how much notice?

[Trillian]

Okay, first, we have a bit of a situation when it comes to the wedding. Shortly after we got engaged my fiance and I moved to Philadelphia. My entire family is in ohio, along with all of our mutual friends since that's where we met and first started living together. Therefore, our ceremony will take place in Ohio with everyone from here (basically just his family, and a scant few friends we've made) being invited.

This is making things VEEERY difficult. We aren't having a big ceremony not only because it's not really cost effective, but it's especially not cost effective since I can't afford to go back and forth to central ohio like that.

So, how much notice is too much on the invitations? I was thinking of sending out the invites in January (wedding is May 24) but is that too much notice? Would that lead to false RSVP's? I'm wondering now if I shouldn't do a save the date in January, and an invite in April, so people know it's coming and can actually think about it before RSVP'ing at the last minute or forgetting to do it at all. I don't know if that's too much pomp though. We're having something kind of relaxed.

[ladymelissa]

I would do a save the date about 6 months out. Then invites typically go out 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding, depending on when you need to have RSVPs back.

[TangoWedding]

I would go with your second choice and send a Save The Date notice in January....and then invites at the beginning of April.

[kevinsbride2B]

I agree with Melissa I would send out some save the dates. That way you don't have to worry about anything being too long or too little. Plus you can do something so incredibly cheap too!!! Very cost effective!!!!!!!!!
I didn't send STD's (I still giggle when I type that!) to everyone. Only very out of tow people I wasn't overly close with did I send one to.
Our invitations went out the 3rd week of July for our September 15th wedding.

[mariaandmanish]

I definitely agree with Melissa. I also had a wedding away from where I lived, only about an hour, but still away. 85% of my guests, though, lived 4 or more hours away. Our wedding was in August. We sent out our save the dates in Feb. We sent out our invitations in early May, because our hall was giving us a slightly hard time about our numbers. (Due to the distance, we couldn't really be sure about how many people might really attend). It worked out for us, though. We had confirmed numbers in June, which made my job of seating arrangements and centerpieces and all that much easier!

[Jacklynn]

I agree, do STDs then your invites. I did my STDs in September for my May wedding (a little sooner than I probably should have). My invites went out mid march for my May 12th wedding. The invites were good timing IMO.

I wouldn't send your actual invites in Jan. though, just STDs

[bichonlvr]

I agree do the STD's ahead of time and then invites in the normal timeframe!

Just make sure of the date you have to give your venue the final count! That will make a difference!!!

[frenchie]

I don't know, maybe just send invitations a little later than january, perhaps march - it's well in advance and yet not too much.
STDs makes more stamps :(

[miranda]

My wedding is in December and I did STDs in May and I plan on getting my invites out at least 7 weeks ahead of time, hopefully 8. I'm dealing with the same thing, living in Texas and planning a wedding in Kansas. It's difficult! I feel your pain!

[Trillian]

So what about announcements? I've got people that I know aren't coming, but would still want to be acknowledged (I have sickly grandparents in Illinois for instance) should announcements go out before or after the wedding? I suppose before since I would want them to feel included, not like they're being told after the fact...

[bichonlvr]

We are still inviting these (important) people, but since we are having a small wedding, we will also be sending out a ton of announcements. We are going to do picture announcements with a pic from the wedding, that way people can see a pic from our BIG day!!!