page 93 X metropolitan weddings
X winter / spring 2026
INVITATION SUITE timing is everything!
Yay! Plans are in the works and it is time to invite your family, friends and all of your favorite people to your wedding. When should you send out Save the Dates? How about invitations? How long does the printing process take? When should I request RSVPs? Jacqueline Gold, owner of Gold Wedding Designs is a printing expert. Having worked in the wedding printing business since 2007, she shares her wisdom to help answer these questions and give all the details you need to make sure you get those invitations out on time.
12 MONTHS OUT:
Create the guest list, complete with mailing addresses. Start now compiling the list of your favorite people you want at the wedding. Go ahead and get their current addresses while you are at it, we promise, this will save you lots of phone calls and texts later!
6-9 MONTHS OUT:
Now is the time to send out Save the Dates, especially if you are having a destination wedding. Be sure to give your out of town guests plenty of time to make travel plans.“ Six months or so is a good time to send out Save the Dates. That gives your guests not too much time to possibly forget about it, but just enough time for out of town guests to make arrangements for hotel accommodations and traveling,” advises Jacqueline.
4-6 MONTHS OUT:
Order your invitations! If you are ordering from a printer, place your order at least 4 months in advance for local weddings or 6 months in advance for destination weddings. This will allow time for design, proofing, production, assembly, and mailing your invitations, while providing ample notice for your guests. Jacqueline cautions,“ not allowing enough time to order the exact invitation they are wanting is what I try to avoid. When the process is rushed, mistakes are made, errors are overlooked and could result in a reprint or additional cost in mailing a second details card.”
For professional printing, expect a 2-3 week turnaround. If you want a calligrapher to address your invitations, allow an additional 2-3 weeks before you can put these in the mail.“ Most of my brides take advantage of my envelope printing services. I am able to print on the envelope in any color of ink and keep the font styles consistent to the invitation. Makes for a complete, clean, and classy look to the invitation. But occasionally I do have a bride that wants to hand address them for more personal touch and I always include extra envelopes in case of mess ups,” says Jacqueline.
For destination weddings, send the invitations out at least 3 months ahead of your date.
Order your thank you notes. You will want to have those on hand to get started thanking all of those kind folks for the lovely presents when you return from your honeymoon!
6-8 WEEKS OUT:
Pick out your favorite stamps and mail those invitations, especially if your wedding is local. By mailing your invitations 6-8 weeks out prior to your wedding, this allows your guests time to clear their schedules and RSVP in time. If you mail them out too early, you run the risk of your guests not knowing their final schedules and having to change their RSVP status- creating more chaos for you! The 6-8 week timeline is the sweet spot to get a final head count, allowing you reasonable time to invite your B-list wedding guests if needed. Plus we all know how unreliable the mail is and you never know when an unforeseen circumstance( snowstorm, government shutdown, traffic accident with a mail truck) might delay delivery.
3-4 WEEKS OUT:
The RSVP deadline! While many guests will RSVP as soon as they receive the invitation, we all know many people wait until the last minute. By setting your RSVP deadline 3-4 weeks from your wedding, you allow yourself time to track down those errant RSVPs so that you can have an accurate headcount for your caterer and time to create the perfect seating chart.
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Wedding invitations are a multi-step process. Working with a printer with wedding design experience can help you figure out your best options, while avoiding over spending and making sure things are perfectly ready to mail. Have a timeline prepared for when to order and send each piece, giving your guests, and you, an appropriate amount of time to plan. Remember, timing is everything!
TIMING IS EVERYTHING invitations Gold Wedding Designs X xoxo
WRITTEN BY X MEG DANIEL | INVITATION SUITE BY X GOLD WEDDING DESIGNS | PHOTO X GAMBLES PHOTOGRAPHY