Planning a wedding is all about small steps taken in the right order and at the right time. Understanding the etiquette and timing rules for wedding invitations might seem daunting at first, but there are simple guidelines that ensure invitations are ready to be mailed in enough time to allow guests to attend.
When to Send Wedding Invitations Out
The first and most important question in the minds of most brides and grooms is when to send the wedding invitations. The general guideline for when to send wedding invitations is about 6 weeks before the wedding, but some people advise 6 to 8 weeks, while others say that giving guests 4 weeks before the wedding is all that's necessary.
What's most important here is to ensure that your guests will have time to receive the invitation and return RSVP cards in time to inform the caterer and other wedding staff about final numbers.
Save the Date Invitations: Destination Weddings and Out of Town Guests
There are, of course, a few exceptions that call for additional notice. This is where save the date cards come in handy. If a destination wedding is being planned, it's usually best to give guests at least 5 to 6 months' notice (sometimes as much as a year) in order to allow them to schedule the event on their calendar and make travel plans.
The same goes for out of town relatives and friends, who will need to schedule ahead in order to make it to the big day. Save the date cards or "save the date invitations" are a thoughtful way to let friends and family know about the wedding 4 months or more in advance, time that's useful if they'll need to travel to get there.
Ordering, Proofing and Preparing Wedding Invitations
Under normal circumstances, it takes a professional printer about 8 weeks to turnaround a wedding invitation order. If the printer works quickly or in cases of unusual luck, this time frame may be shortened, but it's usually best to place an order at least 10 weeks ahead of the schedule for sending the invitations – 4 to 5 months before the date of the wedding.
Proofs and samples will be prepared on the printer's schedule, but make sure to go over them with an eye to detail and return them as quickly as possible in order to speed up the process.
If the bride or other family members will be addressing the invitation envelopes by hand, plan ahead and do them in increments to avoid hand strain and messy work if time runs out. That may mean starting on them and budgeting time from the minute the printer completes the invites.
Wedding Announcements and Thank You Cards
After the wedding is over, thank you cards must be sent to everyone who gave the couple a gift. These can be ordered in advance at the same time as invitations are chosen, in the same or a similar style to the wedding invites. Etiquette dictates that all thank you cards should be handwritten and mailed by three months after the wedding, or as soon as humanly possible, but late is better than never!
Wedding announcements are optional, but are typically sent out after a small wedding or if the couple elopes, in order to announce their marriage to friends and relatives who weren't present. These cards should be sent out immediately after the wedding.
Victoria Anisman-Reiner - Victoria Anisman-Reiner is a freelance writer with extensive experience in holistic health care and animal training.
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