Planning
When to send your wedding invite video on WhatsApp: a timeline for Indian weddings
You've chosen the words, the story and the music. Now comes a question every couple asks: when do we actually send it?
Send too early and it's forgotten under a hundred forwards. Send too late and outstation relatives can't book tickets. This guide gives you a simple timeline for Indian weddings, built around how guests really use WhatsApp — and works backwards to when you should order your invite video.
Every wedding is different, so treat these as starting points rather than rules.
The short version
| When | What to send |
|---|---|
| 3–6 months before | Save the date (especially for destination or outstation guests) |
| 6–8 weeks before | Your wedding invite video |
| 2–3 weeks before | A gentle reminder, with function details |
| 1 week before | Practical details: venues, timings, dress codes |
| 1–2 days before | Final directions and anything that's changed |
3–6 months before: save the date
If many of your guests will travel — from another city, another state, or abroad — a save the date gives them time to plan leave and book trains or flights before prices rise.
A save the date can be short and simple: your names, the date, the city. Some couples send a short version of their invite video first and the full film later; others send one film and follow up with details.
Good to know: For a destination wedding or a winter wedding during the busy season, lean towards the earlier end.
6–8 weeks before: send your invite video
This is the sweet spot for the main invitation. It's close enough that guests take it seriously and add it to their calendars, and early enough that they can still arrange travel and outfits.
A few practical tips for sending on WhatsApp:
- Send it personally where you can. A forward from you, with a line like "We'd love you to be there", feels far warmer than a group blast.
- Post it in family groups too — but follow up individually with the people who matter most.
- Send a few at a time. WhatsApp is designed for personal conversations. Sending the same file to a very long list of people in one go can feel impersonal, and it's kinder to guests anyway.
- Pin it. Ask close family to pin the message so it's easy to find again.
What to write alongside your video
The message you send with your invite matters almost as much as the film. A few lines in your own words make guests feel personally invited, not broadcast to. For example:
- To close family: "Mausi, our invite is here! We can't imagine the day without you. All the details are at the end of the video — and do call us with any questions."
- To friends: "It's official! Here's our invite — we'd love you there for every single function."
- To colleagues or acquaintances: "We'd be delighted if you could join us for our wedding. The invitation with all the details is attached."
Write it in whichever language you'd naturally use with that person. It's a small effort, and guests notice.
2–3 weeks before: a gentle reminder
People forget. A short reminder message — or the invite video again, with a note — is a kindness, not a nag. This is also a good moment to confirm who's coming, if you haven't already.
1 week before: the practical details
Now guests want the details: which function is where, what time to arrive, what to wear, how to get there. This is where a clear, separate message helps — or, if you have one, your guest concierge (more on that below).
1–2 days before: final directions
Send location pins, parking notes and anything that has changed. Keep it short. Guests will be reading on the move.
Working backwards: when to order your invite video
Here's the part couples often forget. If you want to send your invite 6–8 weeks before the wedding, the film needs to be ready before then — with time to review it.
Our invites are ready in 5–7 working days after your story call is completed and your photos are received. After that, you have 2 rounds of revisions, requested within 7 days of delivery. So a comfortable plan looks like this:
- Book your free story call about 10–12 weeks before the wedding.
- Send your photos and invite text soon after the call. Timelines pause while we wait for them, so the sooner the better.
- Review your first draft and send your changes together, in one list.
- Share your final film at the 6–8 week mark.
If you're reading this with less time than that — it happens — rush delivery gets your invite to you within 24 hours of your story call, for +₹1,999.
A note on time zones and timing
If you have family abroad, think about when your message lands. A video sent at 9 am in Pune arrives in the middle of the night in New York or Toronto. For close relatives overseas, a personal message at a sensible local time goes a long way.
Within India, mornings and early evenings tend to be when people have a quiet moment to watch a video with sound.
Making the details easier for everyone
The weeks before a wedding bring a steady stream of the same questions: Where is the sangeet? What time is the muhurat? Is there parking? What should we wear? Answering them one by one, on top of everything else, is exhausting.
That's why we offer the WhatsApp Guest Concierge as an add-on to the invite video. It's a dedicated WhatsApp assistant set up with your wedding details — venues and directions, function timings, dress codes, travel and stay details, RSVPs and reminders. It's available 24/7 once set up, for up to 500 guests, and stays live until the end of your wedding day. You can read more in our guide to what a WhatsApp guest concierge does.
A simple checklist
- Save the date sent (3–6 months before)
- Invite video ordered (about 10–12 weeks before)
- Photos and invite text shared
- Revisions sent in one list
- Invite video sent (6–8 weeks before)
- Reminder sent (2–3 weeks before)
- Details shared (1 week before)
- Final directions sent (1–2 days before)
If you're planning your timeline now, the first step is simple: a free 15-minute story call. See what's included in our Custom Wedding Invite Video and on our pricing page.