Save the Date Calculator
Enter your wedding date to get a personalised planning timeline: when to send save-the-dates, book vendors, send formal invitations, set the RSVP deadline, and handle final preparations. Every date is worked out from your wedding date backwards.
Explain like I'm 5 (how does wedding timing work?)
Planning a wedding is mostly about telling people things at the right time. Tell people too early and they forget; too late and they can't rearrange their lives. The venue and photographer need to know first because they only have so many Saturdays. Your guests need a heads-up (the save-the-date) months before you send the proper invitation, so they can get time off work and sort travel. Then you need their RSVP early enough to tell the caterer how many meals to prepare. This tool works backwards from your wedding date and gives you a checklist of when each of those things needs to happen.
Generate your timeline
Enter your wedding date, then press Generate timeline.
Save-the-date timing follows industry guidance: 6 to 8 months before for local weddings, 9 to 12 months before for destination weddings. Vendor lead times reflect typical UK wedding industry booking windows. Formal invitation timing aligns with standard etiquette (6 to 8 weeks). RSVP deadlines are set to give caterers two weeks of headroom.
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When to send save-the-dates
The general rule is 6–8 months before a local wedding and 9–12 months before a destination wedding. The logic is straightforward: your guests need enough notice to request annual leave, book accommodation, and arrange travel. For a wedding on a bank holiday weekend or in an unusually popular location, err towards the longer end of the range.
Save-the-dates are intentionally informal. They do not need to contain every detail. A date, a broad location ("we're getting married in the Cotswolds"), and a note that a formal invitation will follow is enough. The point is to block the date in people's heads before they book something else.
When to book your vendors
The venue and photographer are the two things that have the narrowest supply. Most sought-after photographers are booked 12–18 months in advance for summer and bank holiday Saturdays. Once you have a date and a venue confirmed, lock in the photographer next.
Caterers, florists, and bands or DJs can usually be booked 6–12 months out, though popular local suppliers book up at peak times. If you have a specific florist or band in mind, treat them as a vendor to secure early rather than assuming they will be available later.
When to send formal invitations
Formal invitations go out 6–8 weeks before the wedding for most UK weddings. This is deliberately later than the save-the-date: once people have the formal invitation in their hands, the RSVP clock starts. Sending invitations too early tends to produce a long tail of late RSVPs because guests do not feel urgency until the deadline feels close.
If your wedding involves significant travel, or if a meaningful number of guests are coming from abroad, consider sending invitations 10–12 weeks before instead.
Setting the RSVP deadline
Three to four weeks before the wedding is the standard RSVP window. Your caterer and venue will need a final headcount approximately two weeks before the date, so you need the RSVPs to land at least a week before that to give you time to chase non-responders and compile the list.
A common mistake is setting the RSVP deadline too late. If the deadline is one week before the wedding, you will be chasing guests at exactly the wrong moment. Set it three weeks out, expect to chase 20–30% of guests anyway, and build in time to deal with the stragglers before the venue needs the numbers.
What this timeline does not cover
This tool focuses on the communication and booking timeline. It does not cover:
- Budget planning and deposits
- Wedding dress design and fitting timelines (which vary significantly by designer)
- Hen and stag dos, which are typically 1–3 months before the wedding
- Legal requirements specific to your country, council, or register office
For the marriage licence specifically, check with your local register office or council. Requirements vary: in England and Wales you give notice at least 28 days before the ceremony; in Scotland the notice period is different. If either partner is from outside the UK, there may be additional documentation requirements.
Related calculators
Save the dates are the opening shot. These are the rest of the wedding tools.
Frequently asked questions
When should you send save-the-dates?
For a local wedding: 6–8 months before. For a destination wedding: 9–12 months before. If your date falls near a bank holiday or popular travel period, send them at the early end of that range.
How early do you need to book a wedding venue?
Popular venues, particularly for summer Saturdays, are often booked 12–18 months ahead. If you have a specific venue in mind, enquire as soon as you have a rough date. Weekday and Sunday weddings typically have more availability.
When should wedding invitations be sent?
Formal invitations typically go out 6–8 weeks before the wedding. If guests need to arrange significant travel, consider 10–12 weeks instead.
How long should the RSVP window be?
Set the RSVP deadline 3–4 weeks before the wedding. This gives you and your venue time to finalise headcount before the two-week-out deadline most caterers and venues work to.
What is the difference between a save-the-date and an invitation?
A save-the-date is an informal early notice: the date, general location, and a note that a proper invitation follows. No RSVP needed. A formal invitation contains all the details, venue address, times, dress code, and RSVP instructions, and goes out much closer to the date.