PRE save the dates?

I'm just over a year and a half away from the wedding date. We have been engaged for a year and a half already but family members on his side keep asking for a date. When we tell them how far away it is and tell them they will get a save the date closer to the time, it usually ends the questions. However he has some family in California (we are in Ohio) who are requesting a save the date already. Most save the dates don't go out until 6 months prior... And even for the people out of state I figured 8 months notice would be plenty... but they are freaking out that they won't be able to come because a year is not enough notice...am I crazy? Do I send them an early save the date but no one else? I don't want everyone to know for a year and a half... everyone should know 6 months before. We are so far out, what if we didn't have a venue yet? What if something changes? It just seems bizarre