Post # 1
Member
1855 posts
Buzzing bee
It looks like we’ll be doing a week long (yes, you read that right) camping adventure for our wedding somewhere either on the Oregon Coast or in the mountains for probably 150 people. We’re thinking August 2013 for the date. We’ve got folks that will come from all over the world (FI has a large network of good friends who will come in droves) and will need to be dealing with airfare, accomodations, vacation time from work, kids, etc. Since we’ve got a strong European contingency, and they will need major advance notice since August is their prime vacation time. The Oregon Coast is a very popular summer destination, so we’d have to start getting people to book cabins/condos/hotels pretty far in advance; 9 months to a year out. And we can’t forget finances; travel to the West Coast can be spendy and a week long family vacation is always something that needs to be planned for. People will still be able to come in for just the wedding if they want, but I think most will end up staying for several days at least.
So the question is, how to work it all with invites? Do we just scrap the STD entirely and send out one massive invite a year in advance with all the info for booking travel? Do we send out an STD or more simple invite with links to a wedding website that has travel information? Do we do an STD postcard with the general dates/location in the next few months so that people know it’s on the horizon and then follow up with the detailed invite 12 months out?
What would you do or what kind of notice would you want as a guest?
TIA!
Post # 3
Member
7901 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
- Wedding: March 2012 - Pelican Grand Beach Resort
You need to send an STD immediately, and save the formal invitation until 2 months, yes TWO MONTHS, before the wedding. THe STD should direct people to your website with all the necessary information to arrange their travel. You can also send that with the STD in paper, but you still need to send your official invitation about 2 months before the wedding.
Post # 4
Member
1811 posts
Buzzing bee
I think that the best thing to do would be to send out a simple save the date that led to your wedding website. That way you are free to mess around with your invites as changes are made and things are set in stone.
Post # 4
Member
1811 posts
Buzzing bee
I think that the best thing to do would be to send out a simple save the date that led to your wedding website. That way you are free to mess around with your invites as changes are made and things are set in stone.
Post # 5
Member
1855 posts
Buzzing bee
@mrsSonthebeach: Would it be weird for a guest to get something now and then have to wait over a year before getting anything else from us in paper? I wouldn’t expect them to keep the website on their RSS feed or anything… plus we would want to have something in print for those who are maybe less computer savvy, I think.
Maybe STD soon and then invite at 6 months out?
Post # 6
Hostess
16196 posts
Honey Beekeeper
I’d definitely send out a save-the-date as soon as possible, and it can link to your wedding website with more info. Or you can even include an info card for those who aren’t as computer savvy.
I’d be careful sending the official invite out at 12 months because I think people will likely misplace it. I like the full invite at maybe 4-6 months out.
Post # 7
Member
1577 posts
Bumble bee
I’d definitely wait till 6mo or less to send out the formal invites. Just make your STD very detailed & include a lot of info on the website. I’d send the STD at 14mo. If you really want to send something in between, get some postcards from wherever your wedding will be & send a “reminder” to everyone around 9-10mo to book their accommodations & say how excited you are… the postcards will likely stir excitement too ad they’ll have a photo (or photos) of your destination on them. :o)
Post # 8
Member
1855 posts
Buzzing bee
@MsFoxxy: I love it! I could even make it an ePostcard for the reminder one (maybe get people to register with their emails on the website), and then I can send a physical postcard to those with technological brown thumbs.
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!
Post # 9
Member
7901 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
- Wedding: March 2012 - Pelican Grand Beach Resort
Invitations only go out about 2 months before the wedding because that keeps it fresh in people’s minds. I would send the information packets if necessary separately in advance if guests will need to mkae arrangements that far in advance.
Post # 10
Member
462 posts
Helper bee
We did our STD’s one year in advance and invites are going out 6 months in advance. Here are our save the date Magnets that went out in Oct.
Post # 11
Member
13248 posts
Honey Beekeeper
I agree with brenda.m.fields. Invites really should go out 2 months prior to the date so people don’t forget. In your case, I’d send a STD soon, and maybe follow up in a few months? Could you ask the place where you’d be getting accomodations to let you know when people book? That way you’d know when each of your guests have actually made solid plans.
Post # 12
Member
6123 posts
Bee Keeper
@inspiredcreations:
The Save-The-Date Cards should be enough heads up for people to start booking things. You are probably thinking the actual invitation intiates the purchase/booking of flights/cards, etc., but it does not. The STD will – I’d make a veeeeery detailed wedding website with all this info.
So the STD can have the date/place, etc, but the website can be continually updated since you probably don’t have all your plans set in stone just yet.