Local Weddings
If you’re planning a wedding in your local area, the basic rule of thumb is to send out those save the dates 7-9 months in advance. It’s important to think about this from your guests perspective and send them out giving them plenty of extra notice! Not only does sending out your save the dates this early give them advanced notice to mark their calendars, but it also gives them time to request time off from work if needed, make travel arrangements (if they don’t live nearby), find child-care, etc. I promise your guest will appreciate this!
Destination Weddings
If you’ve decided to have a destination wedding, it’s important to send your save the dates out even earlier! It’s recommended to send these out 10-12+ months in advance so that your guests have all the time they need to plan their trip! The most helpful tip I’ve learned is that as soon as your have your date set, venue selected and accommodations figured out for your destination wedding… share that with your guests by getting those save the dates in the mail! The earlier the better, your guests definitely won’t mind all of that extra time to book flights, reserve a room and prep for your special day!!
Pro Tip: If you’re planning a wedding on a major holiday like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve, etc. treating it like a destination wedding and giving your guests advanced noticed is best to ensure they can plan accordingly!!