Shower Invites: How early is too early?

Miggg · March 2014

DH and I are hosting a shower for friends June 21st and I'm trying to decide when to send the invitations. Where we live it's really common to leave the city on the weekend in the summer so I'm worried about people not being around. I'd like to send out the invites as early as possible to give people time to plan but how early is too early? Could I send them mid-April or would that be weird and/or be so early that people have forgotten about it by the time June comes?

cbrust · March 2014

hmm, this is tricky. I would say that because it's a weekend during the summer I would send them no sooner than 6 weeks out but no more than 8 weeks. I tend to forget events if they are more than two months away, so I second the idea of a magnet or a reminder email/phone call.

jfletcher3113 · March 2014

I would probably send them in early May but don't think earlier than that would be weird, either.

I think six weeks is a good amount of heads up. People with other big events like weddings or planned vacations likely already have their plans set so it won't matter whether you send them in April or early May.

I wish my MIL was a planner like you! My shower is in two weeks (April 6) and the invites have yet to go out. Haha!

haylo33 · March 2014

I would say 4-6 weeks before. If I get an invite too far out, I forget

Bayberry12 · March 2014

My last job was as an invitation consultant and 2-4 weeks is standard for showers. I understand you want to give people notice and get the word out, but in my experience 6 weeks is pushing it and people are likely to put the invite aside and forget. It's not a wedding.
I think the best thing to do in this case is to use word of mouth to let people there will be a shower and to expect an formal invitation at a later date. The guests of honor can also spread the word if people ask about a shower.

MrsT2008 · March 2014

I think 6-8 weeks is okay. I wouldn't do more than 8 weeks.

usernewname · March 2014

Late April - Early May … too early and people will forget.

fyafighterwife86 · March 2014

Here's the deal..

If you send the invite out too early, it's getting thrown to the side, which takes risk of getting thrown in the trash.

If it's too late, people will have already made plans and won't go.

IMO- the second week of May is appropriate.

Miggg · March 2014

Thanks everyone for the input! I hadn't thought about magnets, that's a good idea!

deanna1313 · March 2014

I can't imagine sending an invite out only two weeks before. We don't even do that for birthday parties in my family or with friends.
In your case, I would say 6 weeks is great! My shower is April 6th and the invitations were sent out March 3rd. I always prefer more notice when I receive an invitation. I have received some with 2weeks notice and get annoyed because I would like to go, but already made plans.

iqwedding3 · March 2014

Consider your guests. Do you have folks coming in from out of town? I'd want at least a month. Also my friends with busy schedules/kids tend to book up early, but my single, don't decide until the last minute friends will forget... I sent out my invites a month in advance for the former, with reminders at 2 and 1 week for the latter.

mileswithmyles · March 2014

If you are worried about people going out of town, I would suggest the beginning of May.

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Shower Invites: How early is too early?

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