When should wedding invitations be sent out before a wedding?

Short answer

Send wedding invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives guests time to book travel and accommodation, and you time to collect replies. For a destination wedding or one over a bank holiday, send them eight to ten weeks ahead.

The standard timing for wedding invitations in the UK is six to eight weeks before the wedding. This is late enough that guests know their plans, but early enough that they can book time off work and arrange travel. For a wedding in the same town as most guests, six weeks is usually fine. For a wedding where many guests will travel, or one that falls on a bank holiday or school holiday, send them eight to ten weeks ahead.

If you have already sent save the dates, six to eight weeks is still the norm for the formal invitation. The save the date is a heads up, not a substitute. If you have not sent save the dates, send invitations closer to ten weeks so guests have more notice.

Guests may need to book accommodation, arrange childcare, or ask for holiday from work. Give them a clear reply date, usually three to four weeks before the wedding. That gives you a week or two to chase any missing replies and then confirm final numbers with your venue. For a wedding abroad, send invitations three to four months ahead, because guests need more time to plan flights and visas. Always check with your venue how far ahead they need final numbers, and work backwards from that date.