Last Updated on May 5, 2025 by Joy Editors
Planning a wedding involves many moving parts. Deciding on the right time to send Save the Dates, invitations, and thank-you cards can be overwhelming. Whether you’re tying the knot in Sweden or elsewhere—with guests coming from across the country or even from places like Finland—it’s good to follow a timeline that simplifies things and reduces stress.
This complete guide helps you determine the ideal times to send out various wedding communications, from the Save the Dates to the thank you cards after the event. We’ll also show how WithJoy keeps everything organized, digital, and on schedule.
Interactive Wedding Timeline Calculator
Get your perfect wedding stationery schedule with our interactive tool! Just type in your wedding date, tell us if you’ve got guests coming from abroad or if you’re tying the knot somewhere far-flung, and we’ll create a custom timeline for you.
Wedding Stationery Timeline
Planning your wedding stationery? Here’s a typical timeline to help you stay organized:
Save the Dates
Send to notify guests of your wedding date
Wedding Website
Share all details in one central place
Invitations
Send formal invitations with all details
RSVP Deadline
Final headcount for venue & catering
Wedding Day
Your special day!
Thank You Cards
Express gratitude for gifts & attendance
Your Wedding Journey Starts Here
Create your wedding website and manage all your stationery needs in one place with Joy
Save the Dates — Mail Them 8 to 12 Months Before
Suggested send period: May to September 2025 (for a May 22, 2026 wedding)
Save the Dates give your guests the first big heads-up. These come in handy when folks need to travel far ask for time off work, or balance other weddings in different places.
Simple idea: Share just the essentials now—the date, the location, and a brief note telling everyone that official invitations are on their way.
Joy Tip: Printing and mailing? Our paper Save the Dates with matching digital cards let you add premium touches.
Wedding Website — Get It Going When You Send Save the Dates
Your wedding website serves as the central point for your special day. Set it up when you send Save the Dates so guests can find key information like travel details, accommodation choices, an event timeline, and how to confirm attendance.
What to include at the start:
- The date and location
- Accommodation options
- Your story or photos
- Trip planning suggestions (useful for guests traveling long distances)
Joy Tip: Joy wedding websites allow customization, work well on mobile devices, and help keep everyone in the loop.
👉 Create your free wedding website here
Invitations — Send Them 2 to 4 Months Before the Big Day
This marks the official announcement. By now, you should have nailed down key details such as event start times, dress code, menu options, and venue locations.
You’ve got options for invitations: digital, traditional, or a blend of both. Printed invites need more time when they’re headed overseas, so factor in printing and shipping time.
Joy Tip: Joy helps you create stunning digital invites that sync with your guest list, RSVPs, and wedding timeline.
👉 Browse Joy’s invitation designs
RSVP Deadline — Aim for 4 to 6 Weeks Before Your Big Day
Suggested RSVP cutoff: Mid-April 2026, give or take
Timely RSVPs are crucial. You’ll rely on them to lock in your guest count, meal choices, and seating arrangements. Make it easy for guests to respond to avoid last-minute stress.
Joy Tip: Joy’s RSVP tools allow you to:
- Say no to extra guests
- Check for dietary needs
- Send out reminders before the event
- Keep all responses together without messy spreadsheets!
Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
Wedding Stationery Timing Issues to Watch Out For
Figuring out when to send your wedding stationery can be tough, and many couples face similar challenges. Here are some typical timing errors and how to steer clear of them:
1. Sending Save the Dates Too Close to the Wedding
The Error: Waiting until just 3-4 months before the big day to send Save the Dates.
Why It’s a Problem: Guests those coming from other countries (like Finland to Sweden), might already have plans for that time.
The Solution: Put a note on your calendar to send Save the Dates 8-12 months ahead if you’re planning a destination wedding.
2. Not Allowing Enough Time for Design & Printing
The Mistake: You don’t realize how long it takes to finalize and print custom stationery.
Why It’s a Problem: You might pay extra for rush orders, and you might not get the design you want.
The Solution: Begin the design process at least 1-2 months before you plan to mail invitations.
