Save-the-Dates and Wedding Invitations: When to Send What
Direct answer
Save-the-dates: 6–8 months before the wedding (lean to 8 for a destination or holiday weekend), and no later than 6 months. Formal invitations: 6–8 weeks before for a local wedding, 8 weeks for destination, 9–10 weeks for overseas guests. Order your invitations 12–14 weeks ahead to allow for printing and shipping. If your engagement is short and you skipped save-the-dates, send invitations about 3 months out. Set the RSVP deadline roughly 3–4 weeks before the wedding so you can give the caterer a final count.
Work backward from the caterer's count deadline
The RSVP date isn't arbitrary — it's set by when your caterer and venue need a final headcount, usually a couple of weeks before the wedding. Set the RSVP deadline about 3–4 weeks out to leave time for the inevitable chasing of non-responders (plan to personally follow up with 10–20% of your list). Then back up from there: invitations 6–8 weeks before means the RSVP window is 3–5 weeks, which is exactly right. Save-the-dates, months earlier, exist mainly to protect your date on guests' calendars and give travelers time to book — they're not optional for destination weddings.
Assumptions
- US wedding-platform etiquette guidance (industry-doc).
- The RSVP-deadline figure (~3–4 weeks) is an estimate — no platform publishes an exact number.
What changes this answer
- Destination or overseas guests need earlier save-the-dates and invitations for travel booking.
- Short engagement: skip save-the-dates and send invitations ~3 months out.
- Your caterer's final-count deadline may pull the RSVP date earlier.
Common questions
How many weeks before the wedding should invitations go out?
6–8 weeks for a local wedding, 8 weeks for destination, and 9–10 weeks if guests travel from overseas. Order the invitations 12–14 weeks ahead to allow for printing and mailing.
Sources
- The Knot — save-the-date etiquette — tier 3, verified 2026-07-23
- The Knot — when to send invitations — tier 3, verified 2026-07-23
Last checked 2026-07-22. Tiers: 1 government/regulator · 2 industry body · 3 official supplier docs · 4 large surveys · 5 professional material.