Today is all about the destination wedding invitation timelines.
Now, I’m gonna preference this with the fact that this is our opinion, and other stationers may recommend something else based on their timelines and locations.
That being said, let’s begin!
Couples who wish to get married on a beach, or somewhere else a bit more exotic, need to understand something crucial. Their wedding is going to be more of a time and money commitment for their guests than a normal weekend wedding in town. Booking time off and scheduling hotels and airfare for a week needs some (ok, a lot of) advance planning.
By giving your guests as much notice as you can, you allow them to prepare their time off from work, figure out how they are going to incorporate their kids and get their finances in order so that they can celebrate with you!
For any destination wedding, we highly recommend sending out save-the-date cards ASAP. They don’t have to be fancy, but a date and at least the city where the wedding will be held is crucial information.
Here in Alberta, Canada, many people in the oil & gas and farming industries need to book their time off from work 9 months to a year in advance. This is why we advise our clients to send out the save-the-dates between 9-12 months prior to the wedding.
Don’t have that kinda time? (Yes, a year can seem like a long way off!) We recommend contacting your “must-have” guest list by phone as soon as you know your date and details. This gives them the ability to know as far in advance as possible.
Invitations
Once the save-the-date cards have gone out, you can send your invitations out between 4-6 months prior to the wedding. This is where you can really let your theme and the uniqueness of your event shine through!
Invitation cards with the time, date and ceremony location are required. We do, also, recommend adding a details card in to help your guests navigate bookin hotels, flights and other details required for a celebration vacation.
On your response card, have a “set in stone, you must respond by this date” RSVP deadline at least a month prior to the wedding. This way you know numbers, and can pass those details off to the hotel/catering staff. Also, include a line for dietary restrictions that your guests can fill out. That helps your caterers ensure that the food is safe for everyone in attendance!
Have any other questions about destination invitations? Give us a shout!
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