Your wedding invitation gives your guests crucial information they need to help plan for your wedding. Send it too late and they might not have adequate time to prepare. Send it too early, and they may end up forgetting details or losing information. That’s why, as a wedding stationery designer, I’m here to help make your wedding invitation timeline simple.

I know firsthand that planning a wedding brings an endless list of decisions and deadlines. The last thing you need is one more schedule to keep straight! So today I’m walking you through exactly when to design, order, and send your most important wedding stationery pieces.

For a stress-free timeline, keep reading!

(Or if you’d prefer that a professional handle everything, from etiquette to design to mailing, reach out today.)

When to Send Out Your Wedding Invitations, By Month

If you love visuals, you’ll love this chart. Simply use the month of your wedding to find out when to send your invites. As a rule, invitations go out about 3 months before the big day.

(Though if you’re planning a destination wedding, send them even earlier to give your guests time to arrange travel.)

Wedding Month	Send Invitations In
January	October
February	November
March	December
April	January
May	February
June	March
July	April
August	May
September	June
October	July
November	August
December	September

Looking for more detailed information about your complete wedding invitation timeline? Keep reading to learn exactly what I recommend as a wedding stationery designer (and why).

When to Hire a Wedding Stationery Designer

When it comes to hiring a wedding stationery designer, the earlier the better. The custom design process takes quite a bit of time, and many couples make the mistake of reaching out too late.

Aim to book your stationer 8 to 12+ months before your wedding. That extra time gives us the room to get every detail right, from watercolor venue illustrations to a custom map to a hand-pressed wax seal.

If save the dates are part of the plan, keep in mind they mail months before your invitations, so we’ll want to begin even sooner to give them the same care as the rest of your suite.

And if your wedding is coming up faster than that, don’t worry. Shorter timelines are something I work with all the time, and we can come up with a plan that still feels calm and beautifully you.

When to Send Save the Dates

Once your date and venue are set, it’s time to send your save the dates. 

For a local wedding, send them 6 to 8 months before the big day.

For a destination wedding, send them 9 to 12 months before, since your guests will need extra time to book flights and request time off. You can always send them earlier if you’d like to give people more notice.

Check out my full save the date guide for a detailed look at save the date etiquette, timeline, and mistakes.

When to Send Wedding Invitations

Your invitations are the piece your guests have been waiting for, so this is where the timing really matters. When working with me as your custom stationer, I finalize your design and send everything to print around 4 to 5 months before your wedding. 

Once everything is printed, I assemble each piece by hand and get your invitations in the mail. For local weddings, mailing happens about 3 months before your date.

Things may get a little hectic if you’re mailing around a major holiday, so you might want to consider giving yourself more time.

When to Send Wedding Invitations for a Destination Wedding

If you’re having a destination wedding, you’ll want to mail your invitations a little earlier than a local wedding–around 4 to 6 months before. Your guests are booking flights, reserving hotels, and taking time off work. Giving them plenty of time makes their whole trip easier to plan.

Images: Lauren Peterson & Rebekah Smith

When to Set Your RSVP Deadline

So you’ve sent out your invites, but how long should you give guests to RSVP for your wedding?

Your vendors really drive your RSVP deadline, especially your caterer, who needs a firm headcount to finalize meals. For a local wedding, set it about 4 to 6 weeks before your date. That gives you time to chase down the last few replies and hand over an accurate count.

You may want to build in a little cushion, since a few guests always answer at the last minute. 

When to Set Your RSVP Deadline for a Destination Wedding

For a destination wedding, move your deadline up to at least 6 to 8 weeks before your date. Your guests are booking travel and confirming plans, so the extra lead time helps you lock in numbers before any hotel room blocks or group rates expire.

When to Send Wedding Shower Invitations

If you’re having a wedding shower, it usually takes place somewhere between two weeks and two months before the wedding. Its invitations follow their own timeline. 

For most showers, the host should send them 4 to 6 weeks before the date.

That gives guests time to RSVP, pick out a gift, and sort any travel. 

If working with a stationer, we’ll need time to design and print your custom shower invitations. We would want to start the process around 8 to 10 weeks before the shower.

Setting the RSVP deadline about 2 to 3 weeks before the shower is all you need for the final headcount for food and seating.

When to Order Your Day-of Stationery

Your day-of stationery is everything your guests see at the wedding itself—menus, programs, seating charts, and signage. Because these pieces depend on your final count, the design starts earlier but the order comes together near the end. 

Plan to start the design around 3 months before your wedding, right alongside your invitations, so everything shares the same look. Then, once your RSVPs are in, the final pieces get ordered about 2 to 4 weeks before your date. Starting the design early means nothing feels rushed once your numbers are locked in.

Images: Heather J. Photography

When to Send Thank You Cards

Send your thank you cards as soon as you can after your wedding. Etiquette gives you up to three months, but the sooner the better while the gratitude is fresh. You can order them right alongside your day-of stationery, so they are ready and waiting for you.

Getting the Wedding Invitation Timeline Right

Getting your wedding invitation timeline right comes down to starting early and letting each piece build on the last. When you book your stationer 8 to 12+ months out and follow the steps through to your final thank you card, you keep your guests informed and your planning calm.

And if you’d prefer to work with a professional who walks the whole journey with you, reach out! I would love to help create a stress-free experience for you.