Ultimate Guide to Wedding Invitations

Key takeaways

Send 8–10 weeks out

Six weeks for a local wedding, twelve if guests need to travel or book flights.

Save-the-dates aren't optional

If you're getting married on a Friday or during a holiday weekend, send them 6–8 months ahead.

The RSVP is the design

Digital RSVPs get replies in days. Paper reply cards get replies in weeks — or never.

One source of truth

The invitation invites. The website informs. Don't try to fit both on the card.

Wording by who's hosting

The host line is the trickiest wording decision. Rules of thumb from 780+ weddings:

Parents of the bride hosting

Mr. and Mrs. James Chen
request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter
Emma Rose
to Michael Thomas Rivera…

Both families hosting

Together with their families,
Emma Chen and Michael Rivera
invite you to celebrate their marriage…

Couple hosting themselves

Emma Chen and Michael Rivera
request the pleasure of your company at their wedding…

Divorced or blended families

List one parent per line, no commas between spouses' names. If both sets of parents are contributing, "Together with their families" solves 90% of the awkward stepparent problem.

What actually goes on the invitation

Host line — who's inviting.
Request line — "request the honor of your presence" (religious ceremony) or "the pleasure of your company" (secular).
The couple's names — traditionally the bride's name first, but this is your call.
Date and time — spelled out for formal, numerals for casual.
Location — venue name, city, state. Street address only on the details card.
Reception line — "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow."
Dress code — one word: Formal, Cocktail, Garden Party, Black Tie.

Paper, digital, or both?

The honest answer in 2026: send a formal invitation (paper or high-quality digital), then run the actual logistics on a wedding website.

What we've seen work best:

A single-card invitation with a QR code linking to the wedding site.
The wedding site handles RSVPs, meal choices, plus-ones, hotel blocks, timeline, weekend events, and a private guestbook.
Save-the-dates go digital — they're informational, not ceremonial.

The RSVP is where digital wins hardest. Paper reply cards get returned two to three weeks late on average. Digital RSVPs come in within 48 hours of send.

The invitation timeline that works

8 months out: Save-the-dates for destination or holiday weddings.
6 months out: Save-the-dates for out-of-town guests.
10 weeks out: Mail the formal invitation.
4 weeks out: RSVP deadline.
3 weeks out: Text the non-responders. Every couple has 10–15.
2 weeks out: Final headcount to caterer.

Frequently asked

How many wedding invitations should we order?

Order one per household, not per person, plus 15% extra for calligraphy mistakes, last-minute additions, and one keepsake.

When should we mail wedding invitations?

8–10 weeks before the wedding for local guests, 12 weeks for weddings requiring travel.

Do we need a save-the-date and an invitation?

Yes, if guests need to book travel or take time off. Save-the-dates confirm the date; the invitation confirms the details.

How do we ask for no kids without being rude?

Address the envelope to only the parents' names, and put "Adult reception, ages 16+" on your wedding website. Never write "no kids" on the invitation itself.

What does RSVP mean and when is it due?

RSVP is French for "répondez s'il vous plaît" — please respond. Set the deadline 3–4 weeks before the wedding so you have time to chase down the 20% who won't reply the first time.

Should we put registry info on the invitation?

No. Put it on the wedding website. Registry info on the invitation reads as asking for gifts.

The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Invitations