Hello Brides & Grooms to be...
Here is a general timeline that can help you decide what dates your wedding stationery should be sent out and received back. You will need a calendar showing one year before your wedding date. If you are having an engagement shorter or longer than then the typical one year and you are having trouble determining your dates – consult an experienced wedding planner to help you decide what dates will work best for you.
1) Set your wedding date
2) Determine your reference date. You do this by deciding if you have a final guest count due to venue/caterer/restaurant etc...
- NO final guest count is required: use your wedding date as your reference date
- YES a final guest count is required. Use this date as the reference date. For example, if your wedding date is June 5, 2010 and your guest count is due 7 days prior. Your guests count due date is May 29, 2010. You will want to use this as your reference date and not your actual wedding date. Quantity & Cost will be determined by the # you give to your venue/Caterer/restaurant.
3) “Save the Dates” should be sent out to guests 4-6 months before the wedding date; at least 8 months for faraway destination weddings –include travel/accommodation information if possible with your Save the Dates.
4) Wedding Invitations--should be sent out 6-8 weeks before your reference date, 7 weeks prior for interstate guests, and 8 weeks prior for international guests.
5) RSVP date should be set at minimum of 3 – 4 weeks before your reference date.
One week from your RSVP date, contact those who have NOT RSVP'd by the date given and ask them if they will be attending (I say one week from the RSVP date, because some guests may put the RSVP card in the mail the day it is due causing it to be late).
In general 10% of the total # of guests you invite will not respond and will require follow-up contact and this takes time.
Example: 250 invitations = 25 non-responses (10% of 250) = 4+ days of calling to follow up.
As regrets come in, you can mail out additional invitations (up to 3 1/2 weeks before the wedding date) Many brides do this when there are guests that did not make the first cut or if there is a minimum guaranteed guest count that needs to be reached.
6) Invitations to special gatherings such as rehearsal dinner, bridal brunch, bachelor dinnerswill depend on when you set the dates for each event.
If events are part of the wedding week/weekend invitations can be sent with your guest itinerary or 1-2 weeks prior to event date.
If your events are NOT the same week/weekend as the wedding-I would suggest at least a 2-3 weeks minimum notice from the date of the event. This allows guest to arrange to attend.
Most couples are doing the standard Invitation/RSVP system, but some brides and grooms are choosing to put their RSVP online…just another way to get to what you need! If you have any questions please contact us, we are here to help.
Here is a general timeline that can help you decide what dates your wedding stationery should be sent out and received back. You will need a calendar showing one year before your wedding date. If you are having an engagement shorter or longer than then the typical one year and you are having trouble determining your dates – consult an experienced wedding planner to help you decide what dates will work best for you.
1) Set your wedding date
2) Determine your reference date. You do this by deciding if you have a final guest count due to venue/caterer/restaurant etc...
- NO final guest count is required: use your wedding date as your reference date
- YES a final guest count is required. Use this date as the reference date. For example, if your wedding date is June 5, 2010 and your guest count is due 7 days prior. Your guests count due date is May 29, 2010. You will want to use this as your reference date and not your actual wedding date. Quantity & Cost will be determined by the # you give to your venue/Caterer/restaurant.
3) “Save the Dates” should be sent out to guests 4-6 months before the wedding date; at least 8 months for faraway destination weddings –include travel/accommodation information if possible with your Save the Dates.
4) Wedding Invitations--should be sent out 6-8 weeks before your reference date, 7 weeks prior for interstate guests, and 8 weeks prior for international guests.
5) RSVP date should be set at minimum of 3 – 4 weeks before your reference date.
One week from your RSVP date, contact those who have NOT RSVP'd by the date given and ask them if they will be attending (I say one week from the RSVP date, because some guests may put the RSVP card in the mail the day it is due causing it to be late).
In general 10% of the total # of guests you invite will not respond and will require follow-up contact and this takes time.
Example: 250 invitations = 25 non-responses (10% of 250) = 4+ days of calling to follow up.
As regrets come in, you can mail out additional invitations (up to 3 1/2 weeks before the wedding date) Many brides do this when there are guests that did not make the first cut or if there is a minimum guaranteed guest count that needs to be reached.
6) Invitations to special gatherings such as rehearsal dinner, bridal brunch, bachelor dinnerswill depend on when you set the dates for each event.
If events are part of the wedding week/weekend invitations can be sent with your guest itinerary or 1-2 weeks prior to event date.
If your events are NOT the same week/weekend as the wedding-I would suggest at least a 2-3 weeks minimum notice from the date of the event. This allows guest to arrange to attend.
Most couples are doing the standard Invitation/RSVP system, but some brides and grooms are choosing to put their RSVP online…just another way to get to what you need! If you have any questions please contact us, we are here to help.
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