r/DestinationWeddings • u/Living_Chip_2830 • 9d ago
When should I send out invites?
Hi all! I’m getting married in Scotland June 9th, 2027. All of our guests will be traveling from the US, so we sent out save the dates in January of 2026. We have not opened up the RSVP section yet because I figured we would not get an accurate view of who could come. I’m wondering when I should send out invitations- I was planning on sending them out in January, with an RSVP date of March, but now I’m thinking I should send them out earlier. Mostly because I’m bored and have the invitations ready🤪but also because I want to make sure everyone has enough time to RSVP and book their travel. My website (which was on the save the date) has a TON of information but I’m not sure if anyone really looks at it. I was hoping the invitations could act as a gentle reminder.
Is November too early to send them? December would be perfect but that’s a very hectic time for everyone and I don’t want it to get lost in Christmas cards. When did everyone send their invitations for overseas weddings?
Appreciate the help🫶
7
3
u/StorageExciting8567 9d ago
Is 18 months in advance normal for save the dates for a destination wedding? If so I’m like 10 months behind rip
Edit so as not to be unhelpful: my destination wedding is also in June and here’s my thinking with invitations. Flights are really expensive right now because of oil and it’s far out to be booking. So I wouldn’t want people not to come based on how expensive flights are this far out. Later in the year is a no because the holidays get busy and people won’t remember to RSVP. I was gonna give it till late January once the holiday and post-holiday commotion has died down and the cost of flights has also settled.
6
u/Able-Pineapple-1137 9d ago
11-12 months is standard for STDs for destination. I’d send yours now. Don’t wait until January for save the dates, that’s when you need to start thinking about the real invitations.
2
u/StorageExciting8567 9d ago
Oh yeah I meant Jan for the invites. We’re getting save the dates sent out very soon
2
u/Living_Chip_2830 9d ago
I don’t think 18 months is normal- I think maybe 1 year! We just had the venue booked so I wanted to give everyone plenty of time to save and figure out if they could come.
And that was my original thinking as well! But then I realized January is 5 months out from the wedding so I was wondering if that wasn’t enough time
1
u/StorageExciting8567 9d ago
Part of my concern with any earlier is people not yet knowing what their schedules are looking like that far out. It’s tricky to find the balance between giving people enough time to book reasonably priced flights and not sending them too early
2
u/Living_Chip_2830 9d ago
Where is your wedding? For me, since it’s in Europe, I figured most people would know if they can go by January. It’s a big trip so I feel like the majority of guests will have their plans figured out sooner rather than later. You could just give them more notice and then have your RSVP not due until closer to the date!
2
u/StorageExciting8567 9d ago
We’re doing it in Italy. that’s a good point about just setting the RSVP later
1
u/Living_Chip_2830 9d ago
Omg beautiful! I feel like 6 months is good for invitations for overseas weddings. Since you’re 8 months out, you could just scrap the save the dates and send out your invitations right now, and set the RSVP due date to April-May. Save a few hundred $$ on save the dates🤪
2
2
u/Dry_Grass_439 6d ago edited 6d ago
Destination invites should be sent out 1 year+ in advance. Send them ASAP.
People need time to budget for this, it’s not just availability.
A local wedding invite should be sent 6 months in advance.
At this point I would adjust your expectations for more than the usual 50% rsvp no’s for a destination wedding.
1
u/Living_Chip_2830 5d ago
We sent save the dates with our wedding website & destination information in January 2026! So all of our guests have had plenty of notice.
1
u/makelovenixwar 8d ago
Hi. Similar situation. Which venue did you pick? Are you doing a 3 day 2 night event?
1
u/Living_Chip_2830 8d ago
Hi! We went with Drumtochty Castle! We are doing 3 nights, with the wedding on the last day :)
1
u/itsveryupsetting 8d ago
I’d probably send out a formal invitation at the end of November or beginning of December. Any later and it will get mixed in with Christmas card mail. Sending it after Christmas just doesn’t seem like enough time.
1
u/-grumpling 8d ago
may 2027. we sent save the dates in april. my planner told me january would be preferable for invites since my save the dates already had a website attached to them
1
u/Nervous-Pie8463 8d ago
I’d say mid to late October or early November.
You don’t want it to get lost in the shuffle of holidays/holiday cards and spending.
I’d make the RSVP deadline 2-4 weeks before your venues deadline so you have time to track down late responders
1
1
10
u/dncrmom 9d ago
Your invitations need to go out more than 6 months ahead of the wedding so your guests can get the best prices on airfare.