Save the Dates Vs. Invitations

Don't send anything until you have a venue, especially an invitation. A STD is just an announcement that you are getting married and where it is located. These are typically sent to VIPs and OOT guests. And no one is supposed to RSVP from and STD. You don't need to send STDs out until 6-8 months before the wedding and even then they are optional. Invitations are sent 6-8 weeks before the wedding and these are not optional.

Also, you don't have a date until you have a venue. That is going to be a very popular date next year so I would start booking now.

Step 1- make a guest list, step 2- secure a venue. Once these are done you can choose to send a save the date, which functions to save the date. But a save the date dose not replace an invitation, which functions to invite your guests.

First make a guest list so that you'll have an estimate of how many guests you'll have. Next you want o research venues, secure one by putting down a deposit. This will solidify your date. Follow PP advice on STD and invitations. You still have the plenty of time before you send either.

Step 1) Book your venue/date

2) Figure out your budget

3) Create your guest list based on your budget/venue costs

4) Then start worrying about STDs and invites

In reference to #4... save the dates are sent out 6-8 months before (up to 12 months for destination). They typically have the date of the wedding and the city/state. You can also provide a wedding website that has hotel information etc on there. You are sending these so people can plan travel/days off work...essentially "save the date". Then anywhere from 6-8 weeks before the wedding you send the invites out for official RSVPs from guests.

Your wedding date is the same as mine (different year, though) and I was advised multiple times to send out STDs because it's a heavy travel time. You want to make sure people who you invite know the date of your wedding in advance so they can plan accordingly, as invitations only go out 6-8 weeks prior to the wedding and many people could potentially have made plans for something else by that time. ETA: Missed the part that you don't have a venue yet, which means your date may change. Don't send anything until you have a venue locked in.

First thing you should do is secure a venue. Your date isn't your date until you have a contract from the venue in hand. STD's are optional but are typically sent 6-8 months in advance. Like PP said it announces your wedding date and location that way OOT guests can have a heads up for travel arrangements. Invites are sent out 6-8 weeks before the wedding. Although a STD is not an official invite, it is a pre-invite, so everyone who you send STD's to MUST receive an invitation.

When you make the guest list, you get a venue planning for the maximum attendance.

Don't get a venue that can seat 75 and invite 150 people.

You don't really have to do STDs. You should do invites, but that won't happen until you have a venue and a set date.

Yeah, whether or not you do STDs at all depends a whole lot on your audience.

We have a bunch of OOT people who, as mentioned, needed the heads up so they could make travel arrangements, and we also have a bunch of actors, who needed the heads up so they wouldn't audition for a show that will be running the same time as the wedding.

If most of your guests are local and don't have bizarre hobbies, then you can probably just even email/text/call the few OOT VIPs you want to make sure are there and then just send invites.