When to Send Wedding Invitations (and Save the Dates) in Australia
A simple timeline for save the dates, invitations, RSVP deadlines and reminders in Australia, with interstate guests, long weekends and slower post.
In short
Send save the dates 6–12 months before the wedding and invitations 8–12 weeks before, with RSVPs due 4–6 weeks out. Go earlier (save the dates at 9–12 months, invitations at 3–4 months) for a long weekend, interstate guests or a destination wedding. Here's the timeline most Australian couples follow.
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The short answer
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Save the dates | 6–12 months before |
| Invitations | 2–3 months before (8–12 weeks) |
| RSVP deadline | 4–6 weeks before |
| RSVP reminders | 1 week before your deadline |
| Final details to guests | 1 week before |
Save the dates: 6–12 months out
Save the dates are a heads-up, not an invitation. Send them once you have a date and venue locked in. Go earlier — 9 to 12 months — if:
- your wedding is in a busy month for your state (spring and autumn down south; the dry season, roughly May to October, in the tropical north),
- it's on a long weekend,
- guests need to fly or book accommodation,
- it's a destination wedding.
Weddings that ask guests to travel interstate or to a regional town — Margaret River, the Hunter Valley, the Whitsundays — benefit from the full 12 months.
Only send save the dates to people you're certain to invite. Once a save the date goes out, the invitation must follow.
Long weekends differ by state
A long weekend is tempting (guests get a day to recover), but it means competing with holidays and higher prices. Remember that not every public holiday is national: Labour Day falls in different months in different states, King's Birthday is in June in most states but in September in WA and October in Queensland, and Melbourne Cup Day is a holiday in metropolitan Melbourne. If you have guests coming from another state, check whether they'll actually have the Monday off.
Invitations: 8–12 weeks out
Two to three months gives guests time to plan without forgetting. If you're still deciding what to say, start with our invitation wording examples. For destination weddings, send invitations 3–4 months ahead.
Posting paper invitations? Allow extra time
Australia Post now delivers regular letters every second business day in most areas, and its delivery estimates grew by about a business day when the change came in. If you're posting printed invitations, or a printed copy for grandparents, post them a week or two earlier than you otherwise would — or send online and post a keepsake copy to the few who'd like one.
RSVP deadline: 4–6 weeks before
Work backwards from your caterer. Most need final numbers and dietary requirements 2–3 weeks before the day, so set your RSVP deadline a couple of weeks before that. You'll want time to:
- chase late replies,
- finalise your seating plan,
- confirm numbers with your venue and caterer.
Reminders: the gentle nudge
There will always be a handful of guests who don't reply. A short, friendly reminder a week before your deadline catches most of them (we've written reminder messages you can copy). With online RSVPs you can see exactly who hasn't replied and remind just those guests — no awkward group messages.
Your timeline, done for you
When you create your wedding on Online Wedding Invitation, your checklist is timed to your date automatically (or follow our month-by-month planning checklist) — including when to send save the dates, invitations and reminders.
Sending by email or WhatsApp takes the Australia Post delivery window out of the sum. See how our free wedding invitations work.
Quick questions
How far ahead should we send invitations in Australia?
Eight to twelve weeks before the wedding for most weddings, and three to four months for a destination wedding or one where most guests fly interstate.
When should the RSVP date be?
Four to six weeks before the day. Ask your caterer when they need final numbers (often two to three weeks out), then set your RSVP date a couple of weeks before that.
Do we have to send save the dates?
No, but they help when guests need to travel or book leave, or the wedding is on a long weekend. Only send them to people you are certain to invite.