Here is my plan:
Wedding day: April 13, 2014
Save the dates: Sent last week (the Hangover theme went over very well
Send the invites: October 1
RSVP date: Dec. 31/January 1
This gives people two months to get their shit together, and me plenty of time to plan the rest of the wedding once I know how many people are definitely coming (i.e. what we can afford for a M+G and after dinner celebration, welcome bags). I'm assuming I won't have the final tally until a couple of weeks after that as we will have to hunt some people down.
Is this fair to my guests? Should they know by the end of the year if they are attending? Anyone care to share their experience? I'm wondering how difficult it's going to be to get people to commit.