One of the most common questions couples ask us — right after "is that real wood?" — is when should we send everything out? After making stationery for more than 1,500 Australian couples from our workshop in the Yarra Valley, we've got a pretty good feel for what works. Here's the simple version.
The short answer
- Save the dates: send 8–12 months before your wedding
- Invitations: send 3–6 months before your wedding
- RSVP deadline: set it 4 weeks before the day
If you're having a destination wedding, a wedding over a long weekend, or lots of interstate or overseas guests, lean towards the early end of each window — people need time to book flights and accommodation.
Save the dates: 8–12 months out
A save the date does one job: it gets your date locked into your guests' calendars before their year fills up. You don't need venue details, dress codes or menus yet — just your names, the date, and roughly where it's happening ("Yarra Valley, Victoria" is plenty).
Sending earlier than 12 months is fine for destination weddings, but for local weddings it can feel like a long time for guests to hold a date. Later than 8 months and you risk clashing with other weddings, school holidays and booked-out accommodation — especially for peak-season dates between October and April.
Tip: many of our couples choose wood slice save the dates which come with a magnet backing, so they live on the fridge for the whole engagement rather than disappearing into a drawer. It's a small thing, but it genuinely reduces the "what date was it again?" messages.
Invitations: 3–6 months out
Your invitations carry the full details: venue, arrival time, dress code, RSVP instructions and anything else guests need. Four months before the wedding is the sweet spot for most Australian weddings. Go closer to six months if:
- Many guests are travelling interstate or from overseas
- Your wedding falls on or near a public holiday or long weekend
- Your venue is in a small town where accommodation books out
If your invitation can't fit everything (accommodation options, transport, gift registry), a QR code linking to your wedding website is a tidy solution — we can print one straight onto the wood slice.
Don't forget ordering time
Here's the part that catches couples out: your stationery needs to be designed, approved, made and delivered before those send dates. Because every Wedding Forest piece is personalised and made to order, allow around 2–3 weeks from ordering to delivery. That covers your free digital proof (with unlimited revisions), production in our workshop, and shipping Australia-wide.
Working backwards, that means:
- Order save the dates: 9–13 months before the wedding
- Order invitations: 4–7 months before the wedding
If you're unsure about anything, ordering a sample pack first is a great move — you'll see and feel the wood and print quality before committing, and it adds about a week to your timeline if you order early.
Frequently asked questions
Do we have to send save the dates?
No — they're optional. But if your engagement is longer than about 10 months, your wedding is in peak season, or guests need to travel, they're well worth it.
Should we send save the dates to everyone?
Only send them to people you're definitely inviting. It's much easier to add guests later than to un-invite someone who received a save the date!
When should we order place cards and favours?
After your RSVP deadline, once you have final numbers — around 4–6 weeks before the wedding. Allow 2–3 weeks for production and delivery.
What if we're running late?
Get in touch — we offer express post options and we'll always tell you honestly whether a timeframe is achievable.
Got a question about your own timeline? Email us at hello@weddingforest.com.au — we're always happy to help you work backwards from your date.