Worth it to send out save the dates 2 months before sending out invitations?

If you're sending your invites out 8 months before your wedding I wouldn't bother sending STD.

I understand wanting to give people time but honestly I would still just send out the save the dates 6 months out (you could still put on there Welcome Party 4/22, Wedding 4/23). Then the formal invitation closer to the wedding. Unfortunately, people lose invitations even when they just have to keep track of it for 2 months. As long as they have the weekend dates ahead of time, they should be able to make their plans accordingly.

September is reeeaaallly early for your guests to start planning their trip. I would say that yes, STDs as soon as possible would be good -- but maybe you could include lots of info on the STD, prepare people to spend the whole weekend away, etc, and then delay the invites? Don't forget that sending invites out too early in advance can work against you

I've now been to 3 weddings that were fully hosted "weekends away," and they all stuck to the same invite timeline -- STD 6 months out (or more), then invite 2-3 months out

I have nothing to add but I'm from Lake Arrowhead! You'll have to get pictures with the dogwoods in April. It's when they bloom & it's so incredibly beautiful. We wanted to write married there but it would be too far of a distance to travel for FHs family. I can't wait to see your BAM in April!

You are sending your invitations out WAY too early. Send out a Save the Date. Include lots of details, like maybe you're planning to do with your invitation as early as you want. But do not send your invite more than 8 weeks before the wedding. People will lose them, they will forget to respond, they will respond yes and then not be able to come and you'll get no-shows, etc. it would be a huge mess.

The point of the Save The Date is to give people ample time to book their travel. You don't need to send out the invites for people to be able to do that. I would suggest doing STD in September (or before) and waiting to send invites until 2-3 months before the wedding. If you want you could add more info to the std. Personally I just had date, city and website. Our out of town guests checked the website where we had more details and the hotel block info; many of our guests began booking travel right after they got the std.

STD's are a waste of money in my opinion. Especially after hearing all the horror stories on here of the large amounts of people who decline for one reason or another even though they had 8 months to plan for it because they received an STD.

I wouldn't bother.

Send out save the dates in September with your wedding website or lots of details. Sending out invites 8 months in advance is ridiculous. People will lose them, you won't get an accurate headcount, and you'll probably have more no shows. A mini-cation can be easily planned 4-8 weeks in advance.

I have a large # of out of town guests and am sending invites out in July with an RSVPs date of August 31st (6 weeks in advance). We sent out save the dates.

Okay. Thanks everyone for your input. I think I have to remind myself that not everyone is a neurotic planner like I am (I like getting invites super early and planning things as early as possible).

We have a hold on the on-site cabins, but they get released from hold 5 months prior to our wedding so I will just include Lodging information and urge our guests to book early on the Save the Date.