The timeline at a glance
| When? | What to do |
|---|---|
| 8–12 months before | Save-the-date – especially if many guests travel from afar or the wedding falls in a holiday season. |
| 3–4 months before | Send the invitation with the full schedule, venues and RSVP deadline. |
| 6–8 weeks before | A reminder for guests who haven’t replied. |
| 4–6 weeks before | RSVP deadline – leaving time to give final numbers to your venue and caterer. |
| 2–3 weeks before | Finalise the seating plan and pass on menu choices. |
| 1 week before | Last details for guests: parking, weather, any changes. |
Why 3–4 months?
It gives guests enough time to book time off, arrange accommodation and childcare – without being so early that they forget. For guests travelling from abroad or a destination wedding, send it 4–6 months ahead.
When should the RSVP deadline be?
Most venues and caterers ask for final numbers 3–4 weeks before the event. A deadline 4–6 weeks ahead leaves you time for reminders and the seating plan. With an online invitation, replies appear in your account instantly, so there’s no chasing people by phone.
What about late replies?
There will always be some. Your thisisyes account shows at a glance who hasn’t replied and who has opened the invitation at all. Send them a friendly reminder with one tap, using the same personal link.
Online invitations make changes easy
If something changes before the wedding – the dinner time or the parking, say – update the invitation in your account and guests will see the latest information at the same link. Nothing to reprint or re-post.