At DiPuma Printing Company, we know how vital invitations are to the success of your event. Sure, you could send an evite or you could make friends aware of an event through Facebook, but custom printed invitations are so much more personal. Whether it’s for a birthday party, a wedding, a baby shower, or a charity function, invitations tell your guests everything they need to know and give them a tangible reminder of the upcoming event.
Once you’ve designed your invitations, perfected the wording, and sealed and addressed the envelopes, it’s time to decide when to drop them off at the post office. If you send the invitations out too far in advance, people might forget about the event before the big day. If you send them out on short notice, it is likely that few people will be able to attend because of prior engagements. So, is there a magic number? How many weeks or months in advance do you need to mail out your custom printed invitations?
It depends mostly on what type of event you are hosting. If it’s a birthday party, Parents Magazine says to stick the invitations in the mailbox no later than 2 weeks prior to the party, and no earlier than 4 weeks. As for a baby shower, Baby Center says to give your guests anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks’ notice.
When it comes to weddings, more time is needed because at least a few guests will need to make travel arrangements. The Knot says to aim for 6-8 weeks beforehand, unless you plan on having a destination wedding, in which case you should send invitations out 3 months before the big day. “What about save-the-date cards?” you ask. Save-the-dates should go out 6–8 months in advance.
If it’s a charity or fundraising gala that you’re planning, Protocol & Etiquette Worldwide advises that invitations should be mailed out 6–12 weeks before the event.
On the other hand, if you are a guest that has been invited to an event, the Manners Mentor says to RSVP within the first 24 hours of receiving an invitation. The host has a mountain of work to get done before the event, and it’s common courtesy to respond early so the host can get a solid headcount to help with his or her preparations.
We know better than anyone that invitations can make or break an event—after all, what fun would a party be without any guests? When you’re ready to print your custom invitations for your upcoming shower, gala, or dinner party, we’re here to provide you with high-quality printing.