Advance Notice: What Is The Right Timetable For Wedding Invitations?

Brides-to-be are often unsure of the timetable to follow when organising wedding invitations. While there is such a thing as “too-far-in-advance” many brides do not leave themselves enough time to find, print, address and deliver their invitations.

Six months prior to the wedding, brides should be actively looking at wedding invitations and should take no more than one month to make their final selection. The invitations, matching envelopes, RSVP cards and envelopes should all be included in the final package. By this point, brides will also need to have an estimate of the number of guests, since the invitations will need to be ordered almost right away.

The language on the wedding invitation should be determined and proofread several times prior to being turned over to the invitation printer. The time, date, and venue all deserve special attention in this regard. Consult with the invitation printer about how much text can be printed on the invitation you’ve selected. Do not try to cram too much information on the invitation.

Also consult with the printer about how much working time they need to produce your invitations. Usually, they will ask for six to eight weeks. Some printers may accommodate “rush orders” but the cost will increase. It’s also important to print some extra invitations, since the cost of producing a second, small order can be much higher.

Send out invitations twelve to fourteen weeks in advance of your wedding. If you’re planning to get married at the height of the wedding or holiday seasons, you’ll want to send your invitations as early as possible. You may also consider sending out a “save-the-date” card several months prior to your wedding, if you think your date may be problematic for some of your guests.

Guests usually are given six weeks to RSVP, and the reception venue and catering staff will want your approximate guest counts as early as four weeks prior to your wedding. Catering staff are usually more flexible, since your food will not be ordered more than a few days in advance of your wedding. The venue will need to know how many tables to set up, and will need a guest count to determine the amount of alcohol to have on hand, if you plan to have it at your reception.

If you plan to have wedding invitations printed, sooner is often better. The timetable for the invitations may seem long, but the printer, the guests and the venue need as much advance notice as possible to help make your day special.

Keywords: Wedding Invitations, Weddingblog, Wedding

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