• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Destination Wedding Details

Destination Wedding Details

Inspiration for every detail of your wedding away

  • Shop
  • Real Weddings
  • Vendors
  • Ideas
    • Welcome Bags & Favors
    • Bridesmaid Gifts
    • Styled Wedding Inspiration
    • Cake Ideas & Tips
    • Invitations
      • Personal Destination Wedding Websites
      • Save the Date Ideas
      • Destination Wedding Invitations 101
      • When to Send Invitations
      • At Home Reception Invitations
      • Unique Invitation Ideas
      • Destination Wedding Invitation Wording
    • Ceremony/Reception
      • Guest Book Alternative Ideas
      • Program Ideas
      • Unique Wedding Signs
      • Destination Wedding Theme Ideas
      • Creative Ideas
    • Flowers
      • Bouquet Ideas
      • Bouquet Tips
      • Centerpiece Ideas
      • Beach Wedding Arch Ideas
  • Fashion
    • DW Dress Guide
    • Destination Dress Gallery
    • Tips for Buying a Gown Online
    • Men’s Attire
    • Bridesmaid Attire Tips
    • Beach Wedding Attire Tips for Guests
    • Destination Hairstyle Gallery
  • Advice
    • Destination Wedding Checklist
    • Destination Wedding Planning Tips
    • Destination Wedding Do’s and Don’ts
    • Legal vs Symbolic Weddings
    • Managing Family Reactions
    • Photography
    • Money Matters
      • Keys to Cheap Destination Weddings
      • Budgeting Tips
      • The Truth about Free Weddings
    • Travel
      • How to Travel with Your Dress
      • Destination Wedding Packing Checklist
      • DW Packing Tips & Advice
  • Etiquette

Destination Wedding Invitations 101

You are here: Home / Destination Wedding Etiquette Advice / Destination Wedding Invitations 101
by Cynthia

Looking for unique destination wedding invitations, save the dates or fun beach themed invites?  You’ll find lots of photos, inspiration, awesome vendors and helpful tips throughout this site!

I have to confess – this is one of my favorite topics and one of the projects I thoroughly enjoyed when I was planning my own DW!  There’s nothing traditional about a destination wedding, and invitations are your first opportunity to set the tone for what’s to come!  You want your guests to open the envelope and say, “Wow! I have to go book my trip now, or I’m going to miss out on something really special!”

Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  •  Destination Wedding Invitations & Save-the-Date Guide
  • Destination Wedding Invitations 101+−
    • When to Mail Destination Wedding Invitations
    • How Much Info to Include in Your Destination Wedding Invitations
    • When to Request RSVPs
    • How to Handle People who Invite Themselves (because who doesn’t want to travel to paradise?)
    • Using a Personal Wedding Website as the Invitations

Click on the thumbnails below to browse the different sections and get inspiration for your destination wedding save-the-dates, invitations, and even post-destination wedding invitations.

Photo by Lisandro Garcia on Unsplash

 Destination Wedding Invitations & Save-the-Date Guide

8 Ways a Wedding Website Helps You Plan Your Destination Wedding

Top 5 Tips for Conquering Destination Wedding RSVP Troubles

Unique Beach Wedding Invitations in a Bottle

21 Beautiful At Home Wedding Reception Invitations

Customizable Destination Wedding Invitations

The Best Destination Wedding Website Builders

Cool Destination Wedding Save the Date Ideas & Etiquette

Unique Destination Wedding Invitation Ideas

Beach Wedding Invitation Wording

Destination Wedding Invitation Wording Etiquette and Examples

Destination Wedding Invitations 101

Your save-the-date and invitations are the first glimpses your guests will have into the type of event you’re planning.  That’s why it’s so important to send something out of the box that will excite them from the get-go!  And every detail counts – how creative they are, using the perfect wording, and even when they’re mailed…

That’s why I’ve compiled a list of the most common issues related to destination and beach themed invitations.

When to Mail Destination Wedding Invitations

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… etiquette is not so much about following a strict set of “rules”.  It’s about using common sense and treating others as you would want to be treated.  You can send your invitations out a week before the ceremony if you want to…but chances are you won’t have any guests attending.  So, the question really becomes, “when should I send destination wedding invitations IF I want to increase my chances of a good turnout”

You’re not getting married in the local church on the other side of town, so if a good turnout is important to you, then it’s critical that you give your guest as much notice as possible. Destination wedding invitations should be in the mail no later than two months before the ceremony — three months if you want to be really safe.

Read this post for a detailed guide to when you should send out save the date and invitations for the destination wedding and at-home wedding reception.

How Much Info to Include in Your Destination Wedding Invitations

There’s a lot to communicate in destination wedding invitations, but don’t overwhelm guests with too many details.  People are busy so give them just enough information, and then direct them to your personal wedding website or app for more.  Here is some of the critical info that you should include on your invitations:

  • Date and time
  • City/country
  • Venue
  • Name of the resort where you blocked rooms
  • Instructions for booking their trip
  • When and how to RSVP
  • Invitations to pre-wedding events (i.e. rehearsal dinner, welcome reception)
  • A link to your personal website for more details

Tip: Need space for all those details? Choose stationery with multiple pages.  Think pocket fold, multi-card boarding passes or passport. Click here for examples of other unique invitations.

When to Request RSVPs

When it comes to destination weddings, the invitation’s RSVP date is much more than just an old-fashioned formality.  You’ll not only be relying on an accurate guest count to determine catering, but your special group travel rate or free resort package might also hinge on how many people actually show up.  The earlier you know your headcount, the better equipped you’ll be to plan and budget accordingly.

