In Ireland, send save the dates 9 to 12 months before your wedding, or 12 months or more for a destination wedding or a bank holiday weekend. Send invitations 8 to 12 weeks before the day (12 to 16 weeks for a wedding abroad) and ask guests to reply 4 to 6 weeks before.
At a glance
- Save the dates: send 9 to 12 months before (12 months or more for destination or bank holiday weekend weddings).
- Order invitations: about 4 to 6 months before.
- Send invitations: 8 to 12 weeks before (12 to 16 weeks for destination weddings).
- RSVP deadline: 4 to 6 weeks before the wedding.
- Order on-the-day stationery: 6 to 8 weeks before, then finalise names once replies are in.
- Thank you cards: within about 3 months after the wedding.
When should you send save the dates in Ireland?
Save the dates usually go out 9 to 12 months before the wedding. That gives guests time to book annual leave, arrange childminding and look at accommodation before the best rooms near your venue are taken.
If you are marrying abroad, or on a bank holiday weekend in Ireland, aim for 12 months or more. Flights, hotels and time off all become harder to arrange the closer it gets, and guests travelling from Australia, Canada or the United States will thank you for the extra notice.
A save the date only needs the essentials: your names, the date, the town or county, and a note that a formal invitation will follow. Our save the dates can be designed to match your invitations later, so the whole suite feels considered from the first card.
How far in advance should you send wedding invitations?
Send wedding invitations 8 to 12 weeks before the day. Eight weeks is the minimum most guests need to plan; twelve weeks is a comfortable default, especially for weddings in summer or around Christmas.
For destination weddings, send invitations 12 to 16 weeks before. Guests will already have your save the date, but the invitation is when most people confirm travel and accommodation, so a little more time is kind.
If you did not send save the dates, lean towards the earlier end of the range, around 12 weeks, so nobody feels rushed.
When should you order your wedding invitations?
Order invitations about 4 to 6 months before the wedding. That might feel early, but it leaves room to settle on wording, choose a paper and finish, review a proof calmly and collect addresses without pressure.
At Meridian Studio, every order begins with an enquiry and a tailored quote. We then design your stationery and send a first digital proof within 2 to 4 working days. Once you approve the proof and pay in full, invitations, save the dates, RSVP cards and thank you cards are dispatched within 7 working days. You can read the full process on our how it works page.
Leaving a few weeks of buffer between delivery and posting gives you time to address envelopes, add stamps and assemble any extras such as details cards or wax seals.
When should the RSVP be due for a wedding?
Set your RSVP deadline 4 to 6 weeks before the wedding. Most venues ask for final numbers a few weeks before the day, and you will need confirmed replies before you can build a table plan or order place cards.
Six weeks gives you breathing room to chase late replies, which there always are. Four weeks is workable for smaller weddings with a simple seating arrangement.
Print the deadline clearly on your RSVP card or invitation, written in full, for example "Kindly reply by Saturday, the first of May". If you are collecting replies through a wedding website or QR code, put the same date there too.
When should you order on-the-day stationery?
Order on-the-day stationery 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding. That covers mass booklets or an order of service, menus, place cards, table names and your seating chart.
The design can be agreed early, but names should only be finalised once RSVPs are in. On-the-day stationery is produced within 7 to 10 working days of approval, while signage, embroidery, engraving and favours take 10 to 15 working days. Working back from those times, plan to approve final proofs around three to four weeks before the wedding.
If you are writing a ceremony booklet, start gathering readings and names of readers earlier. Our wedding mass booklet guide and civil and humanist ceremony booklet guide walk you through what to include.
When should you send wedding thank you cards?
Aim to send thank you cards within about three months of the wedding. Many couples order them alongside their invitations so they match, then write them in the weeks after the honeymoon.
A handwritten line that mentions the specific gift, or a moment you shared with that guest, is what people remember. Our thank you cards can include a favourite photograph from the day if you would like to wait for your photographer's images.
A month-by-month wedding stationery timeline
| Time before the wedding | What to do |
|---|---|
| 12 months or more | Send save the dates for destination or bank holiday weekend weddings. Start your guest list. |
| 9 to 12 months | Send save the dates for weddings in Ireland. Begin collecting postal addresses. |
| 6 months | Enquire and request a quote for invitations. Think about paper, colour and finish. |
| 4 to 6 months | Approve invitation proofs and order. Order thank you cards at the same time if you want them to match. |
| 12 to 16 weeks | Send invitations for destination weddings. |
| 8 to 12 weeks | Send invitations for weddings in Ireland. |
| 6 to 8 weeks | Order on-the-day stationery and signage. Gather readings and readers for the ceremony booklet. |
| 4 to 6 weeks | RSVP deadline. Chase late replies and confirm numbers with your venue. |
| 3 to 4 weeks | Finalise table plan, place cards and menus. Approve final proofs. |
| Up to 3 months after | Send thank you cards. |
For a full list of every piece you might need, see our wedding stationery checklist.
What if you are short on time?
It happens, and it is rarely a problem. If the wedding is less than eight weeks away, send invitations as soon as you can and shorten the RSVP window to around three weeks. A personal phone call or message to key guests helps too.
Tell us your date when you enquire. We will be honest about what is achievable and keep the proofing stage simple so nothing is rushed at the print stage.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to send save the dates?
No, save the dates are optional. They are most useful for weddings abroad, on bank holiday weekends, or when many guests are travelling, because they give people time to plan before the invitation arrives.
Is 6 weeks too late to send wedding invitations?
Six weeks is later than ideal, as guests usually expect 8 to 12 weeks' notice. If you are sending at six weeks, set a short RSVP deadline of around three weeks and contact close family directly.
How long before the wedding should the RSVP date be?
Set the RSVP date 4 to 6 weeks before the wedding. This gives you time to confirm numbers with your venue and finalise the table plan and place cards.
Should you send invitations to the evening guests at the same time?
Yes, send day and evening invitations together so nobody feels like an afterthought. The wording simply changes to invite evening guests to the reception from a later time.
How long does it take to print wedding invitations?
At Meridian Studio, the first digital proof arrives within 2 to 4 working days of your quote being accepted. Once you approve and pay, invitations are dispatched within 7 working days.
When you have a date in mind, we would love to help you plan the timing of every piece. Request a quote and we will come back to you with a tailored proposal.
