How early to invite depends on the occasion and on how far guests travel. As a rule: four to six weeks for a wedding, with a save the date months earlier for travellers; two to three weeks for engagements, milestone birthdays, anniversaries and baby showers; one to two weeks for pujas, housewarmings and children's parties; and a few days for gatherings that follow events, such as a prayer meeting. The table below covers the common occasions, and the notes after it cover the exceptions.
The timing table
| Occasion | Send the invitation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wedding | 4 to 6 weeks before | Save the date 2 to 6 months ahead for travellers |
| Destination wedding | Save the date 4 to 6 months before; invitation 6 to 8 weeks | Guests need flights and leave |
| Haldi, mehndi, sangeet | With the wedding invitation | Reminder the morning of each |
| Engagement or sagai | 2 to 3 weeks before | Close family by phone first |
| Roka | A few days to a week | Usually only the two families |
| Baby shower, godh bharai, seemant | 2 to 3 weeks before | The date often depends on a muhurat |
| Naming ceremony | About a week before | Set soon after the birth |
| First birthday | 2 to 3 weeks before | A month for relatives who travel |
| Children's birthday | 2 weeks before | Reminder two days before |
| Milestone birthday (50th, 60th, 75th) | 3 to 4 weeks before | Earlier if relatives travel |
| Anniversary party | 2 to 3 weeks before | 25th and 50th: 4 weeks or more |
| Griha pravesh, vastu shanti | 1 to 2 weeks before | Once the muhurat is fixed |
| Festival party (Diwali, garba) | 2 to 3 weeks before | Festival weekends fill up fast |
| Office event | 3 to 4 weeks before | Calendar invites as well |
| Prayer meeting | 1 to 3 days before | By phone and message, very simply |
What moves the timing earlier
- Travel. Guests who need flights, trains in a busy season, or leave from work need more notice.
- The season. The winter wedding months and festival weeks are crowded; guests' calendars fill early.
- Exams and school holidays, for families with children.
- Elderly guests, who may need someone to accompany them.
- Large gatherings where you need a count for the caterer.
What moves it later
- A muhurat fixed at short notice, common for pujas, griha pravesh and naming ceremonies.
- Small, local gatherings, where a week is plenty.
- Events that follow a death, such as a prayer meeting, which are arranged within days.
When notice is short, phone the important guests the day the date is fixed, and send the invitation as soon as it's ready. Guests forgive a late card when they've heard from you personally.
Wording an invitation that's going out late
When the date is close, say so warmly rather than apologising at length. A short line shows you thought of the guest; the details do the rest.
We know it's short notice. The muhurat for our griha pravesh came up for this Sunday, 9 am, and we'd be so happy if you could come.
The invitation and map are in the link.
Office events and calendar invites
For office events, send the designed invitation and a calendar invite together, three to four weeks ahead. The calendar invite holds the date in people's diaries; the invitation carries the feel of the event. Send a reminder the day before, and put the venue and dress code in both.
Elders and close family come first
Whatever the occasion, the people closest to the family should hear first and personally: a visit or a call, then the invitation so they have the details. For weddings, the first card goes to Ganesh in many families before anyone else; the first kankotri guide explains the custom.
Reminders
| Event length | Reminder |
|---|---|
| One function | The day before, with the time and the map |
| Several functions | Two or three days before with the whole schedule, then the morning of each |
| A festival with many nights | The afternoon of each special night |
Write reminders early
Write the reminder messages when you write the invitation. On the day, you'll be too busy to compose anything, and a ready message takes ten seconds to send.
Too early is a problem too
An invitation sent three months before a birthday party gets forgotten, and guests may assume plans have changed. If you must share a date very early, send a save the date and follow it with the real invitation at the usual time.
Related guides
For weddings in detail, see when to send wedding invitations and the wedding planning timeline. The WhatsApp sharing guide covers sending, and more planning guides are under planning and etiquette.
Questions people ask
How early should a birthday invitation be sent?
Two to three weeks for most birthday parties, and three to four weeks for milestone birthdays when relatives travel.
How early should a griha pravesh invitation be sent?
One to two weeks before, once the muhurat is fixed. Call guests who need to travel as soon as you know the date.
Is a week's notice enough for a puja?
Usually yes for local guests. Phone close family first, then send the invitation.
Can an invitation be sent too early?
Yes. Sent months ahead, it gets forgotten. Use a save the date for early notice and send the invitation at the usual time.
Filed under Planning & etiquette
Written by ShubhLink Editorial Team
The team behind ShubhLink's invitation templates and ShubhLink AI. We write down what families ask us most, and check each guide before it goes live.