When to send wedding invitations: a UK timeline
Send save-the-dates 9–12 months before the wedding; send invitations 6–8 weeks before (10–12 weeks for a destination wedding); and set the RSVP deadline 3–4 weeks before the day.
Timing your invitations is one of the few wedding tasks with a genuine right answer — send too early and guests forget, too late and they’ve made other plans. Below is a simple UK wedding invitation timeline, a checklist of what to include, and why a digital wedding invitation makes the whole schedule far more forgiving.
The wedding invitation timeline
- 9–12 months before
Send your save-the-dates
The first announcement. It locks your date into guests’ calendars long before the formal invitation — earlier still for a destination or a holiday-season date. See digital save-the-dates for how far ahead to send them.
- 6–8 weeks before
Send your wedding invitations
The sweet spot for a UK wedding: late enough that plans are firm, early enough that guests can book time off and arrange travel. This is when the full details go out — venue, timings and how to RSVP.
- 10–12 weeks before
Send invitations for a destination wedding
Travelling abroad, or asking guests to? Give them longer — 10 to 12 weeks — so they can book flights, accommodation and leave. Pair it with an early save-the-date so no one is caught short.
- 3–4 weeks before
Set your RSVP deadline
Ask for replies about three to four weeks before the day. That leaves time to chase stragglers, give your venue and caterer final numbers, and finish the seating plan without a last-minute scramble.
- Within ~2 weeks after
Send your thank-yous
Aim to send thank-you notes within a couple of weeks of the wedding (gifts sent early deserve a note sooner). A digital thank-you keeps the list manageable while it’s all still fresh.
What to include on your wedding invitation
Whatever the format, every invitation needs to answer the same questions clearly. Work through this checklist before you send — and if you’re unsure how to phrase any of it, our wedding invitation wording guide has ready-to-copy templates.
- Your names. Whose wedding it is — traditionally the couple's names, and the hosts' names if they're inviting.
- The date. The full day and date, written out clearly so there's no ambiguity.
- The time. When to arrive — and consider noting the ceremony start so no one is late.
- Venue and address. The name and full address of the venue (both venues if the ceremony and reception differ).
- Dress code. A short line — black tie, lounge suits, garden-party — so guests know what to wear.
- RSVP method and deadline. How to reply and by when. A link or QR code makes this effortless; a card needs a return address.
- Your wedding website or link. One place for directions, accommodation, timings and updates — ideal on a digital invitation.
- Any extra details. Parking, children, plus-ones, gift wishes or a hashtag — whatever your guests need to know.
How digital invitations make timing forgiving
The timeline above assumes printing and posting — weeks of lead time, and no take-backs once the cards are in the post. A digital invitation loosens every one of those constraints:
- Send the instant you're ready. No print run, no postage — running a little behind on the 6–8 week mark costs you nothing.
- Update the same link. Venue moved or a time changed after you've sent? Edit once and every guest sees it — no reprint, no re-send.
- Chase RSVPs live. Replies land in a dashboard as they arrive, so you can nudge the guests who haven't answered as your deadline nears.
- One link, start to finish. The same address can begin as a save-the-date and become the full invitation, so guests never lose it.
The dates still make good sense as a guide — guests appreciate notice. But when your invitation is a link rather than a stack of envelopes, missing a target by a week is a quick edit, not a reprint.
Ready whenever you are
Start with a digital save-the-date today, and grow the same link into your full digital wedding invitation — sent in minutes, edited anytime.
Create yoursWedding invitation timing FAQ
How far in advance should you send wedding invitations?
For a UK wedding, send your invitations six to eight weeks before the day. That's late enough for your plans to be firm but early enough for guests to arrange time off, travel and childcare. Send save-the-dates much earlier — around nine to twelve months ahead — so the date is in the diary long before the formal invitation lands.
Is six weeks enough time to send wedding invitations?
Yes — six weeks is within the standard six-to-eight-week window for a UK wedding, provided most guests are local and you sent save-the-dates earlier. If many guests are travelling or you didn't send save-the-dates, lean towards eight weeks or more so no one has to scramble. Digital invitations help here: you can send the moment you're ready, with no printing or posting delay.
When should you send invitations for a destination wedding?
Send destination wedding invitations ten to twelve weeks before the day, and back them up with a save-the-date nine to twelve months out. Guests travelling abroad need extra runway to book flights, accommodation and leave, so the earlier they have firm details, the more of your guest list will make it.
When should you send save-the-dates?
Send save-the-dates around nine to twelve months before the wedding — earlier for a destination or a peak holiday-season date. A save-the-date shares just the essentials: your names, the date and a note that full details are to follow. With a digital save-the-date the same link can later grow into your full invitation, so guests never lose track of it.