How early should invites be sent out?

Short answer

Send your wedding invitations about 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding. This gives guests enough time to book travel and arrange time off, without leaving them so long that plans change. For destination weddings, send them earlier, around 3 to 4 months ahead.

For most UK weddings, aim to post your invitations between 6 and 8 weeks before the big day. This is the sweet spot: guests have time to sort out transport, accommodation and work leave, but the details are still fresh in their minds. If many guests are travelling from abroad, or your wedding falls on a bank holiday weekend, send them a little earlier, around 3 to 4 months ahead.

Before the main invitation, you may want to send a save the date, usually 6 to 12 months ahead. That is a simple card or email with the date and location, so guests can block the time. The formal invitation then follows later with all the details.

If you have a wedding website, put the full schedule there and keep the invitation card simple. That way, if a time or venue changes, you can update the website without reprinting. Remember to include an RSVP date that is at least 2 to 3 weeks before your final headcount is due to your caterer or venue.

If you are unsure about your own timeline, ask your venue or caterer when they need final numbers. Work backwards from that date to set your RSVP deadline, then send invitations with enough notice for guests to reply comfortably.