| Event | Save the date | Invitation | RSVP by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wedding | 6 – 8 months ahead | 6 – 8 weeks ahead | 3 – 4 weeks before the day |
| Destination wedding | 10 – 12 months ahead | 3 months ahead | 6 weeks before the day |
| Engagement party | - | 3 – 6 weeks ahead | 1 week before |
| Bridal shower | - | 4 – 6 weeks ahead | 1 – 2 weeks before |
| Baby shower | - | 4 – 6 weeks ahead | 1 – 2 weeks before |
| Children’s birthday | - | 3 – 4 weeks ahead | 1 week before |
| Milestone birthday | 2 – 3 months ahead | 6 weeks ahead | 2 weeks before |
| Graduation | - | 3 – 4 weeks ahead | 1 – 2 weeks before |
| Dinner party | - | 2 – 3 weeks ahead | 3 – 5 days before |
| Holiday party | - | 4 – 6 weeks ahead | 1 week before |
Setting the RSVP deadline
Work backwards from the date your venue or caterer needs final numbers, then add two weeks. Those two weeks are not padding - they are the time it takes to chase the people who have not replied, and there are always people who have not replied.
Put the deadline on the invitation as a date, not as a number of weeks. "Kindly reply by 1 August" gets answered. "Please reply within four weeks" gets left on the side.
Save the dates
A save the date is a promise. Only send one to a person you are certain will get an invitation, because taking it back is not something you can do gracefully. If your guest list is not final, wait.
Save the dates do not need the venue, the schedule, or the dress code. They need two names, one date, roughly where, and the words "invitation to follow".
Digital, printed, or both
A printed invitation gets put on a fridge and stays visible for weeks. A digital one gets seen immediately and is easy to forward. For most events the useful combination is to post the printed card and send the same design as an image in the group chat a week later, so nobody has to hunt for the address.
Every template here downloads as both a print-ready PDF and a shareable image, from the same design, so the two always match.
Chasing replies
- Expect roughly a third of people to reply after the deadline. Plan for it.
- A short direct message a few days after the deadline works better than a group reminder.
- A QR code on the invitation that opens an RSVP page removes the most common excuse, which is that the reply card went in a drawer.