Timing your save the dates is one of the first big decisions of wedding planning, and getting it wrong in either direction creates real problems. Send too early and guests lose the card or forget the details before your wedding arrives. Send too late and people have already committed to vacations, work trips, or other events. Save the dates are the very first piece of wedding stationery your guests receive, setting the tone for your celebration before a single invitation goes out. This guide covers exactly when to send save the dates for every wedding type, a complete month-by-month 2026 reference, and everything your card needs to include.
Quick Reference: When to Send Save the Dates
| Wedding Type | When to Send Save the Dates | When to Send Invitations |
|---|---|---|
| Local wedding | 6–8 months before | 6–8 weeks before |
| Destination wedding | 9–12 months before | 3–4 months before |
| Holiday weekend or peak season | 10–12 months before | 6–8 weeks before |
| Short engagement (under 4 months) | Immediately, or skip to invitations | 4–6 weeks before |
When to Send Save the Dates: The General Rule
The standard advice is to send save the dates between 6 and 12 months before your wedding. That range exists because no two weddings are the same, but for most couples planning a local or regional celebration, 8 to 10 months out hits the sweet spot.
Eight to ten months gives guests enough lead time to request time off work, make childcare arrangements, and book travel, without so much runway that the card gets buried or forgotten. It also gives you time to finalize the only details that need to be on the card: your confirmed date and general location.
Earlier is not always better. Sending 14 or 15 months out sounds considerate, but your plans may still be in flux, guests are unlikely to take action that far in advance, and the card risks being genuinely forgotten by the time your wedding month rolls around. Eight to ten months is the range where guests feel informed without feeling like they need to act immediately.
One important clarification: you do not need every detail confirmed before sending. You need your date locked in and a general sense of location. City and state is enough. The full venue address and logistics all come with the formal invitation.
When to Send Save the Dates by Wedding Type
Local Wedding
For a wedding where most guests live within driving distance, 6 to 8 months is the right window. Your guests do not need to book flights or arrange extended stays, so they have more flexibility. That said, even local guests benefit from early notice for requesting time off or arranging overnight stays. If your wedding falls on a standard weekend, the 6-month mark is a reliable minimum.
Destination Wedding
Destination weddings need the most lead time. Aim to send save the dates 9 to 12 months before the date. Guests need time to research flights, book accommodations, and request vacation. Many destination venues also have accommodation blocks guests should reserve early. Nine months works well for domestic destinations; international weddings benefit from the full 12 months.
Holiday Weekend or Peak Season
If your wedding falls on a long weekend, over a holiday, or during peak summer or fall season, send save the dates 10 to 12 months out. Holiday weekends book fast. Flights fill up, hotel rates climb, and families already have competing plans. Giving guests nearly a year of notice is not excessive for a Fourth of July or Thanksgiving-adjacent wedding. It is simply the practical reality of asking people to prioritize your date in a crowded calendar.
Short Engagement (Under 4 Months)
If you have less than four months between engagement and wedding, send save the dates immediately after confirming your date and venue. If you have fewer than eight weeks before the wedding, consider skipping the save the date entirely and going straight to formal invitations. At that point, combining the two makes more practical sense than mailing two rounds of cards within weeks of each other.
Month-by-Month Guide: 2027 and 2028 Weddings
Use this table as your ready-made timeline for 2026 and 2027 weddings. “Send save the dates by” targets the 8-month sweet spot; “send invitations by” is 8 weeks before the wedding date.
| Wedding Month | Send Save the Dates By | Send Invitations By |
|---|---|---|
| January 2027 | May 2026 | November 2026 |
| February 2027 | June 2026 | December 2026 |
| March 2027 | July 2026 | January 2027 |
| April 2027 | August 2026 | February 2027 |
| May 2027 | September 2026 | March 2027 |
| June 2027 | October 2026 | April 2027 |
| July 2027 | November 2026 | May 2027 |
| August 2027 | December 2026 | June 2027 |
| September 2027 | January 2027 | July 2027 |
| October 2027 | February 2027 | August 2027 |
| November 2027 | March 2027 | September 2027 |
| December 2027 | April 2027 | October 2027 |
| January 2028 | May 2027 | November 2027 |
| February 2028 | June 2027 | December 2027 |
| March 2028 | July 2027 | January 2028 |
| April 2028 | August 2027 | February 2028 |
| May 2028 | September 2027 | March 2028 |
| June 2028 | October 2027 | April 2028 |
Destination or holiday weddings: shift the save-the-date column 2 to 4 months earlier than shown above.
