How and When to Mail Wedding Invitations

As soon as you get engaged, you’re bombarded with checklists and tasks. How are you supposed to know when each task needs to be done? I know it’s overwhelming. So, let’s break down when to mail wedding invitations.

When to send out save the dates

Save the dates should be mailed 6-9 months before your wedding. 9 months is preferable, especially if you’re getting married in peak wedding season. You should send them even earlier if you’re having a destination wedding. Your guests need more time to book their accommodations and make travel arrangements.

When to send out wedding invitations

You’ve probably asked yourself, “When should I send wedding invitations out?” The general rule of thumb is 8-10 weeks. We like to be conservative here and send closer to 10 weeks. Mail takes a long time these days. Also, guests need time to send back their RSVP cards. It’s hard enough to get responses on time!

When to send out rehearsal dinner invitations

The host of the rehearsal dinner should mail rehearsal dinner invitations about 6 weeks before the wedding. Guests should receive their wedding invitation before the rehearsal dinner invitation. However, some people choose to include a rehearsal dinner insert inside their invitation suite. That is totally acceptable!

How to mail invitations

You may feel silly asking this, but it’s actually really common! I regularly hear, “How do I actually mail my invitations?” Or “Can you put wedding invitations in a mailbox?” I recommend taking your wedding invitations directly to the counter at the post office. This way, you can make sure you have the correct postage. You don’t want to drop them in a box without realizing you don’t have enough postage. They could be returned to you or require that postage is paid upon delivery.

Wedding invitation envelope with a combination of regular USPS and pink floral vintage postage.

Don’t let the list of tasks overshadow the joy and excitement of this special season of life. Now that you know when to send out your wedding invitations, breathe a sigh of relief. If you’re ready to order your wedding invitations, browse our collection below!

xo, Gracie