Getting organised is the first step towards a successful – and stress-free – wedding. Once you’ve set your budget, started to identify service providers and drawn up your guest list, your next step should be determining your timeline. And, while you may already have given a heads up to your nearest and dearest (who would have been eagerly keeping tabs on the progress towards your Big Day), you need to ensure your invites get to their destinations in good time. Here are some tips to guide you on the path of least resistance!
1. If you’re having a wedding in Malta, send out invites 6 to 8 weeks in advance
Most of your family and friends already know the date on which you’ll be walking up the aisle, but, especially if you’re having a big wedding, you’ll need to give enough time for all your guests to make themselves available. The season also affects how much advance notice you need to give. If you’re getting married in the summer, consider sending your invites a full 8 weeks ahead – there are so many ‘I do’s’ over the hotter months, you want to be sure your colleagues, cousins and friends have enough time to sort out any arrangements.
2. It always helps to send out ‘Save the Date’ cards beforehand
While we know you don’t need any more expense, and the little additional cost for even a few more cards may be the hair that broke the camel’s back, you might want to consider sending out ‘Save the Date’ notes a few months in advance. This would apply especially if you’re worried some of your guests might need to know the date beforehand, such as those loved ones who are travelling from abroad. Today, many of us have friends or family who are willing and happy to make the trip to the island for our Big Day and, in these cases, it is imperative they know for when to book their flights and hotels.
3. This should all happen even earlier if you’re organising a destination wedding
There’s so much more to organise when you’re getting hitched away from our shores: local regulations to navigate; unfamiliar venues to source; contacts to monitor; and details to give to your loved ones to make sure they make it (unless, that is, you’re really hoping to get away from it all). If you’re tying the knot abroad, send a save the date at least six months before your wedding to give your family and friends enough time to save up and plan!
4. Set your RSVP date at least three weeks before your Big Day
You may have sent your invites out on time, but it doesn’t end there. Make sure to include a deadline by which your guests need to confirm their attendance. Three weeks gives you enough time to finalise the catering numbers, seating arrangements (if you’re having a sit-down wedding) and the amount of drink required. And, these numbers can make the difference between ‘we can totally afford this’ to ‘it’s bread and butter for the next year’!
5. Don’t forget…
Thank you notes! Following the wedding, crown your ‘I do’s’ with a sign of appreciation which will bring a smile to the lips of your guests. These should be sent out within two to three weeks after the wedding as a heart-warming reminder of the good times had by all!
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