When to Send Save-the-Dates and Invitations for a Destination Wedding
Updated November 2026
Guests need far more notice for a destination wedding than for one at home. They have to book flights, ask for time off, find childcare and save money. Here is a simple schedule that works for most couples.
The short answer
- Save-the-dates: 8 to 12 months before the wedding. Up to 12 months for long-haul trips or peak season.
- Invitations: 3 to 4 months before. A little earlier than the usual 6 to 8 weeks, so guests can confirm travel plans.
- RSVP deadline: 6 to 8 weeks before, ideally before the hotel room block cut-off date.
Why a destination wedding needs more notice
Flights are cheapest 3 to 6 months before departure, and hotel rooms in popular places go early, especially in high season. Many guests also need to plan time off around work and school calendars. A year of notice turns your wedding into a holiday guests can plan, instead of a scramble.
What to put on a destination wedding save-the-date
- Your names and the dates, including the weekend if there are several events
- The town or region and the country
- Your wedding website or guest page link, ideally as a QR code too
- "Formal invitation to follow"
- Optional: the hotel or room block link and the nearest airport
A free guest page is handy here: it gives guests hotels, a map, a weekend plan and things to do, and you can keep editing it as plans firm up.
What to put in the invitation
The invitation carries the details: the ceremony time and place, the reception, the dress code, the RSVP date and how to reply. Add an insert card or a link for the weekend schedule, transport and accommodation. See our invitation wording examples.
Sample schedule for a wedding on 12 September
- September to November the year before: send save-the-dates
- Late May: send invitations
- Mid-July: RSVP deadline
- Late July: room block cut-off date
- Late August: final note to guests with schedule, weather and the packing list
Common mistakes
- Sending save-the-dates before the venue contract is signed.
- Setting the RSVP deadline after the room block cut-off, so guests lose the group rate.
- Forgetting that some guests may need a visa, which can take weeks or months.
For the full plan, see the destination wedding planning timeline.