2 invite questions

GoBucksOH

1. My wedding is May 21, 2011. Is March 19 (9 weeks before wedding) too early to mail out the invites? With an RSVP date of April 16 (5 weeks before wedding)? We are inviting about 160 people, the farthest OOT guest will be driving about 2 hours.
 
2. I am including a direction card with the invites. I put directions "from the north", "from the south", etc. What is good wording to say for "once you get here, follow the directions "from the north" ? Instead of repeating the same directions

Thanks!

SaraAndrew2010

Invitations should go out 6-8 weeks before the wedding.  More and more people are sending them out right at 8 weeks, but I wouldn't go much earlier than that unless it is a destination wedding or on a holiday weekend.

Your RSVP date of 5 weeks is awfully early.  You really should give your guests more time to respond.  It can be hard for guests to know that early if they can find a babysitter, take time off work, make travel arrangements, etc.  Try to make your RSVP date as close to the wedding as possible.  3 weeks before the wedding is good.  4 weeks before the wedding is the earliest I think you can politely do.