When should I send Invitations?

[Sheree10]

I sent out my STD's in August and plan to send an email or letter(older crowd) to my guests about booking. I'm kind of glad I did it this way-It looks like guests are not in a rush to book. We'll set a Dec deadline to book so we can get some idea of numbers before the new year.

[sarah310]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmshaughness Hi Ladies! I just found this thread so I apologize that I am a bit late to the party My fiance and I are getting married on April 17th, 2010 at the Iberostar Paraiso Beach in Playa del Carmen and I'm super excited! The only problem is that no one has booked the trip yet! I send out STD post cards with the travel agent name and our website (which as a TON of info about travel arrangements) as well as a date that I requested guests contact the agent by. That date was yesterday...there have been several inquiries but no booking. That being said, I am contemplating one of the below timelines for invites in hopes of getting people moving! STD cards sent at the end of June. Send formal invites as soon as possible requesting RSVP's by mid-November (before the holidays begin). OR STD cards sent end of June Send out a letter or email to all guests with all travel information and TA contact info to reiterate the details. Send formal invites in November with an RSVP date in January Any input would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks Ladies!!

Hi! I'm getting married the same date, but at the Occidental Grand Xcaret.

My plan:
STD postcards sent in June
Email in October to remind people to get passports, and give out TA info again
Invites in Jan with RSVP Feb 10.

So far I have 20 people booked -- mostly my family, but it's a start! hopefully with the email more people will start thinking about booking and then on Jan. hopefully everyone will.

[smith3576]

mmshaughness - we went to a wedding there and had a fantastic time! It inspired us to do a DW! Your wedding will be wonderful.

 

Here's my two cents based on our experience. Give your guests plenty of heads-up time with your STD, send them a reminder when various deadlines are approaching, don't send them things in the middle of the holidays, and otherwise don't worry so much about rsvp dates, exact invite date, etc. None of it mattered in the end.

 

We invited 120 and expected around 50. We ended up (rsvp deadline is tomorrow) with 30. We pretty much knew, well ahead of invitations, who was coming for sure. Only one person is coming that we didn't expect. Many AREN'T coming that we thought might, partly because our wedding is in Nov during the week and this makes it hard to schedule for people (money is tight that time of year, vacation days are running out, family obligations)- I wish we'd thought of this before we picked our date - and partly because of the economy tanking.

 

People who have booked rooms have not rsvp'd yet. Lots of people just haven't rsvp'd and we assume they probably aren't coming (what's with that? they're stamped already!!!!). They figured we already know. Deadlines for rooms came and went and people were too busy and so now are doing it (a month out), even people in the wedding party! Some booked the room, but paid WELL after the TA deadline (for non-money reasons - just "busy"). Fortunately our TA was great and was able to accommodate all these last minute reservers/payers/room changers!

 

My point is that there is a limit to how much you can do so I just wouldn't stress to much about things like those exact dates. They'll probably be a little "irrelevant" anyway!

[Paige2010]

I have been wondering the same thing- Im going to go with 4 months for the invitations as well.

[mmshaughness]

Thanks for the input ladies! Smith3576 - it makes me feel better about the situation knowing that it isn't just for my wedding that people get too "busy" to book their trips haha! My FI always tells me not to stress about stuff that will not matter in the end - I should probably take his advice

[bholthof]

We're hoping to send our invites out by mid-late October, with an RSVP deadline of January 31st. I also plan on sending out an RSVP reminder email in mid January, for those people who may have gotten distracted by the holidays.

 

 

Our wedding is set for mid-April, and I want people to have enought time to decide if they can afford it... plus then we'll hopefully have numbers for OOT bags and so on !!

[finleys7]

bholthof

 

That's a long time to have an invitation, I think the RSVP reminder is a good idea, but why not wait until November or send them as soon as you can and put the RSVP for December.

 

Just a thought, I have been victim to knowing you have time to RSVP and then the time passes...

[lara&mike]

We sent out an Evite Save the Date and directed everyone to our website last month, and will have our formal invites printed by next week. We plan on sending those by mid october with an RSVP by Jan 1st. There was a promo on fuel tax out of Toronto if deposits were on by August 31st so we paid 28 deposits and now people just have to pay us (or CC at the travel agency). It's SO frustrating though because now people see no urgency to book b/c we reserved their spot! Even family, which is quite annoying...mostly FI's. I want my money!! HA HA. We ended up saving each couple $200 by doing that, and we can release 25% of the seats...so hopefully we get at least 21 people and I will be happy. We have 6 deposits now but 17 that have "Verbally" confirmed.

[affiwin]

So glad to have found this thread. Thanks ladies for all the great advice. It's definitely a case of "to each her own". Our wedding is booked for end of July 2010. I'm designing an e-STD and have put together an info sheet with TA information etc and info for our website. Next up is invitations. Here's the intended communications plan...

 

Late July 2010 - Wedding

Mid-October - send e-STD (skipping the paper ones as f&f are across the globe) only those with no email access will get a paper STD

Early November - send email requesting mailing address and initial RSVP

Mid January - send invitations (post-holiday rush) with May RSVP deadline (60 day payment deadline)

[mmshaughness]

UPDATE!

 

After sending out a "friendly reminder" letter to our guests, we went from 0 people booked to 20 people booked (out of 50 invited)! It definitely helped to get the ball rolling with people so hopefully it will keep going

 

Thanks again for the input ladies!