When Should You Send Wedding Invitations (And Get RSVPs Back)?

You might’ve Googled this already and ended up more confused than when you started — because there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But don’t worry: I’m here to guide you through your timeline, especially if you're planning your wedding in Manchester or Cheshire.

Here’s what to consider, what’s reasonable, and how to make this work your way.

Save the Dates: When & Why

If you have guests who’ll travel (or have to book time off work) — especially for weddings abroad, bank holidays, or weekday celebrations — sending save the dates can be a kind gesture.

A creative save the date tea-towel

• I usually suggest sending them 9 to 15 months before the wedding.

• If you’re on a tighter timeline, 9 months in advance is totally acceptable.

• Just know: sending a save the date often opens the floodgates for questions — so be ready for “What’s the dress code?” or “Where is the venue?” DMs may follow!

  
  

When to Send the Invitations

Now we get to the juicy bit. The timing depends quite a lot on your venue, location, and how far your guests are traveling. Here’s a practical breakdown:

Scenario	Invitation Timing	Notes
You already sent save the dates	4–7 months before wedding day	Gives guests enough time to reply, plan travel, and RSVP.
You didn’t send save the dates	6–9 months before	For weddings in Manchester, Cheshire, or further afield, this buffer gives breathing room.
You’re getting married abroad / on a busy date (holiday, weekday, etc.)	Send earlier	Guests may need more time to book flights, accommodation, etc.
You have multiple priority guest groups	Stagger sending	Send to close family & friends first, then secondary guests later to reduce stress.

The Wedding Hand tip: Don’t feel pressured to send every invite in one go. Breaking it into priority groups takes off a lot of stress — especially in the chaos of final guest counting.

Studio70 Six Invitations

Another thing to think about is how you’re sending your invites. You could just set up a wedding website and not have invitations at all, use a tool like With Joy and you’ll save on postage and on the paper.

Or you could just send invitations to those closest to you, you can go all out and get extremely beautiful invites and not have the pressure of writing them all out, I highly recommend Studio 70 Six for this, that's where we got our lovely invitations from you can see here.

When Should You Ask for RSVPs?

You need your final guest numbers in good time for catering, seating plans, and supply orders. How soon is soon enough?

• Ask for RSVPs 2–3 months after sending invites if you like to plan ahead.

• If you’re more relaxed, you can push that to 4–5 months later.

• Do not leave it later than 6 weeks before the wedding day — that’s cutting it too close.

  
  

Think of this as your internal deadline. Even if your invite says “RSVP by 1st September,” you might set your own internal cutoff of, say, 1st August to chase laggards, follow up, and avoid last-minute panic.

The Wedding Hand note: Guests are notoriously forgetful! I’ve seen couples give themselves “soft deadlines” then chase replies so the final prep isn’t left until the last minute.

Local Tips for Manchester & Cheshire Couples

Since you’re planning in these beautiful parts of the North West, here’s what I’ve learnt from coordinating weddings locally:

• Urban venues in Manchester sometimes require you to send earlier because guests travel from further away or deal with city logistics.

• In Cheshire’s countryside venues, guests may need extra notice for accommodation travel (especially if they’re coming from town).

• Use a wedding website (you can skip or supplement physical invites) & digital tools (like WithJoy).

Why This Timing Matters (And How a Coordinator Helps)

It might seem like overthinking invites and RSVPs — but these timelines protect your sanity.

If you leave things too late, you risk:

• Missing out on guest responses

• Chaotic seating / table plan changes

• Last-minute supplier panic

As a Manchester & Cheshire wedding coordinator, here’s what I bring:

• Guidance on a realistic timeline tailored to your venue & guest list

• Help you set internal & external deadlines so you’re never chasing at the last minute

• Communication templates to help you ask for RSVPs kindly but firmly

• On-the-day support so invite logistics (drops, reminders) don’t become your headache

Final Thought

Invitations and RSVPs are more than just paper — they’re the backbone of planning. When you give yourself enough time, you reduce stress, decision-making bottlenecks, and chaos.

If you’re planning in Manchester or Cheshire and want help setting that timeline right (plus all the prep that comes with it), I’d love to chat. The Wedding Hand is here to help you do things your way — beautifully, without overwhelm.

Best of luck with wedding invitation sending! 🍀