this is probably the most frequently asked question that i receive. i actually got it twice within hours of starting this blog post.
first of all, it’s important to remember that there is no ‘magic formula’ or ‘set in stone’ timeline for sending out stationery. there is going to be a bit of variance between what different designers call their ‘standard’ based on their experience with: your product, the shipping method and even your event location. so, if what you hear from your designer is a bit different from what i tell my clients, no worries. they may have reasons specific to your event that will shift timelines. trust their judgement in that case!
this is what i recommend to my clients:
standard “event in town” invitations
your invitation stationery should be sent a minimum of 4-6 weeks prior to the RSVP deadline.
you would not believe how many people just forget to send in an RSVP. give yourself some time between the response deadline and your event to track down those who did not reply, and compile accurate numbers for your caterers. normally caterers reques final numbers at least one week prior to your event, so check with your caterer and plan according to their deadline.
destination weddings
this one becomes a bit tricky. it’s hard to book travel (even if it’s a few hours drive away) on short notice, and i don’t know too many people who enjoy doing it. especially if one needs to think of accommodations, travel time/costs, vacation hours and the like. do your guests a huge favour by getting the news to them as promptly as you can.
save the dates are a wonderful tool to use in this case—you can tell your guests the date and potential destination, allowing them to book off the needed time.
if you are sending out save the date cards prior to your destination invitations, i recommend sending them at least 6 months prior to your event.
follow up with your full invitation package which must include all accommodation and event details no later than 3 months prior to your event.
have any questions regarding sending your invites? post a comment below!
cheers,
-a
