When To Send Wedding Invitations

Details are a huge part of the wedding planning process. Sending your wedding invitation at the appropriate time is a simple yet crucial detail. So, when is the right time to send your invitations?

When To Send Out Wedding Invitations

Sending your wedding invitations too early or too late can unfortunately come off as impolite. Here is a look at some typical timeline rules:

Save The Dates: Can be sent out as early as a year in advance.
Wedding Invitations: Six to eight weeks in advance of the wedding.
Destination Weddings: Invitations should be sent out at least three months in advance.

Wedding Invitation Etiquette

Traditionally speaking, all wedding invitations should be as formal or informal as the event itself. Today, though, invitations can be designed to reflect more casual events, meaning they do not need to be as formal as years past.

One thing that remains the same is the basic wedding invitation etiquette. This will include what information is listed on the invitation, how the envelopes need to be addressed and the time of sending.

What To Include In Wedding Invitations

There are a few traditional and optional elements one may find in a wedding invitation, including the following:

Invitation.
Postage.
Envelope.
Response Card And Envelope.

Wedding Invitation

The wedding invitation suite needs to include the invitation, obviously, yet many couples forget to include other key elements. Forgetting to include details like time, date and location are surprisingly common. It’s vital to include both the location of the ceremony and the reception. One more thing that a couple might omit by accident is a corner copy. A corner copy is a great place to include quick details, such as ‘reception follows ceremony’, especially if both are in the same location.

Response Card

Couples used to send a single letter sheet invitation with guests using their own supplies to respond. Nowadays, response cards make everything so much easier. No couples will expect a guest to use their own supplies to respond to an invitation. Remember to include a pre-addressed envelope and stamp to make the guests’ experience as convenient as possible. An easy way to this is by numbering each guest on the guest list, then writing that number on the back of the corresponding response card.

Yes, you can completely forego response cards, but always be considerate of the older guests you may be inviting to the ceremony. Consider sending traditional response cards to older guests who may not be as equipped to respond online.

Postage

It’s quite possible the envelope will weigh more than standard postage covers with all the stationery you have to include. Get the invitation suite weighed at the post office to determine what postage you will need. You should go over stamp options at this time, as well. There is a surprisingly large amount of stamp options available for weeding invitations.

When mailing the invitations, ensure that the stamps be hand-canceled instead of machine-canceled. All stamps must be canceled when sent out so they cannot be reused. If you put the return address on the back of the envelope, sometimes the machine may have difficulty reading it properly.

Envelope

You will need a proper envelope to send out the invitations. Thankfully, you will not have to write on each envelope yourself since many stationery companies offer addressing services.

Optional Elements To Include:

Reception Card.
Inner Envelope.
Directions.
Accommodations Card.
Invitation Wrapper.
Weekend Events Card.

Invitation Suite Details

Of course, the design of the invitation is up to you, but wedding planners suggest you tie in your wedding theme, if possible. This can be done through specific designs or colors.

The invitation suite can include the following details:

Appropriate Attire For Guests.
Map To The Wedding Location.
Accommodation Details.
Information On Wedding-Related Activities.

An RSVP card can be included here, as well. Don’t forget to toss in a self-addressed, stamped envelope!

Shop Signatures In Glendale, Arizona

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At Signatures, our custom wedding invitations are all about you, our valued client! We know that everyone of our client’s event is special and important to them. We can handle custom invitations from an elegant wedding, to a backyard birthday party. We turn your custom invitation dreams into reality with one-of-a-kind invitations. We will help you with designing the best and most appropriate invitation for your special event or occasion in Phoenix, Arizona