What to Include on Your Save the Date
Save the dates should be simple. They exist to hold the date, not to communicate your entire wedding. Here is what belongs:
- Both names
- The wedding date (day, month, year)
- City and state (not the full venue address)
- Wedding website URL (optional)
- “Invitation to follow”
What to leave off:
- Full venue address: Details can change. Save it for the invitation.
- RSVP instructions: You cannot track RSVPs meaningfully months out, and asking creates confusion.
- Registry information: Save this for your wedding website or invitation suite.
- Menu or dietary options: These decisions happen much closer to the wedding.
- Ceremony or reception times: Confirm these in the invitation once they are finalized.
Who Gets a Save the Date?
Save the dates go to day guests only. If you are planning a separate evening reception, evening-only guests do not receive a save the date. They receive an invitation when the time comes.
Practical rules for your list:
- One per household. Couples and families receive one card addressed to everyone invited from that address.
- Adult children living at home. If an adult child is invited as an individual (not just as part of the family), send them their own card so the invitation is clear.
- Finalize your guest list first. Only send save the dates to people who will definitely receive an invitation. Sending one and then not following up creates awkwardness. If you have a B-list, hold off on those until you see early RSVPs.
- Out-of-town guests. Anyone who needs to travel more than a few hours benefits from earlier notice, even if your wedding is not technically a destination event.
What If Details Change After Sending?
Wedding plans shift, and that is okay. Here is how to handle the most common scenarios.
Venue change: If your city and state remain the same, there is no urgent need to send an update. The correct address will appear on the invitation. If the new venue is in a meaningfully different location, send a brief update card or email as soon as possible so guests can adjust any travel plans.
Date change: This requires immediate action. Send a revised save the date or a clearly labeled update card as soon as the new date is confirmed. Mark it clearly (“Date Change Notice”) and communicate directly with your most important guests before the card arrives. Do not wait for invitations to communicate a date change.
Minor changes: If only small details shift (ceremony time, venue name), there is no need for a second mailing. Correct these in the invitation and note changes on your wedding website if you have one.
The core principle: any change affecting travel or accommodation plans should be communicated immediately. Day-of logistics changes can wait for the invitation.
Digital vs Printed Save the Dates: Timing Differences
Printed save the dates require the most lead time. Once your design is ready, factor in proofing (1 to 2 business days at Paperlust), production, and shipping. Build in at least 2 to 3 weeks before your target mail date. If you want cards in guests’ hands 8 months before your wedding, begin the ordering process around the 9-month mark.
The case for printed cards goes beyond logistics. A beautifully designed card arriving in the mail creates real anticipation. It lands on a kitchen counter or fridge and stays there as a daily reminder of your upcoming celebration in a way that a digital notification never quite replicates.
Digital save the dates can be sent the same day you design them, which is a genuine advantage when working under time pressure. They cost less and are easy to update if details change. The trade-off is that they lack the keepsake quality of a printed card and are easy to overlook in a full inbox.
Many couples use both: printed cards for close family and the wedding party, and digital notices for guests who live internationally or prefer digital communication. Either way, the same timing guidelines apply.
Browse the full Paperlust save the date collection, with designs starting from $1 per card across digital print, flat foil, letterpress, and more. Not sure which paper or print style suits your wedding? Order a $5 sample pack to feel the difference before you commit. And when you are ready for the next step, our guide on when to send wedding invitations walks you through the full stationery timeline. Orders over $350 USD qualify for free DHL express shipping to the US.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it too late to send a save the date 4 months before the wedding?
Four months is on the shorter end but workable for a local wedding where guests do not need to arrange major travel. For a destination wedding or a peak-season date, 4 months is tight, and some guests may already have conflicting plans. Send as soon as possible, follow up personally with your most important guests, and order printed cards immediately if you have not already.
Can I send save the dates before choosing a venue?
Yes, as long as your date is confirmed. Save the dates only need your names, the date, and a general location (city and state is enough). You do not need a venue address, and that level of detail belongs on the invitation anyway. List the city and state, include “invitation to follow,” and update your wedding website once the venue is finalized.
Do I need to send save the dates if I’m having a small wedding?
There is no rule requiring save the dates for small or intimate weddings. A personal call or message can serve the same purpose for a tight guest list. That said, even small weddings benefit from save the dates when any guests need to travel, request time off, or plan around family logistics. And for couples who want their stationery to feel cohesive, a beautifully designed card is worth it regardless of guest count.
How long after save the dates do invitations go out?
Formal wedding invitations typically go out 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding, or 3 to 4 months before for destination weddings. The gap between save the dates and invitations is usually 4 to 6 months on a standard timeline. Use that window to finalize venue, catering, and RSVP logistics so your invitation suite is complete and accurate. See our full guide on when to send wedding invitations for a detailed breakdown.