I have a couple questions:
1) When do you start sending your wedding invitations? We are planning to get married in Aug 09 and have almost booked our venues, should we start sending them soon?
2)IF we decide to have a small intimate engagement dinner, do you hold off sending invitations, and send our engagement dinner invites first? Or can those invites be made over the phone?
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
1. The recommended time line of mailing invites is:
a. send invites, include RSVP date for 2 weeks after the day you mail.
b. allow another week to receive RSVPs, in case they were mailed on the due date
c. allow another week to call around and chase up responses from those who failed to RSVP
d. allow 1-2 weeks before the wedding to give this final head count to your caterer, and to do seating arrangements (if you have them).
This means, you need to have 5-6 weeks between the day you mail and the day of your wedding. For an August wedding, you should anticipate sending your invites in June or July 2009. If you have any guests who are overseas, allow 8 weeks from date of mailing to your wedding date.
In addition to invites, you may consider sending out "save the date" cards which only includes the day you are getting married (not the place, time, or any other details). This way your guests can be sure to plan vacations with your wedding in mind, and they allow any out of the area guests time to make travel arrangements. Save the date cards are best sent 6-8 months before the wedding. In your case, probably January or February 2009 is the best time.
2. You would have your engagement party to celebrate your announcement- so of course before the wedding invites are sent, and before the save the dates are sent as well. Your engagement party should be held now- since you are now engaged. Don’t wait until next summer. Don’t forget- anyone invited to the engagement party MUST be invited to the wedding.
A written invitation makes it a bit more special than just a verbal invite. Plus, on a written invite you include place and time, so no one is unsure of the details.
First off, CONGRATULATIONS!!
1) Wedding invitations are typically sent out 6-8 weeks before the wedding date. You can send out "Save the Date" cards now, so everyone can mark their calendars.
2) Definitely announce your engagement first. Only seems logical. However, I’ve actually seen people send their "Save the Date" cards WITH their engagement party announcements.
1. There is no hard and fast rule for wedding invitations, although some leave it for about 3 months before – in the event that anything should change, such as the venue etc., and then there is the hassle of retrieving the invitations and sending new ones. You should by the month before the wedding be able to confirm numbers with your planners and arrange the wedding present lists at your favorite stores.
2. The engagement dinner when you say small you don’t say for how many but you should send an engagement dinner invite either by hand or mail – it looks more thoughtful that way. Your engagement dinner should always be before you send wedding invites out.
They should be sent out 8 weeks before the wedding.
Once the big day is finalized you can send your Save the Dates. My wife and I sent our save the dates about 6 months before our wedding date.
After your guests have "Saved the Date" wedding invitations are typically send somewhere in the 6-8 week window before the wedding date. We ordered ours about 3 months in advance to ensure we could hit that 6-8 week window.
Although, I am seeing (from a couple of wedding sources) that it is more appropriate to order wedding invitations 4-6 months in advance to give yourself plenty of time to avoid mistakes and rushing to get them done.
We ordered our Save the Dates and Invitations from MagnetStreet Weddings. They were a big hit.
Check it out: http://www.magnetstreet.com/store/home/market/517