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When to send wedding invitations and save the dates: a UK timeline
There’s no law about it, but these timings give guests enough notice and give you enough time to plan around their replies.
The timeline
- Save the dates: 6 to 12 months beforeAs soon as you have the date and venue. Send them closer to 12 months for weddings abroad, on bank holiday weekends or in peak summer.
- Wedding website live: with the save the datesEven if it’s just the date, the place and “more to come”. Guests will check it as details are added.
- Invitations: 8 to 12 weeks beforeAround three months for a destination wedding. Earlier gives people time to book travel and time off.
- RSVP deadline: 4 to 6 weeks beforeClose enough that people know their plans, early enough for you to chase and confirm numbers.
- Reminders: a week before the deadlineThen a last nudge to anyone still missing just after it.
- Final numbers to the venue: 2 to 3 weeks beforeCheck your contract for the exact date.
- Final details to guests: the week beforeTimings, parking, weather, anything that’s changed.
Do you need save the dates?
If many guests are travelling, it’s a busy time of year or the wedding is abroad, yes. For a small local wedding with a long engagement, you could skip them and send invitations a little earlier instead.
Paper, online or both?
Many couples send a paper invitation and keep the detail and the RSVP online. The card stays simple, guests reply in a minute, and you can update timings without reprinting anything.