When to send invitations for a destination wedding

mrsrrobinson · July 2, 2011

We sent our save-the-dates as soon as we got back from our scouting trip this past spring. Our wedding is not until March 2012. So I feel like we already gave people the heads up with a website and everything they need to know about booking travel to Jamaica, hotel room blocks, etc.

I know in the US, invites are normally sent 2 months out with the RSVP due 1 month out (right??? not positive). So when do you ladies think I should send out our invitations? Keeping in mind the room blocks must be booked by January.

redginger · July 2, 2011

We sent out our Save-the-Dates as soon as we booked a wedding date and hotel location (about a year in advance). We're planning to send out invitations about 6 months before our wedding, and will ask our guests to RSVP 4 months prior to the wedding. With 4 months, this will give us time to finalize reception costs, favors, OOT bags etc. But if your rooms have to be booked by January, perhaps you should send out formal invitations by September 1st and ask for RSVPs by November 1st (which will give you a 1-month cushion in case you have to track down guests who don't respond -- which will probably happen, unfortunately!

MrsAprilDewees · July 2, 2011

Thanx so much for posting this question because I'm almost in the same boat! I am planning on sending my Save the Date's in a few weeks (when we get our engagement pics back) but had no idea what to do about invitations!!

@Redginger: Thanx for your answer!!! I just booked my wedding for 2 June 2012 and have not yet received the close out date for our room blocks. I need to look into that! ^_^

JayKay · July 4, 2011

We sent our STDs out as soon as we picked a location and secured a date. From there we decided not to do invitations as mostly everyone coming has already booked. We were planning on sending out on invitations about 6 months in advance and asking for an RSVP date of three months prior to the wedding. That way it gives some time for those straglers who can't make their decision that quickly ha!

greatbritain · July 4, 2011

I'm with the other ladies in sending out the STDs as soon as I secure a date but it's about a year in advance (June 2012). I will probably send out invitations in January which will be about 6 months in advance from the date. I assume though that anyone who is already interested in attending would have looked into it and made their decision prior to then but you never know. There are always the stragglers!

Sharon99 · July 5, 2011

We sent out our STDs in March for our May 3 2012 wedding. We have until the end of November for our room block so I have the RSVP on the invitations by Nov 1st. With that being said I still have them sitting at home ready to be sent out but am going to hold off until AugSept. I figure November is early but I have no idea if we will need to add or remove rooms. I am just hoping people actually rsvp! lol! We figured if someone doesnt know they arent coming by Nov then chances are they are not coming at all.