Dw: When to send Stds and Invitations

Send them using the standard timeline for a local wedding. Once you get the venue secured, you send save the date notices at 6-12 months before the wedding. Save the dates can be sent by word of mouth. Invitations are sent at 6-8 weeks before the wedding with rsvps due at 4 weeks. All of the arrangements can be made separate from the invitation timeline.

Since it is a destination wedding, I would send out your save the dates 8-12 months in advance. That will give your guests plenty of time to save money and make travel arrangements, and will also ensure they have your date on the calendar (so they don’t schedule anything that weekend). I would put your wedding website address on the STDs, so guests have a place to go for info during the large gap between STDs and formal invites. I would then send out invitations about 8 weeks out.

That is perfect.

I agree with the advice given on the STDs, but for your invitations I would take into account any information or logistics your vendor needs in advance, especially if there are accommodation cutoffs. Six months is still too early, but a lot of destination wedding sources advise 2-4 months for sending out invitations, depending on the specifics of your venue. We also have had everything up on our website since the STDs, so the eager beavers have been on top of it for a while.

I would suggest Save the Dates at 8-12 months, November at the latest. If you choose December, flights look low, but guests won't purchase because they're planning holiday spending. If you wait until January, sadly fares hike up again. And I agree with Kimberly to talk to your venue about deadline dates. Otherwise, invites are still fresh in guests' minds at 8-10 wks before a destination wedding.

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Thank you all! We have several anxious family members that are requesting info so I'm tempted to just send their STDs out now.