12/2011: When should we send our STD's, Newsletters, Invitations, etc...?

[minniebride]

We are getting married in December, 2011.

I was thinking about sending out our Save the Dates during the first week in December of this year. I want to give people plenty of time to decide and also start planning their vacations.

What month should we send out our newsletters and our invitations?

Thanks!

 

[DisneyBride1207]

Here is my past experience with the sending of the invites:

We are in Virginia, and Florida vacations for most people really require a warning. So we sent out our invites newsletters a year ahead and got ONE response...

We found that many people in our family and friends (60 people total invited) just didn't want to commit to a yes or no at that point (and STILL haven't responded). Our wedding is May 2011 and we sent out those newsletters in May or June 2010. I plan to send out a formal 'invitation' about 4-5 months out (as opposed to the past newsletter). This way they feel more formal to actually put a response on the card and stick the darn thing in the mail! This also gives them a rushed answer but also they SHOULD have plenty of time to plan. I would recommend sending a newsletter/save the date type of thing with all cost information so they are warned if the want to go ahead and start planning. Then, send out your official 'yes or no' invites a few months out so you get a real head count.

Good luck!

 

[princesswendy720]

We are much further out from our wedding than you are (November 2012). I'm going to send out our first informational newsletter in December of this year, as an FYI and providing some high level information. I'll send out another in the summer when we confirm our locations. I'll send out a formal Save the Date a year before (November 2011). And I'll probably send the invites out around 5 months in advance (June 2012). I plan on doing newsletters about every 6 months up until the wedding. I don't want to overwhelm them with all the information about planning a Disney vacation at once, and I want to be able to provide updates as we get closer and get all the details ironed out.

I've also created a wedding website where people can Pre-RSVP

 

[erin.w]

We sent out our STD's around 12 months ahead, then a newsletter at 9 months ahead. We are at 5 months now and are working on the invites - maybe those will go out at 3 months out? I also plan to do another newsletter at some point.

 

[bdps2011]

We're doing a DCL destination wedding in September 2011. We sent the Save the Dates last week. We're expecting to send the formal invites in Late November. We figure that this will give people 9 months to plan/save for the cruise.

We will also be sending reminders in January to book NOW! We realized after we planned it around our date that it was Labor Day week. So things may fill fast!

We'd be sad if people couldn't book a room since it was full. We were thinking of throwing a welcome home BBQ after we get back from trip/honeymoon for those not able to make it to the cruise for one reason or another.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Good to see you back on the boards!!
I sent out my STDs and first newsletter at a year out. Coming from the Uk I wanted to give my guests plenty of time to plan (and save)!!!!

 

[nickandlarisa]

One quick piece of advice, I wouldn't send out anything wedding related during the month of December if you don't absolutely have to. You run the risk of getting lost in the mix of Christmas mail and hustle and bustle of the holidays. I would wait until the very beginning of January if you can.

Or, as an alternative, if you really want to get things out at that time, make your STD or even newsletter a 2-in-1 deal and combine it with your Christmas card! We did this for our engagement announcements and it worked out great. I just wouldn't do this with the actual invitations!

To help get your guest count in advance, you can also do a Preliminary RSVP in your STD with options such as:
- will definitely attend
- will definitely not attend
- unsure at this time
That way people don't have to commit to a definite yes or no, but it will at least give you a general idea of who will make the trip!

Standard timelines (international would be further in advance)
- Engagement Announcement - as soon as you are engaged
- STD - 6 - 12 months
- Invitations 6 - 8 weeks
- Newsletter - depends on if it is for everyone invited or only guests actually attending

Sorry that turned out to be not so quick, hope that helps though!!

 

[Belle2Be]

We were planning on doing the STD 12 months out, then the Newsletter soon after, maybe at 9 months out? Invites will go out at 7 weeks as usual.

 

[minniebride]

One quick piece of advice, I wouldn't send out anything wedding related during the month of December if you don't absolutely have to. You run the risk of getting lost in the mix of Christmas mail and hustle and bustle of the holidays. I would wait until the very beginning of January if you can.

Or, as an alternative, if you really want to get things out at that time, make your STD or even newsletter a 2-in-1 deal and combine it with your Christmas card! We did this for our engagement announcements and it worked out great. I just wouldn't do this with the actual invitations!

To help get your guest count in advance, you can also do a Preliminary RSVP in your STD with options such as:
- will definitely attend
- will definitely not attend
- unsure at this time
That way people don't have to commit to a definite yes or no, but it will at least give you a general idea of who will make the trip!

Standard timelines (international would be further in advance)
- Engagement Announcement - as soon as you are engaged
- STD - 6 - 12 months
- Invitations 6 - 8 weeks
- Newsletter - depends on if it is for everyone invited or only guests actually attending

Sorry that turned out to be not so quick, hope that helps though!!

Thank you for that great tip!!! I am going to plan to send them first week of January, 2011!!