When to send invites?

[ImInStealthMode]

Wedding is next June, and we weren't going to bother with 'save the dates' as most family and friends already know the date we've selected (although granted, not necessarily if they're certain to be invited!).

It's on a bank holiday, in school holidays, and about 1/4 of guests will need to fly here, some internationally. We want to give plenty of notice so people know not to book holidays elsewhere that week if they want to attend and so on.

Wedding websites tell me etiquette is only to send invites 4 months prior for a wedding that requires travel though? 4 months ahead of time flights to where we live for half-term will be extortionate and accommodation could be thin on the ground.

We have the invites already. Would we be unreasonable and terrible etiquette to send them soonish with an RSVP date well into next year for those who have to wait to put annual leave requests in and so on?

I would certainly send them to the guests who are needing to fly in, even if it is with a note saying you might slightly fine tune small details later, but that you would love them to be there and appreciate how much organisation there is for them to be able to come.
I think if you send them to more local guests that far in advance, many will be very too relaxed about replying, all thinking 'oh we've got ages' and then forgetting to do so. (Unless that is just me?).

I think given that you’re not bothering with save the dates I would be sending them out fairly soon. Those who need to book flights and accommodation need plenty of notice. 4 months is probably fine if it’s a Saturday and everyone is local, but this isn’t what you’re doing.

I guess the reason save the dates exist is that I imagine some guests will end up losing invites when there’s such a long time to send rsvp for. So it might be a good idea if you send the invites out early to send reminders nearer the wedding if some haven’t replied.

ASAP. People will already have holidays booked for next summer.

Thanks, we're going to send them early in the New Year. Close family and friends, those that have to travel or have kids (it falls in school holidays) are already aware of the date and that they will be invited.