How soon before a wedding should you send invites?

Three to four months before the wedding is the sweet spot for most UK weddings. Guests have time to arrange time off work, book travel and accommodation, and plan outfits. It is also soon enough that they will not lose the invitation or forget the details.

If you are sending save the dates, three months is fine. If not, aim for four to five months. For weddings over a holiday weekend, or where many guests are travelling, send invitations a little earlier, around five to six months.

Set your RSVP date six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives you time to chase any late replies and confirm final numbers with your venue and caterers. Remember, you need two witnesses for the legal ceremony, so make sure at least two guests confirm they can attend.

If you are having a humanist ceremony in England or Wales, it will not be legally binding on its own, so check GOV.UK for the current position and plan any additional civil ceremony accordingly.