How Far in Advance to Mail Invitations?

Updated on April 28, 2008
J.B. asks from Sacramento, CA
18 answers

My son's birthday party is the end of June. How far in advance should I mail or hand out the invites?

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So What Happened?

Thanks everyone. I am getting ready to mail the invites out this weekend. The party is 6/30 and I have asked rsvp a week before. So everyone should get them 2.5 (almost 3 weeks) before the actual date. I think 1-1.5 wks is enough time to decide if they are gonna rsvp! Well hoping for a good turn out!

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J.L.

answers from San Diego on

My daughter with be 19 May 27th, I aways mailed my invitations for my kids parties 2 weeks in advance, if they were going out of town I mailed them 3 weeks in advanced. J.

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M.B.

answers from Austin on

Hi J.! :)

My kids birthdays are also at the end of June and I was actually getting ready to ask the very same advice! hehe :)

I think I'll go with 3 weeks myself. I'm worried that with 4 weeks they might forget about it LOL!

Best of Wishes,
M.

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Z.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi J.,

I would say 2 wks. is good. It's not too far off in the future that people will forget and you can also have them RSVP so you know how many will show up to the party. It's worked well for us, so have fun @ your son's party!

1 mom found this helpful
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T.T.

answers from Sacramento on

My twins are young (just 2.5 years old) so we invite friends and family from far away, as well as local friends and family. Since we are inviting people that have to drive 2-3 hours, I like to send invites 4 weeks out so they can plan a whole weekend trip.

If this is a school aged child inviting just local friends I would imagine 2-3 weeks is plenty of time!

Good luck! Have fun!

T.

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F.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

2-3 weeks sound about right.

I usually do 3 weeks for friends that I know use calendars to organize their lives and 2 weeks for those friends that don't use calendars and are last-minute planners.

Have a fun party!

(funny- most SAHMs are so busy they are hardly at home!)

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G.E.

answers from San Diego on

My advice is... the sooner the better. My twins birthday party is June 23rd and sent them out 2 weeks ago. With summer coming there are so many weddings and parties to plan for, so having advance notice is always good!!

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T.R.

answers from Fresno on

I would do it about the beginning of June. That way the people you invite have time to figure out schedules or allow them time to get something in the time they have for your child.

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J.S.

answers from San Diego on

Hello I am mom of a seven month old boy and i work at an Inviatation store. You should get them out a.s.a.p however since it's a birthday for a child you can send three weeks in advance. When all else fails i say you know your guests and send them whenever you want! ;)

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M.Z.

answers from Reno on

I just did my daughters birthday and I found 2 wks to be a good time frame. That gives them a week and a half to let you know before you would start calling and asking the people who didn't RSVP if they'll make it. To much farther and even if people can come, they may forget.

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M.G.

answers from Modesto on

I send invitations out two weeks before the party. This is mainly because I can then get an idea of how many people will be there so that I can purchase enough supplies and prizes. Not only that, but if someone has plans for that weekend, it is much easier for them to change them than it is at the last minute.

M. *~

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J.M.

answers from San Francisco on

It's a busy time of year and lots of people are on vacation - I'd send them three to four weeks in advance. Have fun!

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J.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

Everyone seems to be suggesting between 2-4 weeks, and I have to agree. I send them out about 2.5 weeks before the party. (I.e.- If the party is on a Saturday the 30th, I'd send them out by Wednesday the 13th.) This way they typically recieve it about 2 weeks before the party. This allows them time to respond and make plans. HOWEVER- if you have an RSVP deadline (as I believe you do for the Gym his party will be at) BE SURE that your guests have them at least 2 weeks BEFORE the RSVP date.

Hope it helpd, ~J.- wink, wink! ;O)

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M.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

My sons birthday party will be end of June too. June 30th. I am sending invites out the 15th of June. He will be turning 10. I have always done 2 weeks and works out fine. No matter when you do it you will always get the people that do not RSVP. Have fun.

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J.W.

answers from Los Angeles on

J., I have thrown parties for years and, unless these are people who you have a history of inviting every year regularly to the same event, you should definitely give out notices a minimum of 3 weeks beforehand. Four weeks is great if you have people out of state. As one of the mom's mentioned, this is a difficult time of the month. Students are getting out of school and parents often times go on vacation. You should get out those invitations because you will hopefully hear back right away from people who have scheduled vacations. If you wait 2 weeks before the party, people may be getting those invitation while they are on vacation and you won't hear from them at all. Many schools in Orange County are closed anywhere between June 14 through June 24 (public). I am not sure about private schools. You might also consider a website that sends out invitations. It think it is called e-vite. I believe that they also allow for reminders if you want to try that option.

Good luck. My sister's son has a birthday at the same time that your son does. She had a problem because people are on vacation for an early 4th of July as well as leaving right after school gets out. She has her challenges with people's availability for his party.

J. W.

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D.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi J.,

I would recommend 1-1/2 wks. Any earlier & people tend to forget & any later people tend to have already made weekend plans. Good luck with your son's party!

D. H.

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K.V.

answers from San Francisco on

I agree w/the other moms....sooner the better especially if he's in school which will be out soon. You want people to have them before the year is up & also before they get too involved w/their summer plans. Our oldes son's b-day is 11/22....Thanksgiving this year! He's turning 7. Since he started school & having parties w/his buddies, I send the invitations so they'd arrive w/in that first week of the month. The past 2 b-days, we've had his party a 2 weeks ahead just cuz everybody goes outa town for Turkey Day. My b-day is a week before his, so, basically, all of November is about b-days! Hope it's a great party!

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C.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

Hi J.,
I mail out invitations 3 - 4 weeks in advance. If you are planning a large party, 3 - 4 weeks is best, or if the guests are from out of town. I plan on 4 weeks and while I am working on the guest list, labels, envelopes, stamps, and inviations, it actually turns into 3 weeks. After they are all mailed out, I am then working on the party goods, food, and location. Times goes by quick so don't delay!

Have a wonderful party!

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S.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

I'd mail out the invitations 4 weeks prior to the event.

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