Planning your wedding involves a multitude of details, including when to send out your save-the-dates, invitations, and thank you notes. While there are no hard and fast rules, following a timeline can help ensure that everything goes smoothly. In this blog post, we’ll outline a recommended timeline for each step of the process, from sending save-the-dates to sending thank you notes.
Save the Dates: Save-the-dates give your guests a friendly heads up about your wedding date, allowing them to mark their calendars and make any necessary arrangements. They are particularly important for destination weddings, as guests may need extra time to plan their travel. Save-the-dates can be sent out 8 to 12 months before your wedding day, giving guests ample time to prepare.
Invitations: Your wedding invitations should be sent out approximately 3 months before your wedding day. Sending them too early may lead to guests forgetting about the event, while sending them too late may not give guests enough time to RSVP and make arrangements. For destination weddings, invitations should be sent out even earlier to allow guests time to make travel plans.
RSVP Deadlines: Set your RSVP deadline 3 to 5 weeks before your wedding day, depending on when your vendors need a final headcount. Check with each vendor to determine their specific requirements, and set the RSVP return date for a week before the vendor deadlines. This ensures that you have enough time to finalize arrangements without feeling rushed.
Thank Yous: As gifts start rolling in before your wedding day, it’s important to send thank you notes promptly. Aim to send thank you notes immediately after receiving each gift to show your appreciation and minimize the workload after the wedding. If you’re unable to send them before your honeymoon, make sure to send them out no later than four weeks after the wedding to express your gratitude in a timely manner.
Conclusion: Following a timeline for sending save-the-dates, invitations, RSVPs, and thank you notes can help streamline the wedding planning process and ensure that everything is organized and on track. By sending out save-the-dates and invitations at the appropriate times and setting RSVP deadlines and thank you note timelines, you can alleviate stress and focus on enjoying your special day with your loved ones.