3. Putting the RSVP Deadline Too Close to the Wedding
The Mistake: You set your RSVP deadline just 2-3 weeks before the wedding.
Why It’s a Problem: You’ll feel anxious as you try to nail down guest numbers, food choices, and table plans.
The Solution: Pick an RSVP deadline at least 4-6 weeks before your big day, with some extra time to chase up those who haven’t responded.
4. Not Ordering Enough Invitations
The Mistake: Getting just the right number of invitations for your guest list.
Why It’s a Problem: You might need spares for unexpected guests or to fix address errors.
The Solution: Get 15-20% more invitations than the number of guests you’re inviting.
5. Skipping Tests on Digital Components
The Mistake: Sending out digital Save the Dates or invites without checking if all the links and forms work .
Why It’s an Issue: Broken links or faulty RSVP forms annoy guests and result in missing responses.
The Fix: Email test versions to yourself and several friends before sending to your entire guest list.
6. Delaying Thank You Cards Too Much
The Error: Postponing thank you cards until “life calms down.”
Why It’s an Issue: The more you wait, the more overwhelming the job becomes.
The Fix: Compose a few cards each day beginning after the wedding.
Thank You Cards — Send Within 3 Months
Express your thanks while everything still feels fresh and exciting. For gifts received during the wedding or through your honeymoon fund, aim to send thank-you notes within three months.
Joy Tip: The Joy registry keeps a record of every gift you’ve received allowing you to write personalized thank-you notes.
Printable Wedding Stationery Timeline Checklist
Stay on top of your wedding stationery schedule with this useful checklist! Download print, and tick off each task as you finish it.
12+ Months Before
- Choose your wedding date and venue
- Make an initial guest list with addresses
- Look into stationery designers or online platforms
- Create your wedding website on WithJoy
10-12 Months Before
- Choose the final Save the Date design
- Add basic details to your wedding website
- Make sure you have all guest addresses
- Mail Save the Dates (if you’re having a destination wedding)
6 Months Before
- Begin creating wedding invitations
- Look into thank you card options
- Add accommodation info to your wedding website
- Think about other stationery you might need (programs, menus, etc.)
4 Months Before
- Settle on the final invitation design
- Check all invitation text (double-check date, time, venue)
- Place orders for invitations and other stationery
- Make sure your digital RSVP system works
2-3 Months Before
- Send out invitations by mail
- Add RSVP deadline and details to wedding website
- Create a system to track RSVPs
- Buy thank you cards
1-2 Months Before
- Check in with guests who haven’t responded
- Lock in guest numbers and meal choices
- Make a seating plan based on responses
- Print stationery for the big day (programs, place cards, etc.)
After the Wedding
- Make a list of gifts and givers
- Write and mail thank you cards within 3 months
- Add photos to wedding website (if you want)
- Save digital copies of all wedding stationery as mementos
Do You Need Everything on This List?
Here’s a quick rundown:
Save the Dates: You should send these especially if your guests need to travel.
Wedding Website: This helps to keep all the info in one spot.
Invitations: You can’t skip these. They give your guests the key details.
RSVP Tracking: This makes your planning go smoother.
Thank You Cards: You need these to show your thanks and stay on top of things.
Quick Look at the Wedding Timeline
Save the Dates: Send these 8 to 12 months before. Think May to September 2025.
Launch Website: This works well when you send it with your Save the Dates.
Invitations: Send these 2 to 4 months earlier. So around January to March 2026.
RSVP Deadline: Around 4 to 6 weeks before—Aim to complete by mid-April 2026.
Thank You Cards: Plan to mail these within 3 months—By August 2026 works well.
Conclusion
The timing matters just as much as clear communication, whether you’re planning a small rural wedding in Sweden or picturing a ceremony in a distant location. Use WithJoy’s complete set of tools to inform your guests without overwhelming them. Joy handles everything from digital invites to RSVP tracking and gift registry management. This allows you to concentrate on savoring the meaningful moments instead of stressing about the minor details.
