The complete timeline: when save the dates go out, when invitations follow, when RSVPs come due, and how the dates shift for destination weddings.
the timeline at a glance
Working backwards from your wedding day, here's the standard Australian timeline:
- 9 to 12 months out: book venue, confirm date, start your wedding website
- 6 to 9 months out: send save the dates (with your website link on them)
- 3 to 4 months out: send invitations
- 4 to 6 weeks out: RSVP deadline
- 2 to 3 weeks out: chase stragglers, finalise numbers with your venue
save the dates: 6 to 9 months
Save the dates exist for one reason: to get your date into guests' calendars before flights, school terms, and other weddings claim it. Six to nine months ahead is the sweet spot for a local wedding. Earlier than that and people can't commit; later and calendars fill up.
Going earlier is worth it if your wedding is on a long weekend, in peak season (October to April books out hard in most Australian regions), or involves significant travel for a big chunk of your list.
A save the date only needs four things: your names, the date, the city or region, and your wedding website address. Details come later; the website carries everything else.
destination weddings: add three months
If most guests need flights and accommodation, push save the dates to 9 to 12 months out and invitations to 4 to 6 months. The earlier guests can book travel, the cheaper it is for them and the more of them will actually come.
invitations: 3 to 4 months
Invitations go out three to four months before the day. This window gives guests time to plan around the details while being close enough that they'll RSVP rather than put it off.
If you're sending printed invitations, work backwards further: allow 3 to 4 weeks for printing and delivery, which means finalising your design and guest list around the four-to-five-month mark. Digital invitations remove the postage window, which is handy if your timeline has slipped.
Going bespoke? Custom-designed stationery with letterpress or foil finishes needs more runway again: studios typically ask for 2 to 3 months from briefing to delivery, so start the conversation around the six-month mark. Our studio, MH Events (three-time ABIA winner for Best Wedding Stationery), takes on bespoke suites at www.mhevents.com.au.
marrymint.co handles both digital and printed: digital invitations sent from the platform, and printed ones delivered to your door, matched to your website design.
the order matters: website first
One sequencing rule saves a lot of rework: get your wedding website live before your save the dates are printed or sent. The website address goes on the save the date, the invitation, and everything after it. Couples who leave the website until invitation time end up re-sharing the link in a dozen group chats instead of having printed it once.
faq
common questions
Are save the dates necessary?+
Not strictly. If your wedding is local, off-peak, and under six months away, you can skip straight to invitations. They earn their keep when guests need to plan travel or when your date competes with peak season.
When should save the dates go out for an australian wedding?+
Six to nine months before the wedding for a local event, and 9 to 12 months for destination weddings or dates where guests need flights.
How long before a wedding should invitations be sent?+
Three to four months for a local wedding, and four to six months if a significant share of your guest list is travelling interstate or internationally.
Can save the dates be digital?+
Yes, and it's increasingly common. Digital save the dates arrive instantly and link straight to your wedding website. Many couples go digital for save the dates and reserve printing for the invitation.