Wedding invitation timeline
Figuring out what to send and when to send them can certainly be confusing, so we’ve prepared an insanely uncomplicated outline to keep it simple.
Of course, the rules aren’t set in stone. You’ll find that no two people agree on them, (which only further adds to the confusion), but this timeline can help give you a basic idea, and simplify your decisions down the road.Save the date: Give your guests a friendly heads-up with a simple save-the-date card. This isn’t necessary, but it’s definitely not a bad idea either. A grand idea for your special day, it’ll pique the interest of the masses and get them talking. If you don’t want to go all-out on this expense, send a soft-copy version via e-vite!When to order: Five months before the wedding. For e-vites, start the designing process two weeks before sending them out.
When to send: Three to four months before. If you’re sending them via mail, send them in batches so you don’t miss anyone.Invitations: With the actual invitation, there can be such a thing as too early. Time your invitations so that your guests’ maximum anticipation culminates to align with your special day.When to order: Three months before the big day. You should also talk to your vendor well in advance to see if they’ll be requiring more (or less) time. Remember to give yourself plenty of breathing room.When to send: Four to six weeks before the wedding.Thank you cards: A sweet gesture to thank your guests for their presence and contribution to your special day, sending thank-you cards will definitely leave a smile on their faces!When to order: With your invitations, for the least amount of hassle.When to send: Immediately after the wedding.List of card companies
While this is by no means an exhaustive list of vendors, it can help you navigate the market and serve as a jumping-off point:Ideal Products
A big-name card company, you can find their outlets at Banani Supermarket, Topkhana Road, Motijheel and Uttara.Azad Products
22 Purana Paltan, opposite of Baitulmukarram Mosque.S & S Inkvitations
Announce your special day in style with exclusive designer cards. Check out their Facebook page or call +8801940-494949 to book an appointment.
We’ve already covered where to get the goods, and when to send them out, but there’s another technicality that warrants your attention: How do you get them to your guests?
While this can be tricky, a rule of thumb is to categorise your guests into groups to determine whether you should deliver them in person or send them via courier.
Deliver your invitations in person when the recipient is family, or close friends, or family of close friends. Be considerate and respectful of older generations and put in the effort to meet them, regardless of whether they are immediate family or distant relatives. If you can, personally hand over the invitations to bosses and co-workers.
Send your invites via courier to family members who are out of town, business acquaintances (of yours or your parents’), distant friends and relatives and anyone else you couldn’t meet in person. If you weren’t able to deliver the invites to your bosses and co-workers, you can send them through courier too. Be sure to call and follow up on whether they’ve received it and if they’ll be attending. People adore it when you go the extra mile.
E-vites aren’t as well received simply because we Bengalis love feeling valued, so we tend to expect a lot in terms of hospitality. Nevertheless, you can send the actual invitation via e-vite to family members abroad who absolutely must be a part of your special day, and to your tech-savvy friends who don’t care much for formalities.A great tip to staying organised is to begin the process of address and contact information collection even before the cards are printed. Don’t forget to verify the details and keep ample time for the process; you don’t want any communication mishaps happening!
