day free before their calendars fill up with holidays or other plans. If you really want to make sure the people closest to you can attend, it’s best to send your save the date as soon as possible.
Invitation sent → 6–8 weeks (local) / 3–4 months (destination)
This is when you’ll send out your official invitations. By this stage, your venue, date, and key details are confirmed, and it’s time to give guests all the information they’ll need. Mailing your invitations 6–8 weeks before a local wedding (or 3–4 months ahead for destination weddings) gives everyone enough time to RSVP and make arrangements.
RSVP deadline → ~3–4 weeks before the wedding
Your RSVP deadline often depends on your venue or caterer, since they’ll need a final headcount to confirm meals, seating, and staffing. Many venues specify exactly when they require numbers — often around three to four weeks before the wedding. Once you know that date, work backwards to determine when to mail your invitations. This ensures your guests have enough time to respond, and you’ll have all your replies in before your venue’s cutoff. Once you’ve set your RSVP deadline, you can manage replies easily by using a digital tracker like RSVPify, which allows guests to RSVP online or scan a barcode linked to your event.

Note: These are guidelines, not rules. If your wedding falls during a busy holiday season, or you anticipate major travel arrangements for guests, you may want to send a little earlier.

Key Factors That Can Shift the Timeline

Long-distance or international guests: The further travel and logistics involved, the more lead time you’ll want.
Busy season / travel-heavy time of year: If many guests will be traveling for other reasons, it helps to mail early.
Your production timeline: If you’re ordering printed invitations (and matching items like RSVP cards, thank-you cards, table numbers), you’ll want to allow time for design proofs, printing, addressing, and mailing.
RSVP cutoff date: You’ll want responses back in time to finalize catering, seating, and stationery extras. Plan backwards from that deadline.

If you’re planning a romantic, timeless wedding with soft blush tones, our Romantic Wedding Invitation with Soft Watercolor Wash is the perfect choice. This design sets the tone for an elegant celebration and includes matching stationery pieces to complete your suite.

Shop the Romantic Wedding Invitation with Soft Watercolor Wash

Quick Checklist Before You Mail

✅ Finalize your guest list and gather full mailing addresses.

✅ Choose your printed wedding invitation design.
You don’t have to order all the matching items right away — those can easily be added later once your main invitations are set.

✅ Confirm your mailing date (usually 6–8 weeks before a local wedding or 3–4 months before a destination wedding).

✅ Set your RSVP deadline (typically 3–4 weeks before the wedding).
This often depends on your venue or caterer since they’ll need a final headcount by a certain date — once you know their cutoff, you can work backward from there. Track responses and follow up as needed (or use a tool like RSVPify to automate the process).

✅ Get your invitations professionally printed.
We take care of the printing, and you can also choose to have your envelopes addressed by us for a completely stress-free experience.

✅ Prepare and mail your invitations.
Once everything is printed and ready, simply place the invitations and RSVP cards into the envelopes and drop them off at the post office.

✅ Track responses and follow up as needed.
If you’d like to simplify the process, you can track your RSVPs digitally through RSVPify. It’s a convenient tool that lets guests reply online or by scanning a unique QR code printed on your RSVP card — perfect for couples who prefer to keep everything organized in one place.

Ready to get started? Explore our full range of Printed Wedding Invitations to find a design that perfectly reflects your style. Each invitation suite includes matching pieces — from RSVP cards and menus to thank-you notes and welcome signs — so every detail of your wedding feels beautifully coordinated.