How far in advance should wedding invitations be sent out?

Short answer

Send wedding invitations 8 to 12 weeks before the wedding. This gives guests time to book time off and arrange travel, without them forgetting the date. For weddings with many guests coming from far away, or for a destination wedding, send them a little earlier, around 4 months.

The exact timing depends on your guest list and the type of wedding. For a local wedding with most guests nearby, 8 weeks is usually enough. For guests who need to book trains, hotels or childcare, aim for 12 weeks.

If you are having a wedding abroad or in a popular holiday area, send invitations even earlier, around 4 months. This lets guests sort out passports, flights and accommodation. You can also send a save the date card earlier, 6 to 12 months ahead, so people can plan.

Remember that your invitations should go out after you have given notice of marriage, if you are having a legal ceremony in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. The notice period is at least 28 days, but you do not need to wait for the ceremony date to be fixed before sending invitations.

For RSVPs, set a deadline about 3 to 4 weeks before the wedding. This gives you time to chase late replies and confirm final numbers with your venue and caterer. If you are using a wedding website, you can put the RSVP deadline there too, and send a gentle reminder to anyone who has not replied.