Whether you're planning a destination wedding or an intimate elopement, there's plenty to do in preparation of the big day.
After you and your partner choose your wedding date, book your vendors, determine a venue and settle on the guest list, it's officially time to share the joy — and all of the above details — with friends and family via your wedding invitations.
There's more to a wedding invitation than just the basic details, like date and time, Allison Cullman, a wedding expert at Zola, tells TODAY.com.
“The etiquette for save-the-dates and wedding invitations can be really nuanced,” she says. “There’s so many different factors that go into it, and there’s no right or wrong way to manage them.”
A well-crafted wedding invitation will set the tone for your event and ensure that everything runs smoothly. Not only can it be tricky to figure out when to send out your save-the-dates, you have to determine what details to include and when to send your wedding invitations and RSVP cards, too.
Ultimately, planning ahead will save you time (not to mention your sanity) in the months leading up your nuptials. After all, the goal is to have as much fun, and as little stress, as possible.
For the full rundown on how to handle save-the-dates, guest RSVPs and when to send wedding invitations, Cullman shares her expert wedding planning tips to make sure the day goes off without a hitch.
When to send save-the-dates
Once you’ve locked down the preliminary wedding details, like the date and location, it’s time to mail out your save-the-date cards.
Cullman recommends sending save-the-dates to your guests four to six months ahead of your wedding date.
“The buffer gives guests enough time to block out their calendar and make all necessary plans, increasing the likelihood that they will actually attend,” she explains.
Unlike wedding invitations, save-the-dates don’t need to include much information.
“For save-the-dates, you should include your names and the location of your wedding — both city and state,” Cullman says. “Keep the venue a surprise — that’s something that is a really exciting thing to reveal.”
While it’s essential to give your guests ample notice, Cullman stresses the importance of waiting until your venue contact is signed to avoid any last-minute adjustments.
“Don’t rush to send your save-the-date before you have your venue locked in, because no one wants to have to change the date and send out something new,” she says.
When to send wedding invitations
According to Cullman, you should send your official wedding invitations around eight weeks before the wedding date.
“That gives you enough time for the official yeas and the nays, and also enough time to collect RSVPs so you can let your vendors know the final counts,” she says.
However, Cullman notes that the ideal timing may vary depending on the size and location of your wedding.
“If a large percentage of your guest list lives abroad or you’re having a destination wedding, it’s best to play it safe around 12 weeks before the event,” she says.
The invitation should provide everything guests need to know about your wedding, including the timing of events, location details and your wedding website, if you choose to create one.
“Invitations are the more formal announcement of your wedding with more detail, so you should make sure that you’re giving guests as much information as possible,” Cullman says.
If you have an eye for design, add some personal touches to the invitations that reflect your wedding’s tone and style. Most importantly, Cullman stresses the importance of proofreading your invitations more than once.
“If it’s a formal wedding, a casual wedding, or a themed wedding, make sure the invitations reflects the vibe of the event,” Cullman says.
Once the invitations are in the mail, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll have to chase down a few stragglers for those guests who fail to get back to you by the requested RSVP date.
“Weddings can be extremely stressful for a couple who is trying to collect a lot of details and information,” Cullman says. “Try to approach it with as much grace and understanding as you possibly can, even though I know that it’s difficult when you’re the one planning a wedding.”
“Those guests are special to you, otherwise you wouldn’t be inviting them!”
