When to Send Wedding Invites in NZ: A Timeline for Kiwi Couples
When to send save the dates and invites in New Zealand, around anniversary weekends, Waitangi Day and Matariki, with time for Australian guests to book.
The short answer
Send save the dates 6 to 8 months out for a local crowd, or 9 to 12 months if guests are flying in from Australia or further. The invite itself goes about three months (10 to 12 weeks) before, with RSVPs due 5 to 6 weeks out. Beyond that, NZ timing comes down to how far guests are travelling and which long weekend (or ski season) you're up against.
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The timeline at a glance
| Step | How far ahead |
|---|---|
| Save the date, most guests local | 6 to 8 months |
| Save the date, guests flying in from Australia or further | 9 to 12 months |
| The invite itself | About 3 months (10 to 12 weeks) |
| RSVPs due | 5 to 6 weeks out |
| Final numbers to your venue or caterer | Check your contract; often 2 to 3 weeks |
| Last details to guests (parking, timings, weather plan) | The week of the wedding |
Summer books out first
The busiest stretch for Kiwi weddings runs from December to March, when the weather's most settled. A lot of people are away between Christmas and mid-January, so dates in that window need the longest notice.
Watch for the long weekends inside summer:
- Wellington Anniversary Day (the Monday closest to 22 January) and Auckland Anniversary Day (the Monday closest to 29 January). Both are regional, so guests from other parts of the country won't get the day off.
- Waitangi Day, 6 February. When it lands on a weekend, the holiday moves to the Monday.
- Easter and Anzac Day in autumn.
Marrying on one of these weekends? Send save the dates 9 to 12 months out, and suggest guests book accommodation as soon as they have the date.
Winter weddings and Matariki
Winter weddings in Queenstown, Wānaka and the Mackenzie are popular, and they collide with the ski season, when beds book out early. The Matariki public holiday is always a Friday, which makes a tidy long weekend: Friday 25 June 2027 and Friday 14 July 2028. King's Birthday (the first Monday in June) is the other winter long weekend.
Guests coming from Australia or overseas
Friends across the Tasman will be watching airfares, and fares around school holidays climb quickly. Give them at least nine months' notice. For guests from the UK, Europe or North America, a full year is kind, and it's worth putting nearby accommodation and airport transfer tips on your wedding website.
Posting invites now takes longer
Since late 2025, NZ Post only has to deliver letters to town addresses two days a week (rural addresses get at least three). If you're posting printed invites, add a week or two to your plans, and longer for anything going overseas.
Many couples now send the invite by email or text and post a printed copy only to the few who'd treasure it, often grandparents.
Choosing your RSVP date
Start from the date your venue or caterer wants final numbers, then count back a week or two so you have time to chase. For example:
- Wedding: Saturday 13 March 2027
- Caterer needs final numbers: Friday 26 February
- RSVPs due: Sunday 31 January 2027
Why not the first weekend of February? It's Waitangi weekend in 2027 (the Saturday holiday moves to Monday 8 February), and half your guests will be at the bach.
Chasing the stragglers
Every wedding has a few guests who don't reply. A friendly reminder a week before your RSVP date catches most of them (WhatsApp nudges you can copy). With online RSVPs you can see who has opened the invite and who hasn't answered, and send a nudge to just those people. For the rest, a quick text or a phone call to Uncle Pete usually does it.
Let the dates take care of themselves
When you set up your wedding, your checklist is timed to your date (or follow our month-by-month checklist), including when to send save the dates, invites and reminders.
Going digital means you're not waiting on NZ Post at all. Have a look at our free wedding invites.
Quick questions
How early should we send wedding invites in NZ?
About three months (10 to 12 weeks) before the day. Save the dates go 6 to 8 months out, or 9 to 12 months for guests flying in.
Does NZ Post delivery change the timing?
Yes, for printed invites. Town addresses now get letters two days a week, so post a week or two earlier, and earlier again for anything going overseas.
Which weekends need the most notice?
Summer weekends between December and March, especially Christmas to mid-January, plus anniversary days, Waitangi Day, Easter, Matariki and ski-season weekends in Queenstown and Wānaka.