How far in advance should wedding invites be sent?

Short answer

Send wedding invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding. If guests need to travel, book accommodation or arrange time off, send them ten to twelve weeks ahead. Save the dates can go out six to twelve months before, especially for summer or destination weddings.

For most UK weddings, six to eight weeks is the sweet spot. It is soon enough that guests feel the date is confirmed, but not so early that they lose the invitation or forget to reply. If your wedding is in peak season, such as June, July or September, or near Christmas, send them earlier, around ten to twelve weeks.

If most guests are local and you have no accommodation pressure, six weeks is fine. If you have guests coming from overseas, from another country in the UK, or with young families, give them more notice. A save the date card is a good way to flag the date early without sending the full invitation.

Your invitation should state the RSVP date clearly. That date should be at least two weeks before your final venue numbers are due, and ideally three to four weeks before the wedding. This gives you time to chase non-replies and adjust table plans.

For a wedding abroad, send invitations six to nine months ahead, and for a legal ceremony at home plus a symbolic ceremony abroad, send both invitations with clear dates and venues. If you are unsure about your venue's final deadline, ask them directly and work backwards from that date.