Your RSVP timeline
Pick your wedding date and we’ll lay out the usual timeline. These are typical ranges, not rules. Your venue’s and caterer’s deadlines always come first.
How to plan your RSVP timeline
- Start from your caterer’s deadline. Ask your venue or caterer when they need final numbers, then set your RSVP deadline a week or two before that. The gap gives you time to chase late replies and finish your seating.
- Give destination guests more notice. People need time to book travel and take time off, so everything moves earlier.
- Plan for the stragglers. Some guests always miss the deadline. A friendly reminder about a week before it, and a personal message the day after, usually closes the gap. Forevermore emails reminders on a schedule to every household that hasn’t replied, the last one three days before your deadline, and you can remind anyone yourself from your dashboard too.
- Keep the details in one place. Put your RSVP deadline on your wedding website as well as the invitation, so guests who lose the card can still find it.
Why these dates
-
Send save-the-dates
6–8 months before (8–12 for a destination or holiday-weekend wedding)
Guests block the date and book travel before calendars fill; too early and the card gets forgotten in a drawer.
-
Send invitations
6–8 weeks before (10–12)
Close enough to stay front of mind, early enough to reply and arrange travel.
-
Remind anyone who hasn’t replied
3–7 days before your deadline
One short nudge, only to people who haven’t replied.
[4] Zola: “a few days before the deadline” [6] Greenvelope: “about one week before”
-
Set your RSVP deadline
3–4 weeks before (6–8)
Leaves time to chase late replies before the caterer’s deadline.
-
Follow up personally with anyone who hasn’t replied
1–2 days after your deadline
Catches the last few while there’s still time before the final count.
-
Give your venue and caterer final numbers
2–3 weeks before. Check your caterer’s contract for its exact deadline.
Caterers order food and set tables against a guaranteed count.
[4] Zola: “typically due two to four weeks beforehand” [7] Wentworth by the Sea: “14 days prior”
Destination and holiday-weekend weddings: people need time to book travel and take time off, so everything moves earlier.
Sources
- Zola, “The Ultimate Wedding Planning Checklist & Timeline for 2026”
- WeddingWire, “When to Send Save the Dates”
- Paperless Post, “When to send save the dates”
- Zola, “An Expert Guide to Wedding RSVP Cards”
- WeddingWire, “When to Send Wedding Invitations”
- Greenvelope, “When to Send Wedding Invitations and Save the Dates”
- Wentworth by the Sea, “Guidelines and Policies”