When to Send Invites..

MsAmeera25

My wedding date is 5.20.12. My RSVP date is April 15th. I figured it would give me 1 week or so to wait for late ones, another week or two to track people down and that puts me 15 days out from the wedding when the final #'s are due.

I have a lot of people traveling from OOT about 25ppl and Out of the County about 45ppl.

I sent STDS in August but i'm starting to think my family doesnt know what that is since a ton of them are still asking when is the wedding. Where etc. 

When should I actually send the invites out? Do you think Feb 1st is too soon?

Or do you think I should send the invites to the OOT and Out of country guests in Feb and the rest in March?

I originally planned to give them 6 weeks to RSVP but all these phone calls are making me nervous...

TIA

Avion22

6-8 weeks prior to the wedding is about right.  In your case I'd go more towards 8 weeks.

adamar15

I would stick with your original plan of sending them 6 weeks out.  They're most likely forgetting when/where the wedding is because you sent STDs out WAY early.

MsAmeera25

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_send-invites-4?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:54420fbc-a7ad-4b66-b4c6-37e1958326e4Post:e9f13ec8-0741-46d5-b678-8446f0579489">Re: When to Send Invites..</a>:
[QUOTE]I would stick with your original plan of sending them 6 weeks out.  They're most likely forgetting when/where the wedding is because you sent STDs out WAY early.
Posted by adamar15[/QUOTE]

I thought it was okay to send them between 6-9 months??

MsAmeera25

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_send-invites-4?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:54420fbc-a7ad-4b66-b4c6-37e1958326e4Post:38feac70-5329-4e0a-8967-364a60285933">Re: When to Send Invites..</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to When to Send Invites.. : I think this must be a typo (I haven't checked you bio).  You are getting married on May 20 with an RSVP date of April 15? I would send out of country ones probably 9-8 weeks (you never know how long it will take to get there).  In country ones I would do at about 6 weeks.
Posted by crfb87[/QUOTE]

No its not a typo, my venue requires the final #'s 15 days before the wedding.

aragx6

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_send-invites-4?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:54420fbc-a7ad-4b66-b4c6-37e1958326e4Post:aad429aa-29ba-425e-a206-185085f6d376">Re: When to Send Invites..</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: When to Send Invites.. : No its not a typo, my venue requires the final #'s 15 days before the wedding.
Posted by MsAmeera25[/QUOTE]

Which would be the 5th of May, right? I really don't think you need three full weeks to track down stragglers. I would make your RSVP date Thursday, April 19th (no sense is having it be a Sunday when no one can send mail anyway) and start calling any non-responders on Monday, April 23.

MsAmeera25

MY question is not when my RSVP date should be. We are inviting 320 people so depending on how many straglers I may need 3 full weeks to track people down.

My question is when should I send my invites since a lot of family is from out of the country, given mailing time to get there and mailing time for them to send them back etc.

MattsPenguin

My wedding date was May 21st.  We sent out invites on March 21st, and had an RSVP date of May 4th.  We also sent STD's in September.

I would recommend sending them out mid to late March.  That's still 8 weeks.  If people can't figure out the date with it in their hands, then they are the ones having issues with their travel plans.

ETA: we also invited 340 people, but our final numbers weren't due until a week before, actually like 4 days before.

aragx6

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_send-invites-4?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:54420fbc-a7ad-4b66-b4c6-37e1958326e4Post:f9e9660a-71a2-4532-bdcf-9f7de2569f61">Re: When to Send Invites..</a>:
[QUOTE]MY question is not when my RSVP date should be. We are inviting 320 people so depending on how many straglers I may need 3 full weeks to track people down. My question is when should I send my invites since a lot of family is from out of the country, given mailing time to get there and mailing time for them to send them back etc.
Posted by MsAmeera25[/QUOTE]

But the point is, if you set the RSVP date early, you're more likely to have more stragglers -- it's a give and take thing. Given that you need your final count in as early as you do, I would still not send them more than 8 weeks out (<em>maybe</em> 9) -- that will still give them 3-4 weeks to respond. That shouldn't be a problem for anyone.

MsAmeera25

Thanks everyone!

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

I mailed my international invitations about 12 weeks before the wedding, and told those people they could respond by email (not knowing how long it would take for the card to get back, and not being able to put international postage on the RSVP card).

Most of the rest of my guests were OOT, but still in the US. I sent my invitations a little early - about 9 weeks - since we had people ask for them, and since most were traveling several thousand miles. It worked fine.

Also, I did send STD postcards 7 months before the wedding, but most people didn't book hotel rooms, etc until after they got the invitation. Their problem, right?

MsAmeera25

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_send-invites-4?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:54420fbc-a7ad-4b66-b4c6-37e1958326e4Post:7f693be0-cc42-43bc-b0c8-df950fadbac0">Re: When to Send Invites..</a>:
[QUOTE]I mailed my international invitations about 12 weeks before the wedding, and told those people they could respond by email (not knowing how long it would take for the card to get back, and not being able to put international postage on the RSVP card). Most of the rest of my guests were OOT, but still in the US. I sent my invitations a little early - about 9 weeks - since we had people ask for them, and since most were traveling several thousand miles. It worked fine. Also, I did send STD postcards 7 months before the wedding, but most people didn't book hotel rooms, etc until after they got the invitation. Their problem, right?
Posted by msmerymac[/QUOTE]

This was really helpful, thank you! I think I am going to let them know they can RSVP via email or call me if they would like. I hadn't thought about this.

Sydney91

I have never received a wedding invite later than three months before the wedding.