When to send save the dates
Six to eight months before the wedding, for most couples. Make it eight to ten for a bank holiday weekend, and nine to twelve if guests are going abroad. With less than six months to go, skip them and send the invitations.
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Save Our DateChecked on Thursday 1 October 2026
The usual timeline
Count back from the wedding. The further guests have to travel, and the busier the date, the earlier the save the date goes.
| Your wedding | Save the date | Invitation |
|---|---|---|
| Most guests within a few hours' drive | 6 to 8 months before | 3 to 4 months before |
| A bank holiday weekend, or a Saturday in high summer | 8 to 10 months before | 4 months before |
| Abroad, or plenty of guests flying in | 9 to 12 months before | 4 to 6 months before |
| Six months away or less | Skip it | As soon as you can |
These are the timings most UK couples follow, not rules. Anyone who gets a save the date should get an invitation later, so send them only to people you're sure of.
If you're posting them
Paper has to be ordered before the date you mean to send it. With the slowest printer we checked, an evening of addressing and second class post, the last card can take up to 3 weeks to land, so order that far ahead. A link goes out the evening you make it.
Dates that book up early
Guests plan these weekends months ahead and venues fill first, so a save the date for one of them is worth sending at the early end.
- The early May and spring bank holidays, and the August bank holiday weekend
- Saturdays in June, July and September, the busiest wedding months
- The school summer holidays, from early July in Scotland and late July in England and Wales, if lots of guests have children
- Christmas and New Year, when people are already travelling to family
With less than six months to go
Skip the save the date and send the invitations, which ask for an RSVP anyway. If they aren't ready yet, a link sent tonight puts the date in front of everyone while you finish them.
Questions
How early is too early to send save the dates?
More than a year ahead and people tend to forget, unless the wedding is abroad. Twelve months is about the earliest that's useful.
Should we send save the dates before the guest list is final?
Only to people you're certain of. A save the date promises an invitation, so leave anyone you're unsure about until the list is settled.
Does everyone who gets an invitation need a save the date first?
No. Late additions and evening guests can just get the invitation. It's the other way round that matters: everyone who got a save the date needs an invitation.
When should save the dates go out for a Christmas wedding?
Eight to ten months ahead. December diaries fill early with family plans and work parties, so treat it like a bank holiday weekend.
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