If you’re getting married this summer you might be almost ready to send out your wedding invitations. But when’s the best time to post them? How will you know? What if you’re getting married in Europe? Should you send Save the Dates? Are digital invites OK? And as a UK couple, what else will you need to bear in mind before you post your wedding invitations? Save this post for later if you need to: I’ll answer all of your questions so you know exactly when and how to send your wedding invites.

Header image by Jenny Jones Photography

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It’s easy to find loads of advice on the internet about sending wedding invitations. It used to be common practice to wait until 6 – 8 weeks before your big day – but times really have changed! Generally, websites will tell you about 3 – 6 months before your wedding is the perfect time. But that’s not for everyone, and in the UK you’ll need to consider things like bank holidays, school holidays and even the size of your wedding.

And if you read our blog about when to book your wedding photographer you’ll also know how important it is to allow time to choose, design and order your wedding invitations first!

When to start looking for wedding invitations

Start looking for your invitations at least five months before you intend to send them.

Trawling through Pinterest, blogs and discovering all the fabulous wedding stationery designers out there will take time. (It can be pleasantly addictive!) You’ll find you’re drawn to certain styles: perhaps letterpress, handmade, calligraphy invitations or minimal, printed wedding invitations. Narrowing it down to a single design you both agree on will take time!

Then you’ll need to sort out your wordings – and check them carefully – and place your order. Independent wedding stationery designers can get booked up in advance, so you might want to make an enquiry and place your deposit a couple of months before you need your invitations.

As the owner of a busy calligraphy studio I know how important it is to allow time for proof reading your invitations before they’re printed. This often causes little delays when couples are waiting for printers before sending me their invitations to have names added in calligraphy, or envelopes addressed.

If you need your invitations in a hurry, allow up to a week for print and delivery from mainstream printers like Zazzle, Papier, Printed.com and Canva.

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Read our authentic guide to wedding invitation wordings here

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Decide when you want your invitations to land on doorsteps.

If you’re sending invitations by 2nd class post in the UK, expect them to arrive within a week. 1st class is faster, but way more expensive! Are any being sent overseas? Allow 1 – 2 weeks for delivery.

Prices for Royal Mail from the 7th of April 2025:

2nd class (up to 100g and 5mm thick) 87p
2nd class Large Letter (more than 5mm thick) £1.55
2nd class Large Letter (more than 100g) £2.00

1st class (up to 100g and 5mm thick) £1.70
1st class Large Letter (more than 5mm thick) £3.15
1st class Large Letter (more than 100g) £3.60
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Imagine you’d like your guests to receive their wedding invitations in May. Will bank holidays mean they take longer to be delivered?

Could you buy stamps today before prices go up in April? Most wedding invitations will weigh less than 100g, but I would always advise checking!

And something as simple as a little ribbon, a wax seal or a couple of extra inserts that make your invitations thicker than 5mm could mean you’ll pay Large Letter prices for every invitation.

How long will your guests need to book accommodation, days off work (or time out of school) or even flights?

If your wedding will fall in peak holiday season, it’s worth sending your invitations more than 3 months early. You might want to send Save the Dates just so your favourite people don’t book their summer holidays to clash with your wedding.

(If you send Christmas cards, that’s a great time to pop a Save the Date in with your cards. It’s before most people book holidays (in January) and will save you postage!)

If you’re having a destination wedding, some of your guests might decide to extend their trip and turn it into their holiday. Again, it’s worth letting people know your plans nice and early to give them this option.

Guests who work shifts (e.g. doctors, nurses, police) or who work away (military) will also need plenty of notice if it’s important they come to your wedding. Two months might not be enough, so if your important guests fall into these groups, don’t leave it too late! The internet is wrong when it tells you 3 months is the perfect time to send out your wedding invitations!

When should you send out digital wedding invitations?

Digital invites can be super quick and easy to send, and will save you money on print and postage. But all the same rules apply with making sure your guests have enough time to plan their day, their accommodation or their trip.

Digital Save the Dates are a great way to make people aware of your wedding date, especially if you’ve missed the Christmas post! You can always follow up a digital Save the Date with a beautiful printed wedding invitation to set the scene for your day.

So when’s the PERFECT time to send your wedding invites in the UK?

Every wedding is different so really it all depends on you. Here’s your checklist to help you decide:

• Are you getting married in the UK?
• Will you be sending Save the Dates?
  – if people already know your date, you can relax and send invites later!
• Are you inviting your closest friends and family only?
  – Have you already told them your date, and the invitations are just confirmation?
• Does your venue provide enough accommodation?
  – Will guests have to shop around to find somewhere to stay? Give them more time.
• Are you having a wedding weekend?
  – Send early so guests can book time off work
• What are your guests’ personal circumstances?
  – Shift workers and some professions might need lots of notice to book time off work

Remember to order your wedding invitations in plenty of time: 1 – 3 months before you want to send them!