Invitation timing is etiquette, not law, so there isn't one official answer. There are, though, well-established conventions that planners, stationers and etiquette guides largely agree on. They exist for a practical reason: guests need time to book travel, and you need RSVPs early enough to give your caterer a final count.
Here is the timeline we recommend (labelled clearly as conventions), how to adjust it for destination and holiday weddings, and the part that is hard fact: USPS postage in 2026, which went up this year.
The timeline at a glance
| What | When to send / set | Destination or holiday weekend | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Save the dates | 6–8 months before | 8–12 months before | guests need time to request leave and book flights and hotels |
| Wedding website live | when save the dates go out | same | the save the date points to it (website checklist) |
| Invitations | 6–8 weeks before | 8–12 weeks before | enough time to reply, but close enough that nobody forgets |
| RSVP deadline | 3–4 weeks before | 4–6 weeks before | caterers and venues usually want a final count 1–3 weeks out (check your contract) |
| Chase missing RSVPs | the days after the deadline | same | a phone call or text beats a second card |
| Thank-you cards | after the wedding | same | thank-you card wording |
These are conventions. If your venue contract needs the final headcount earlier, work backwards from that date instead.
Save the dates: 6–8 months (8–12 for destination)
A save the date is a heads-up, not an invitation. It needs only the names, the date, the city, and the wedding website address. "Formal invitation to follow" is a common closing line.
Send them earlier than 6 months if:
- most guests will fly, or it's a destination wedding (destination wedding planning);
- the date falls on a holiday weekend (see our 2027 dates guide for which ones they are);
- the wedding is in peak season in a tourist area, where hotel blocks fill early.
Rule of thumb: only send a save the date to people you are certain to invite. Anyone who receives one expects an invitation. Settle the list first (how many guests to invite).
Save the dates don't need to be mailed. An email or digital card is common and saves postage, though some older relatives appreciate paper.
Invitations: 6–8 weeks before
The usual convention is 6–8 weeks before the wedding, earlier (8–12 weeks) for destination weddings or when many guests travel. The same window appears in our wedding planning checklist.
Work backwards to know when to order:
- Order the stationery about 3–4 months out (custom letterpress or calligraphy takes longer than digital printing; ask your stationer).
- Address envelopes 2–3 weeks before mailing. Hand calligraphy needs more lead time.
- Weigh one complete suite at the post office before buying stamps (see postage below).
- Mail 6–8 weeks before the date.
For wording, from the host line to the RSVP card, see the wedding invitation wording guide. To estimate how many invitations, envelopes and stamps to order, use the invitations calculator. Remember that you send one invitation per household, not per guest.
RSVP deadline: 3–4 weeks before
Set the RSVP date 3–4 weeks before the wedding. That leaves time to chase late replies and give your caterer the final count. Many caterers ask for it 1–3 weeks before, but your contract sets the actual date.
- Print the deadline on the RSVP card ("Kindly reply by May 15") or on the website.
- Expect some people not to answer by the deadline. Plan a round of calls or texts.
- The guest count calculator helps estimate how many of the invited will actually attend, and the cost per guest calculator shows what each extra "yes" costs.
Postage in 2026: what an invitation costs to mail
USPS raised prices in July 2026. The current price list (USPS Notice 123, effective October 4, 2026) shows:
| Mailpiece | Price |
|---|---|
| Letter up to 1 oz (Forever stamp) | $0.82 |
| Letter up to 2 oz | $1.11 |
| Letter up to 3 oz | $1.40 |
| Letter up to 3.5 oz (letter maximum) | $1.69 |
| Each additional ounce | $0.29 |
| Nonmachinable surcharge (letters) | +$0.49 |
| Postcard (a common save-the-date format) | $0.65 |
| Over 3.5 oz: large envelope (flat), 1 oz | $1.69, +$0.29 per extra ounce |
| International letter, 1 oz | $1.75 |
What makes an invitation "nonmachinable" (USPS DMM 101.1.2), and therefore $0.49 more expensive:
- an aspect ratio (length ÷ height) under 1.3 or over 2.5, which covers square envelopes;
- rigid pieces that don't bend easily;
- clasps, strings, buttons or similar closures;
- uneven thickness from items inside (ribbons, charms, a lumpy wax seal can count);
- the address running parallel to the short side.
Examples:
- Standard rectangular invitation, 1 oz: $0.82
- Full suite with RSVP card and envelope, 2 oz: $1.11
- Square invitation, 1 oz: $0.82 + $0.49 = $1.31
- Put a stamp on the RSVP envelope too (guests shouldn't pay to reply): add $0.82 per invitation.
For 100 households, the difference between a flat 1 oz rectangle with a stamped RSVP ($1.64 each, $164) and a square 2 oz suite with a stamped RSVP ($1.11 + $0.49 + $0.82 = $2.42 each, $242) is real money. Weigh one finished suite at the post office counter before you buy stamps.
Common timing mistakes
- Sending save the dates before the guest list is final. You can't un-send one.
- Mailing invitations too early (4+ months). Guests set them aside and forget.
- Setting the RSVP deadline after the caterer's final-count date.
- Guessing postage. Under-stamped invitations can come back to you, or arrive with postage due.
- Forgetting international guests. Their invitations cost $1.75 for 1 oz and take longer, so mail them first.
- No wedding website on the save the date. It's where travel and hotel details live.
FAQ
Is it rude to send invitations 4 weeks before?
It's late by convention and leaves travelling guests little time. For a small local wedding it can work, but 6–8 weeks is the safer window.
Do I need save the dates at all?
No. They are a convention, not a requirement. They matter most when guests travel or the date is a holiday weekend. For a local wedding with a short engagement, invitations sent a little earlier (8–10 weeks) can do both jobs.
Can save the dates and invitations be digital?
Yes. Digital save the dates are common. Paper invitations are still the traditional choice for formal weddings, but etiquette is a matter of taste, not a rule.
How much postage does a wedding invitation need?
At least $0.82 for a standard 1 oz rectangular envelope in 2026. Add $0.29 per extra ounce and $0.49 if the envelope is square, rigid or lumpy. Add a stamp for the RSVP envelope as well.
Sources
- USPS Notice 123, Price List (effective October 4, 2026): 1 oz letter $0.82, 2 oz $1.11, 3 oz $1.40, 3.5 oz $1.69; nonmachinable surcharge $0.49; postcard $0.65; large envelope 1 oz $1.69; international letter 1 oz $1.75: https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 101.1.2, nonmachinable criteria for letters: https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/101.htm
- Timing (save the dates 6–8 / 8–12 months, invitations 6–8 / 8–12 weeks, RSVP 3–4 weeks) reflects widely used etiquette conventions, not a rule or a survey statistic.
- Postage figures checked on 27 October 2026. USPS changes prices periodically.