An invitation to your big day should feel unequivocally like the two of you. From the style to personalised touches, a Papier wedding invitation design lets you set the tone in print. But before you get ahead of the details, planning is just as important. We’ve rounded up the dates you need to know when sending wedding invitations to start the next step of your love story on the right note.
When should I send out save the dates?
Before you even think about when to send your wedding invitations in full – secure your guests with a printed save the date. Traditionally, save the dates are sent anywhere from six months to a massive two years before the big day, depending on wedding location and guestlist size. The most popular time to send save the dates is around the twelve-month countdown, allowing guests ample time to secure accommodation and travel (and, should your wedding be child-free, even book a babysitter!)
If you’re planning a far-flung destination wedding or setting the date in the more popular wedding months of May to September, you may want to consider sending your save the dates as soon as you secure your wedding venue. That way, you’ll lock the date in the diaries of your nearest and dearest.
When should I send wedding invitations?
When sending your wedding invitations in the post, you should aim for at least two months before you say ‘I do’. But remember, timing is everything – sending wedding invitations too early may not allow space for those (inevitable!) last-minute schedule changes while leaving it any later could cause a list of endless questions from guests.
The earliest to send out full wedding invitations tends to be around four to six months before your nuptials, particularly should you have skipped save the dates. Just be sure to note an RSVP deadline for guests to confirm their attendance, along with all the other important details on location, dress code and contact numbers. Remember, most people are thrilled to be invited to a celebration of a friend or family member’s love, so there’s no harm in chasing late responses. Don’t forget to factor in printing and postage times to your calendar – our shipping guide shows our delivery times at Papier.
Should I send save the dates to evening guests?
You may be working with a smaller guestlist, or have additional friends, extended family, colleagues or new partners that you wish to include, but regretfully haven’t the room for during the day time. There are plenty of friendly and formal ways to let them know they’re included in your wedding celebrations during the evening reception, without any awkward confusion. It’s recommended to skip save the dates for evening guests, sending them a full invitation with all the information relevant to them around two months before the wedding date. Be sure to include an arrival time, dress code and running schedule, so guests still feel included and valued. Should you need to know numbers in advance, gently ask for an RSVP response ahead of time.
Why should I print my wedding invitations?
In a digital world where notifications come and go, there are a million reasons to print your wedding invitations. Firstly, putting your invite in ink sets the mood for your moment. You can carefully handpick a design, font, colour scheme and style that says something about you as a couple, giving a peek into what your guests should expect from the day. Whether you’re hosting a formal soiree or a more relaxed bash, there’s a wedding invitation style that’ll share your vision.
We all know that the tangible feeling of paper in hand evokes so much more meaning than a click of an RSVP on a screen. Plus, the physical presence of an invite in your loved one’s home will help your wedding stay front of mind ahead of your RSVP deadline.
But more than anything, your wedding invitations are a part of your love story, a printed memory of a moment in time, often becoming heirlooms that are treasured throughout generations. We always recommend printing a few extra, so you have some fresh ones to hold onto or for close family to keep. Frame them, file them, or tuck them away somewhere special – whatever you do, make them a cherished part of your next chapter.
Your first step to FOREVER
