When to send invitations: timeline calculator
Last updated
Choose the type of event and its date, and get the dates that matter: when to send the invitations, when to ask for replies, when to chase, and when to send a reminder. Everything is worked out in your browser.
Work out your dates
Choose the date of the event to see your dates.
How far ahead should invitations go out?
The usual guides, by type of event. Wedding guides differ a little (some say two to three months); these are the most common. The calculator uses the earlier reply date where there is a range, so you have time to chase. Reply dates for birthdays are our advice; the birthday source gives none.
| Event | Send invitations | Ask for replies |
|---|---|---|
| Wedding | 6 to 8 weeks before | 3 to 4 weeks before |
| Destination wedding, or many guests travelling | About 3 months before | 4 to 6 weeks before |
| Birthday party | About 4 weeks before | 1 to 2 weeks before |
| Children's party at a venue, or a surprise party | At least 6 weeks before | About 2 weeks before |
| Birthday guests have to travel to | At least 8 weeks before | 3 to 4 weeks before |
For what to write on the card, see the guides to wedding invitations and birthday invitations.
Questions about timing
What if I'm sending invitations late?
Send them now, on WhatsApp or by email so they arrive the same day, and call the people who matter most. Keep the reply-by date at least a week before the event, so you still have time to chase answers.
Should I send a reminder before the event?
Yes, two kinds. Message anyone who hasn't replied the day after the reply-by date, and send everyone a short reminder a day or two before the event, especially if the invitation went out weeks earlier.
Sources for the timings, sizes and traditions on this page: The Knot (weddings), Vistaprint (destination weddings and reply dates), Paperless Post (birthdays).
Make the invitations in Inviteos
Inviteos is free to download for iPhone and iPad. Some features need a subscription: $2.99 a week or $14.99 a year, billed by Apple, and you can cancel any time in your iPhone's Settings.