Save the Date/Invitation Timeline for "Destination" Wedding

Niki0823

Hello! I will be getting married in March 2014. My fiance and I live in Hawaii where we will be having our wedding, but we only recently moved here. While it won't be a destination wedding for us, it will be for 99% of our guests, most of whom will be flying from the East Coast. It will be quite a trip for most that will require planning/saving, so what do you suggest the timeline for Save the Dates/Invites be?  I'm thinking that I will send the Save the Dates out within the next month, about 11 months ahead of time, and try to include hotel information as well. Is this a good amount of time?  Similarly, when should the invites go out?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

msuprincess04

Sending the save the dates 10-12 months early for a destination wedding isn't completely unheard of. Yes, it is really early, but I understand wanting to give a lot of people notice. However, the actually invitations still won't go out until 3-4 months before the wedding. It's still earlier than a standard invitation, but acceptable for a destination. 

I'm getting married in Mexico in May 2014 and our timeline is similar. 

strlzfan11

6-9 months for the save-the-dates is standard.  If you're going to go against that, wait until airfares are published for March 2014.

The invitations should be sent no earlier than 8 weeks prior to the wedding.  The fact that this is a destination wedding for your guests does not change this.

lyndausvi

STD - 6-9 months

Invites - 6-8 weeks.  I personally think it's okay to push it to 9, but not more than that.

msuprincess04

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_save-the-dateinvitation-timeline-for-destination-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:dd4236c0-09ce-4d42-9044-b06ccc8acf86Post:cb4eb097-6fe3-4d1e-b80a-c9aec70bfab3">Re:Save the Date/Invitation Timeline for quot;Destinationquot; Wedding</a>:
[QUOTE]I think 11 months is fine for STDs, but I agree that there isn't much point in sending them before people can make travel plans such as flights and hotels. If airfares for 2014 aren't available yet, I'd wait until 8 or 9 months out to send them. Invites should still go ou 6 to 8 weeks before, but I think you could do them as early as 10 weeks without it being an inconvenience to your guests.
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]

<div>
</div><div>The only problem I see with this logic is that you are assuming people are booking immediately after getting the save the date. I see the save the date as more of a heads up. If people need/want to save or plan for it, then they have ample time to do so. When we originally tried to plan a DW in 8 months, we were told there was no way our families could do it on such short notice. They'd need to book their travel two to three monthsafter getting the STD and could no way come up with the money that quickly. So, I always suggest sending out a save the date 10-12 months if there is expensive travel involved. </div><div>
</div><div>As for the invitations. At that point, they are a formality. People will have booked their trips way before 6 weeks before the wedding and know whether or not they are going. Plus, I would hope that you already informed your guests who is invited (and who isn't, example: kids) in some other fashion prior to the invitation. But, an invitation is nice and proper, so when they are sent isn't really an inconvenience if sent earlier. </div>

strlzfan11

Right now airfare can be booked through January 30th.  Wait until your wedding date pops up (and maybe like a week after so that people who want to stay and vacation afterwards can book their travel at that time) and send your STDs then.

AdeleDazeem

11 months is fine for STDs.  6 - 12 months is the guideline.  Yes, include hotel information.

Invitations go out in the same time frame as always: 6 - 8 weeks before the wedding.

EDIT: Do not send them 3-4 months before the wedding (12-16 weeks).  That is ridiuclous early and unnecessary.  Invitations go out 6-8 weeks before the wedding - always. 

lyndausvi

You know there is nothing wrong with verbally telling people the date now, right?     

For example: our really great friends got engaged in August and told us a few weeks later when their  Austria date was so we could plan (it was 11 months later).   We got the official STD a few months later.


People have been having OOT weddings for a long time and people have figured how to communitcate the information to their family and friends long before STD became popular.

StephJean83

I agree with sending STDs in the 9 to 12 month time frame and invites in the 6 to 8 week time frame. My sister got married where she lives, which was DW for most guests, they sent STDs like 18 months prior and than invites 9 months prior and had a rediculous early RSVP date. They claimed it was for guests to plan and book flights/car rentals/hotels. In the end, they had 50 to 75 people RSVP yes and not show and wasted a ton of money. For my wedding, most guests will be traveling, so we plan on doing STDs about 11/12 months with invites at the 6 to 8 week mark.

cevans11

FWIW, I  sent out my invites for my destination wedding around 12 weeks, and in hindsight, it was completely unnecessary. I was so worried about people booking in time that I didn't listen to my better judgement (not mention everyone on this board). Now I just worry that people might think I was doing a B list.