“When should I send my invitations?” As a Houston Wedding Planner, this is one of the most common questions I’m asked. If you’re 3-9 months away from your wedding, you’re likely in the thick of planning, and in the process of ordering your wedding invitations. I’m sharing the most common timeline to send and receive your Save the Dates, Invitations, and the date to request RSVPs.

When to send:

Save the Dates: 6-8 months for local weddings, 9-12 months for destination and holiday weekend weddings.

*A little side note – please, I’m begging you, do not abbreviate “save the date”. No one wants to receive an oddly chipper text that they should “be on the lookout for your STD!”

Invitations: My suggestion is to send your invitations 10 weeks in advance. Anything from 9-12 weeks is acceptable. There are a few nuances for things like peak-season and destination weddings, so I’ve listed those at the bottom of this post.

RSVP Deadline: 4.5-5 weeks before your wedding. This gives a few days for late responses, a few days to follow up with guests, and a few days to make changes before finalizing your floor plan and guest count with vendors (which is typically due 2-4 weeks before the wedding).

There are some scenarios when you may want to consider sending your dave the dates or invitations a little further out:

• You did not send Save the Dates (send your invitations 9-12 weeks out).
• Many of your guests are not local to the Houston area (or wherever your venue is located)
• Your wedding is on a holiday weekend or other prime date. 2/3/23 or 4/3/21, for example.
• This one is specific to weddings in Houston and other hot climates: Your wedding is on a Friday or Saturday in March, April, May, October, or November.

Happy planning!

Haylee

Photo courtesy of BLVD Photography.