When would you want the Save the Date?

I’ve received Saved the Dates for local weddings at 6 or 8 months out, and 12 months out for destination weddings.

For a local wedding where most guests won't need to travel, I would send the Save The Dates somewhere between 6-8 months before the wedding. For a destination wedding, or a wedding held on a holiday weekend, or a wedding where most guests will need to travel, I would send them 8-12 months in advance.

I think it depends on the time of year, whether it falls near a holiday or typical vacation time. For example, if it's during spring break time, I would want it by September at least because that's I'm thinking about vacation plans for the school year. If it's during the holidays, I'd want it a year in advance.

I literally sit might save the dates a year in advance. It was partially because of Covid and we have so many people coming from out of the country and it’s on a holiday weekend so I wanted to be sure that people could plan accordingly. I also did follow ups six months in advance and will do another follow three months in advance. Don’t know if this helps or not but I know it’s not tradition but it’s seriously helped me and so far our numbers have been consistent.

I would assume that a destination wedding would be out of the country. Anywhere between 9-12 months as soon as you book the venue is ideal. You decide on and set the guest list in stone before you book the venue.


Invites still go out at the standard 6-8 weeks before the wedding. Once a save the date is sent, it cannot be revoked unless you cancel the wedding. You don’t have to spend a dime on them, the same way everyone’s parents and grandparents called people up at 6+ months.

I agree that 12 months seems ideal. If you’re inviting anyone who has kids, it gives them enough time to think of arrangements for somewhere for them if they aren’t coming along. And, like you mentioned, allows them to fit it into their vacation plans for the next year.

If it is in the country, you could probably go with 9-10 months. If out of country, and passports are involved, I’d do 11-12 months.

We sent ours right at the 12 month mark! I had our wedding website put together as much as possible before sending them out so I could include the link, and I had one hotel block set up already. It's given people plenty of time to keep an eye on airline prices and scope out Airbnbs and other hotel options, but also gives them time to make sure it fits in their budget before RSVPing!

I'll be sending my invitations within the next month or so, which puts them at about the 4 month mark. We're collecting RSVPs online and I was going to send a text one week before the RSVP deadline as a reminder. We're having a small wedding and we're really close to everyone coming, so the texts aren't totally out of left field.

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Yes! Okay we're doing the same with the wedding website. I wanted it to be up and running when we send the save the dates. We're putting a little card in there that says details will be available on there.

I’m having a destination wedding and I did a year out

Okay so 12 months seems to be the consensus! Thanks for all your help!

I just sent mine at around 10 months, which is probably ~2 earlier than I normally would have, but with COVID stuff, traveling woes, and the fact that about 65% of the guests will be traveling from out-of-state, I decided to err on the side of too early rather than too late.