Planning a wedding comes with plenty of moving pieces, and figuring out when to send save-the-dates and wedding invitations is one detail you don’t want to overlook. Whether you’re planning a Wisconsin wedding this year, or looking ahead to next, having a clear stationery timeline helps your guests plan ahead and keeps your wedding planning on track.
At St. James 1868, we’ve seen how thoughtful planning makes a difference. From choosing your venue to finalizing your guest list, getting the timing right helps everything come together.
So, when should you send save-the-dates? And how far in advance should wedding invitations go out? Here’s what to know as you plan your wedding stationery timeline.
Importance of Save the Dates
First things first, what exactly are save the dates? They are preliminary notifications sent out to your guests to inform them about your wedding plans. Their purpose? To ensure that your guests reserve your wedding day on their calendars.
Save the dates are more than just reminders. They set the tone for your wedding. The design, wording, and even the timing of sending them out convey an initial impression of what your guests should expect at your wedding.
Ideal Time to Send Out Save The Dates
You may now be asking yourself, when do save the dates go out? Well, various factors influence this timing.
Firstly, the size and nature of your wedding are essential. A larger, more formal wedding may necessitate more notice. Secondly, destination weddings and weddings involving many out-of-town guests will require sending save the dates earlier to allow guests to plan travel and accommodations.
As a general rule of thumb, it's best to send out save the dates about six to eight months before the wedding. If it's a destination wedding, aim for nine to twelve months prior.
Designing and Preparing Save The Dates
Designing save the dates should be a fun and creative process that reflects your style as a couple. When compiling your guest list, take into account relationships, budget, and venue capacity.
As for preparation, we recommend starting the process at least a month before you plan to send them out. This allows time for addressing envelopes, and unexpected delays.
When Should You Send Save the Dates?
Save the dates are the first official announcement of your wedding. They let guests know your wedding date and give them a heads-up to keep the date open on their calendars.
As a general rule of thumb, plan to send save the dates six to eight months before your wedding. However, your timeline may look a little different depending on the type of celebration you’re planning.
Local weddings: Six to eight months before the wedding is a good starting point
Destination weddings: Nine to twelve months in advance is great to give guests more time to make travel arrangements.
Holiday weekend weddings: Nine to twelve months gives guests extra notice so they can plan and potentially avoid higher travel costs.
The earlier you communicate your date, the easier it is for guests to plan ahead.
What to Include on Your Save the Dates
Save the dates don’t need to include every detail of your wedding. Keep the information simple and save the full schedule for your invitations.
Include:
Your names
Your wedding date
Your wedding location, including the city and state
Your wedding website, if you have one
If you’ve already booked your venue, you can include its name as well. If your wedding website includes hotel blocks or travel information, this is a great time to direct guests there.
When Should You Start Preparing Save the Dates?
Give yourself at least a month to choose a design, confirm your guest list, collect addresses, and order your stationery. If you’re working with a custom stationery designer, allow additional time for design revisions, printing, and shipping.
Digital save the dates are another option if you prefer a simpler process. Either way, make sure your wedding date and guest information are confirmed before sending them out.
When Should You Send Wedding Invitations?
Once your guests have marked their calendars, it’s time to send the official invitation.
Wedding invitations provide the details guests need to attend your celebration, including the ceremony and reception locations, start times, dress code, RSVP deadline, and any other important information.
How Far in Advance Should You Send Wedding Invitations?
For most weddings, wedding invitations should be mailed six to eight weeks before the wedding. This gives guests time to RSVP, finalize their plans, and make any necessary arrangements.
Local weddings: Six to eight weeks before the wedding
Destination weddings: Around three months before the wedding
Holiday weekend weddings: Two months before to allow for extra time.
If you sent save-the-dates well in advance, there’s no need to rush your invitations. Just make sure you leave enough room to collect RSVPs and provide your final guest count to your vendor team.
When Should You Set Your RSVP Deadline?
Your RSVP deadline should give guests enough time to respond while leaving room to finalize your wedding details.
For most weddings, setting your RSVP deadline about three to four weeks before the wedding is a reasonable starting point. However, your venue and caterer may have specific deadlines for final guest counts, meal selections, and seating arrangements.
Before choosing your RSVP date, confirm these deadlines with your vendor team. This is especially important if your reception includes plated meals, dietary accommodations, or a detailed seating chart.
How to Prepare Your Wedding Invitations
Wedding invitations involve more than choosing a pretty design. You’ll also need to finalize the wording, confirm addresses, proofread every detail, and account for printing and mailing time.
Before sending everything out, double-check:
Names and mailing addresses
Ceremony and reception locations
Wedding date and start times
Dress code, if applicable
RSVP instructions and deadline
Wedding website and travel information
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For most weddings, send save the dates six to eight months before the wedding. For destination weddings or celebrations with many out-of-town guests, nine to twelve months of notice is ideal.
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For a local wedding, mail invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding. For destination weddings, consider mailing them around three months in advance so guests have time to finalize travel arrangements.
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Absolutely. Save the dates are helpful, but they're not required. If you're planning a shorter engagement or have a smaller guest list, you can send formal invitations directly, provided guests have enough notice to make arrangements.
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It's best to book your venue and confirm your wedding date before sending save the dates. This helps avoid confusion if your plans change and ensures you have the important details finalized before announcing them.
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For a destination wedding, aim to send save the dates nine to twelve months before the celebration. If guests will need to arrange international travel or take an extended trip, providing even more notice may be helpful.
Bringing Your Wedding Plans Together
Your wedding stationery timeline is just one piece of the planning process, but getting it right can make things easier for both you and your guests. Send save-the-dates early, give invitations enough time to reach everyone, and work backward from your RSVP and vendor deadlines.
Most importantly, remember that every wedding is different. Your timeline should reflect the celebration you’re planning, the people you’re inviting, and the details that matter most to you.
If you’re planning a 2026 or 2027 wedding in Wisconsin, St. James 1868 offers a distinctive setting for bringing your celebration to life. From the historic character of our venue to the details of your reception, we’re here to help you to create a day that feels like your own.
Ready to start planning your wedding at St. James 1868? Explore our venue and get in touch to learn more about hosting your celebration with us.