When to post invitations....

I'm getting married 2 days after you and I'm sending mine out at the end if this month/beginning of November (5months before).

Reasoning behind this is. 3months for people to reply, one month to chase people who haven't RSVP'd and then final numbers need to be given to venue 1 month before. I also have a few people from overseas invited.

My friend did the exact same as me (she is now married) and she said 5 months before worked well for her. I do know people who have done less and it was still fine though.

Hi i would send them out in November, gives people plenty of notice and it gives you time to chase people up and also gives your guests something to look forward to xx

Girl making my invitations suggested end jan/feb for me to receive them I've went back with end December suit me best and get them away early January don't even know who we def inviting to send them in November. Does everyone send them this early?!

I would say get them out now girl, earlier the better so people can plant in the diary!

Oh jeez I wasn't expecting people.to say so early!! Lol I'm not prepared for this at all!!!!

I got married on a Saturday in March and sent them out in September I think! Granted that's earlier than necessary but we had a large guest list and I didn't send Save the Dates.

As you haven't sent Save the Dates and it's a Wednesday, I would definitely be sending them sooner rather than later and without a doubt before Christmas.

I would send them pretty soon to be honest. As it is a Wednesday lots of people will need as much notice as possible. I've just started sending mine and my wedding is Feb.

Thanks for the replies. Think I'm gonna tell friends and family when the wedding is when I see them and then send the invites out traditionally up to ten weeks before the wedding

We are getting maerried this December and sent our invitations out in July - i would say send them earlier rather than later x

How many guests are you having?

While I don't argue that 10 weeks before the wedding is more traditional, a Wednesday wedding is not so people will need to know to take the time off work - especially as it will be within this annual leave entitlement for a lot of people and they're likely to have to take two days off.

Do you think you'll be able to let everyone know soon by word of mouth? I would honestly consider Save the Dates - you could get them for next to nothing and send them out this month.

65 guests 75 max

A lot have already booked rooms etc will maybe drop them an email as I will want my save the dates of we send them to match in with our wedding invitations!!

Between my mum.dad OH and I, we prob.could tell everyone will have a think you all have me in a tizzy now!! Lol

I would suggest around 3 months before your wedding day.

That will give your guests 6 weeks to look at the invitation and RSVP. Then give yourself a few weeks after the deadline to chase up any stragglers.

One tip for you though - when sending your invites out please take them to the post office and get them checked for weight and measurements. The last thing you want to do is put the incorrect postage on them and for your guest to pay extra and go collect them.

Jen x

Thanks for the tip on postage didn't think of that :-) think il send them out ten weeks before :-)

Have you checked when your venue needs final numbers from you?

My venue needed final numbers 8 weeks before, to give myself a couple of weeks to chase anyone who didn't reply on time I had to set my RSVP deadline at 10 weeks beforehand. But that fell smack bang over Christmas when people were busy with different things so I ended up having my rsvp deadline 12 weeks before the wedding and sent the invites out 4 weeks before that.

You keep saying that 10 weeks before is traditional. Do remember that this stems from a time when it was also traditional to have a very basic meal in your local village hall or mums back garden rather than book a fancy venue with full on catering..

I would second checking when the venue needs final numbers, mine wants them 5 weeks before (normally 4 but that falls right over Christmas), that would only give 5weeks to RSVP and chase.

I sent my invites 20th Aug, with an RSVP by 31st Sept and I've just chased to the last two that hadn't replied, despite giving them 3 ways to to it (traditional RSVP card included in the invite, email and website) - that's 8 weeks. Oh and I've only invited 38 people and 14 of those are immediate family who I obviously knew were coming!

If you're sending the out 10 weeks before then that means sometime in January - I would bear in mind though that the post doesn't get back to normal until mid-Jan, what with all the holidays so I would get them out before Christmas or send save the dates now.

If you're wedding was on the weekend then I think you would be ok but as it's mid-week, I really think you need to give people more than the 10 week notice - people will be using their holiday on Christmas/new year too.

Have got in touch with the hotel to check when final numbers are needed and will take it from there. Appreciate your advice thanks

Checked with hotel they don't need our final numbers until 72 hours before the wedding which is good need sit down get our guest list sorted then be good to go once the invitations arrive

72 hours?? That's the finest deadline I've seen on here! My meat had been on the go for ten days by that point! And don't forget, you'll need time to order a table plan (assuming, like any STDs, you'll watch it to match).

On the original point, ten weeks before deadline is too late for me, especially for a mid-week wedding. Why hold back, once you have invitations?

Not holding back invites won't be ready until end December so they will be posted by then. The hotel will know next week what menu we choose so the food will be known to them well in advance and we happy with that arrangement. Everyone knows when the wedding is so assuming it won't be a problem for people not getting myself stresed over that and table plan isndonenfor me by hotel so it will be grand.

I feel really disorganised ready all these replies! I only sent mine 6-7 weeks before. Only having 38 during the day and know that at least 36 are coming, and numbers for night are not vital as we are having a hog roast.

No choice but to send them at the beginning of January as the girl doing the invitations has other weddings to cater for in advance and has said that is the earliest they can be ready.

This thread has made me feel massively unorganised as well and I am anything but that at the mo! Gonna go with January as Bex23 says I feel there is more chance of someone misplacing the invitation as if it arrives closer to the date people are more likely to spring into action. The people who matter most to will be there for certain and the rest will all hopefully make it. Thanks for all the suggestions but going with Januay for the invitations!!

We sent ours 4 months before the wedding.

Even the venue (and it was only a pub!) wanted final numbers (and payment) 6 weeks before the date.