When to Send Wedding Invitations: The Complete Timeline
Send save the dates 10–12 months before the wedding and the invitations three to five months before — five to seven months if many guests are travelling from overseas. Order the invitations four to six months ahead so there is time for proofs and production, and set your RSVP deadline four to six weeks before the day. Here is the full timeline, month by month.
The Timeline at a Glance
- 10–12 months — finalise the guest list and send save the dates (12–14 for a destination wedding)
- 4–6 months — order your invitations
- 3–5 months — send invitations (5–7 months for overseas guests)
- 4–6 weeks — RSVP deadline
- 4 weeks — final numbers to your caterer and venue
- Within 3 months after — thank-you cards
Save the Dates: 10–12 Months Before
A save the date is not optional for a summer or destination wedding. Bank holidays, school terms and long-haul travel all need early warning, and the first guests to book flights and hotels get the best choice.
Count by household before you order — couples and families at the same address receive one card — and keep the design consistent with your invitation suite, so guests recognise it when the invitation arrives. See our save the date cards.
Ordering Invitations: 4–6 Months Before
Order four to six months before the wedding. Your digital proof arrives within 2–3 business days, with up to three rounds of revisions; production then takes from 3 weeks for foil card, pocketfold and acrylic, and from 4 weeks for velvet folio and boxed suites. DHL Express delivers in 1–2 business days in the UK and 2–4 to the EU and USA.
That leaves time to address envelopes and post everything without rushing. Our wedding invitation calculator works out your quantity and a personal timeline from your date, and how to order explains each step.
Sending Invitations: 3–5 Months Before
Three to five months gives guests time to plan, book and reply. For guests abroad, send five to seven months ahead and use tracked postage. Include a reply card with a pre-addressed envelope, or a QR code to your wedding website.
Traditional etiquette in the United States suggests six to eight weeks, but with destination venues, peak-season dates and guests who travel, we recommend the same three to five months on both sides of the Atlantic. Eight weeks is the latest we would send.
RSVPs and Final Numbers
Set the RSVP deadline four to six weeks before the wedding and print it clearly on the invitation or reply card. Chase anyone who has not replied a week later — a quick message is warmer than a formal reminder. Most caterers and venues need final numbers four weeks out. For wording ideas, see RSVP wording.
Frequently asked questions
When should wedding invitations be sent?
Three to five months before the wedding, or five to seven months for guests travelling from overseas. Send save the dates 10–12 months ahead.
When should save the dates go out?
10–12 months before the wedding, and 12–14 months for a destination wedding.
When should I order my wedding invitations?
Four to six months before the wedding. Your proof arrives in 2–3 business days, production takes from 3 weeks (from 4 weeks for velvet folio and boxed suites), and delivery 1–4 business days.
What is the right RSVP deadline?
Four to six weeks before the wedding — most caterers and venues need final numbers four weeks out.
Is it ever too late to send invitations?
Eight weeks before the wedding is the latest for most guests. If you are running late, follow up by phone and offer an online RSVP.
When should thank-you cards be sent?
Traditionally within three months of the wedding — sooner for gifts that arrived before the day.
Planning your dates? Use the invitation calculator for a personal timeline, or order a sample to choose your invitations in good time.