Invitation Deadlines: When to Send Save-the-Dates and RSVPs for Your Wedding

When planning a wedding, invitation deadlines, the critical dates for sending and collecting wedding invites and responses can make or break your guest list, catering order, and venue setup. Missing these dates doesn’t just mean confusion—it means overpaying for extra plates, scrambling for seating, or worse, leaving guests out because you didn’t plan ahead. Most couples don’t realize that save-the-dates, early notifications sent 6 to 12 months before the wedding to secure attendance are just the first step. The real clock starts ticking once those go out. You need to send formal invitations 8 to 10 weeks before the event, and then hold tight until the RSVP deadline, the final date by which guests must confirm their attendance passes—usually 3 to 4 weeks before the big day.

Why does this matter? Because invitation deadlines aren’t just about etiquette—they’re about numbers. Studies show that 15 to 25% of guests don’t show up, even if they say yes. So if you invite 120 people, plan for 90 to 100 attendees. That’s why tracking RSVPs isn’t optional. It’s how you avoid paying for 120 meals and ending up with empty chairs. And it’s not just about the guest count. Your photographer needs to know how many people to expect for group shots. Your caterer needs to finalize menus. Your venue needs to arrange seating charts. All of it depends on one thing: timely responses.

Some couples think they can wait until the last minute to send invites, hoping everyone will respond fast. But real life doesn’t work that way. People travel, change plans, or just forget. If your RSVP deadline is two weeks out, you’ll get half your answers in the first three days and the rest in a panic. That leaves you with no time to adjust anything. The smart move? Set your RSVP date 30 days before the wedding, and send reminders at 21 and 14 days out. It’s not pushy—it’s practical. And don’t forget the wedding guest list, the official roster of people invited to your wedding, used to plan seating, catering, and accommodations. It’s not just a piece of paper—it’s your entire event’s foundation.

There’s no one-size-fits-all timeline, but here’s the simple version: send save-the-dates 8 to 12 months out, mail invitations 2 to 3 months out, set the RSVP deadline 4 weeks before the wedding, and finalize your numbers 2 weeks before. That’s it. No guesswork. No stress. Just clear steps. And if you’re worried about who’s coming, what they’ll eat, or where they’ll sit—every answer starts with these deadlines. Below, you’ll find real advice from couples who’ve been there: how to handle no-shows, what the ‘M’ on an RSVP really means, how many people actually show up, and how to budget for save-the-dates without blowing your spending limit. This isn’t about tradition. It’s about making your day run smoothly—without the chaos.