As you can see, there’s a lot riding on that RSVP number.

If your caterer needs a final head count by March 25, but the deadline to book travel at the group rate is March 7th, then tell guests they must RSVP by March 1st. This gives you a week to gather all the info and send an accurate guest count to the resort/venue/caterer.

More:  How to Set your Destination Wedding RSVP Deadline

How to Handle People who Invite Themselves (because who doesn’t want to travel to paradise?)

One of the great beauties of destination weddings is that you have carte blanche to weed out all the unnecessary people from your guest list. Nearly everyone will understand if they’re not invited to travel with you.  But it almost never fails – there will be a few indiscreet people who will still come right out and ask for an invite.

If you wouldn’t normally feel comfortable inviting someone to vacation with you on some tropical island, don’t send them invitations to your destination wedding either.  If they go, it will be awkward and uncomfortable.  Not exactly how you want to feel on one of the happiest weeks of your life.

You can almost always get away with the excuse that it’s a small, intimate celebration with just family and close friends.

Using a Personal Wedding Website as the Invitations

A personal website is a great way to share details and keep everyone updated but it shouldn’t be a substitute for formal invitations. With everything you’re asking of your guests, it’s a nice gesture to put in the time and effort to send them a nice invitation.

Have questions about how to word your destination wedding invitations? Click here for tips on destination wording for touchy subjects like adults-only celebrations and the subject of  “no gifts”.

More:  See all articles on Destination Wedding Save the Dates and Invitations

Next > Click for More Invitations

Related

destination wedding welcome bags

About Cynthia

Cynthia is the founder and editor of Destination Wedding Details.She has over 15 years experience in the Marketing and Event industry and launched Destination Wedding Details in 2010, shortly after planning her own destination wedding. Cynthia uses her experience and genuine passion, to inspire brides who are planning their dream wedding away from home.

Category: Destination Wedding Etiquette AdviceTag: Destination Wedding RSVP, Invitation Etiquette, Invitation Wording
Previous Post:Unique Destination Wedding Invitation Ideas
Next Post:9 Destination Wedding Planning Must Do’s

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. NParekh

    at

    I was quite confused about how to organize my wedding invites. I wanted my wedding to be convenient for the guests. I found reading this post on “destination wedding invitations” very informative. Thank you for sharing this post and letting us know about the various factors related to wedding invitations.

    Reply
  2. Wedding stationery

    at

    Great ideas on making unique cards for a unique wedding. I particularly like the save the date in the sand photo, think it’s really creative!

    Reply
  3. Brielle

    at

    I absolutely love these destination wedding invitations. I love the fact that they give you a little taste of what is in store a few months ahead. Thanks so much for sharing these creative ideas.

    Reply
  4. Tricia

    at

    How do I decide whom to invite? Do I choose a number of guests I can afford?

    Reply
    • Cynthia

      at

      Hi Tricia – The amount of people you invite will definitely depend on your budget. Most destination wedding guest lists are intimate and consist of close family and friends. But if you can afford it, and want to invite more people, that’s totally fine too. I’ve seen destination weddings with 200 guests. Just keep in mind, that even if you can afford and choose to invite 200 people, they won’t all be able to travel to your destination for various reasons (budgets, vacation time, etc..).

      Here are some other articles that might help guide you:

      https://destinationweddingdetails.com/destination-wedding-etiquette.html#Who%20To%20Invite

      https://destinationweddingdetails.com/sending-destination-wedding-invitations-to-guests-who-cant-afford-to-attend.html

      Hope this helps!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sidebar

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
Aisle Society Blogger

Top Wedding Site

best destination wedding blog award

top destination wedding blog award

Brands We Love




destination wedding vendors
Dessy Twist

Dessy After 6

Costa Rica Weddings

Featured Destination Wedding Vendors

Kelly Jo Photography
Kelly Jo Photography

Im here to capture your day as it unfolds while helping guide you on how to m...

Paradise Weddings
Paradise Weddings

Award-winning wedding planners and travel agency specializing in destination ...

DamolaMakeovers Makeup Artistry
DamolaMakeovers Makeup Artistry

Damolamakeovers Makeup Artistry is an experienced and versatile Destination m...

Linda Dancer - Honeymoons Inc.
Linda Dancer - Honeymoons Inc.

Award winning Romance Travel Planner - helping busy clients plan their honeym...

VIP Vacations Inc
VIP Vacations Inc

VIP Vacations would be honored to help you plan your destination wedding! We...

Villa Punto De Vista Estate
Villa Punto De Vista Estate

If your dream destination wedding conjures up images of pristine sand beaches...

Vacationeeze
Vacationeeze

Vacationeeze is a family owned travel agency with over 30 years of experience...

Popular Content

Destination Wedding welcome bags
17 Welcome Bag Items Your Guests Will Love
destination wedding website
destination wedding checklist

Follow on Pinterest

Get Your Free Destination Wedding Etiquette Guide


Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to get a free Destination Wedding Etiquette Guide, plus monthly checklist reminders, inspiration, tips and exclusive giveaways!

Real Destination Weddings

Destination Wedding in a Secluded Santorini Venue

Impromptu Elopement on Hanalei Beach

DESTINATION WEDDING DETAILS

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Submit
  • Advertise

INSPIRATION & ADVICE

Destination Wedding Planning Tips

Destination Wedding Etiquette

Destination Wedding Inspiration

Real Destination Weddings

Find Vendors

FOLLOW US

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Privacy Policy

Cookie Notice

Disclaimers

General Terms of Use

Vendor Terms of Use

Copyright © 2025 · Destination Wedding Details LLC · All Rights Reserved