Save The Dates: Just For Weddings Or A Broader Social Trend?

Save-the-date cards are an important part of wedding planning. They are a pre-invitation announcement that lets guests know the date and location of the wedding and that they will be invited to the celebration. They are typically sent out 6-8 months before the wedding, or 9-12 months before if the wedding is a destination wedding. Save-the-dates are not just for weddings, however. They can be used for any event where the host wants to give guests advanced notice to ensure they are free to attend.

Save-the-date cards are not mandatory

Additional Time and Expense

Creating and sending save-the-date cards can be time-consuming and costly. You will need to factor this expense into your wedding budget, and it can take time to design, print, and mail the cards, as well as collect the mailing addresses of your guests. Even if you opt for digital save-the-dates, you will still need to gather email addresses, and there is a risk that your message might get missed or filtered into spam folders.

Finalizing the Guest List

If you send save-the-dates, you will need to decide on your guest list soon after locking in your wedding venue and budget. Once someone receives a save-the-date, they will assume they are invited to your wedding, and you will need to send them an official invitation later. Therefore, it is important to choose your guest list wisely and thoughtfully to avoid any drama or confusion down the line.

Overlapping with Wedding Invitations

Save-the-date cards provide a brief overview of the wedding date and location, which is especially helpful for destination weddings or events requiring travel. However, they are not necessary if you plan to send out your wedding invitations early. By sending the invitations earlier, you can still give your guests a heads-up and allow them to plan their travel arrangements without the need for an additional save-the-date card.

Informal Alternatives

Save-the-date cards are not the only way to notify your guests about your wedding plans. You can spread the word informally by calling, texting, or emailing your guests, especially those who need to make travel arrangements. This approach can be more personal and flexible, ensuring that your guests receive the information directly and can start making their plans.

They are useful for destination weddings

Save-the-dates are not just for weddings, they are also useful for destination weddings. They are a fun way to give your guests a glimpse of the wedding and a heads-up about the event. They are especially important for destination weddings, where guests will have to make travel and accommodation arrangements. Here are some reasons why save-the-dates are useful for destination weddings:

Advance Notice for Guests

Sending save-the-dates for a destination wedding gives your guests ample notice to plan their travel and accommodation. It is recommended to send them at least six months in advance, or even earlier if the wedding requires extensive travel arrangements. This gives guests enough time to compare flight options, book accommodations, and plan any necessary days off from work.

Helpful for Guests' Calendars

Save-the-dates alert guests of the official wedding date and location, which is crucial when travel is involved. This allows guests to mark their calendars and avoid double-booking with other commitments and events. The earlier notice also increases the likelihood that they will be available to attend.

Guests Can Plan Travel and Accommodation

With a save-the-date, guests can jump on booking airfare and accommodations for the wedding. They can also set up travel alerts to snag future sale fares if they live far away or are travelling for the wedding. Sending the save-the-date early allows guests to take advantage of travel deals and plan their trip accordingly.

Guests Know They Are Invited

A save-the-date confirms for your guests that they are on the guest list and can start planning their attendance. This is especially important for destination weddings, where guests may need to plan and budget for travel expenses. It gives them the confidence to make the necessary arrangements, knowing that they are expected and welcomed at the wedding.

Share Basic Information and Wedding Website

Save-the-dates for destination weddings should include basic information such as the wedding date and location. They can also include the wedding website URL, where guests can find more detailed information about travel, accommodation, and other wedding-related events. This helps guests plan their trip effectively and ensures they have access to all the necessary details.

Set the Tone for the Wedding

Save-the-dates can also be used to give guests a glimpse of the wedding's tone and style. For a formal wedding, a printed card can set the elegant tone you want to convey. On the other hand, for a more relaxed or adventurous destination wedding, you can choose a fun and creative save-the-date design that reflects the vibe of the celebration.

In conclusion, save-the-dates are extremely useful for destination weddings as they provide guests with essential information and advance notice to plan their attendance. They help set the tone for the wedding and ensure that guests can effectively arrange their travel and accommodation.

They are sent before formal invitations

Save-the-dates are an important part of the wedding planning process. They are a pre-invitation announcement that lets guests know that they will be invited to the wedding celebration. They are sent out before the formal invitations, giving guests advanced notice to hold the wedding date and ensure they are free to attend.

Save-the-dates are typically sent out four to six months before the wedding, or even earlier if it is a destination wedding. They include basic information such as the wedding date(s), location, and the URL for the wedding website. They are a great way to get guests excited about the wedding and give them a glimpse of what to expect.

Save-the-dates are especially important for destination weddings or weddings during busy travel times, as they give guests ample time to make travel and accommodation arrangements. They are also helpful for guests with busy schedules or other commitments, allowing them to plan ahead and ensure they don't double-book.

While save-the-dates are not mandatory, they are a considerate way to give your guests a heads-up about your wedding plans and increase the likelihood of their attendance. They are also an opportunity to have fun with the design and theme, reflecting your creativity and giving a sneak peek of the wedding to come.

They are a good idea if you want to give guests a heads-up

Save-the-dates are a great way to give your wedding guests a heads-up about your upcoming nuptials and ensure they have the necessary information to start planning their attendance. While they are not mandatory, they are particularly useful if your wedding will require travel arrangements or if it falls on a busy holiday period. Sending save-the-dates allows your guests to jump on booking airfare and accommodations, or at least set up travel alerts to take advantage of future sales. Even if your wedding is local, your guests will still appreciate the advance notice so they can mark their calendars and make any necessary arrangements.

Save-the-dates typically include the wedding date(s), location, and URL for your wedding website, where guests can find more detailed information. They are also an opportunity to give your guests a glimpse of the wedding to come and set the tone for the event. For instance, if you're having a formal wedding, a printed card can be a nice way to convey this to your guests. On the other hand, if you're dreaming of a perfectly coordinated wedding paper suite, you can choose a favourite colour from your invitation design to be the main hue of your save-the-date.

It's important to note that save-the-dates are not formal invitations, which are usually sent out six to eight weeks before the wedding. Save-the-dates are sent much earlier, with the ideal timeline being six to eight months in advance for local weddings and nine months to a year in advance for destination weddings or busy travel dates. This gives your guests plenty of time to book travel, save money, and request time off work if needed. Sending save-the-dates early also increases the likelihood that your guests will be available to attend, as they can avoid double-booking with other personal or professional commitments that are often confirmed months in advance.

While save-the-dates do require some additional time and expense, they can be a fun and exciting part of the wedding planning process. They are a great way to get your guests excited about your upcoming celebration and give them a sense of what to expect. So, if you're looking to give your guests a heads-up and ensure they have the information they need to plan their attendance, save-the-dates are definitely a good idea!

They are not required for local weddings

Save-the-date cards are not required for local weddings. They are entirely optional, and for some couples, they might not be necessary.

Save-the-dates are a pre-invitation announcement that alerts guests that they will be invited to the wedding and shares basic information such as the date and location. They are typically sent out a few months after a couple gets engaged and are followed by formal wedding invitations, which are more detailed.

While save-the-dates are a great way to give your guests a heads-up, they are not mandatory, especially for local weddings where travel arrangements are not a significant concern. Sending out save-the-dates can be an additional expense and may require extra time and effort to collect mailing addresses.

Additionally, sending save-the-dates may require couples to finalize their guest list earlier than anticipated. Once someone receives a save-the-date, they will assume they are invited to the wedding, and it may create drama if you decide to change your mind later.

Therefore, for local weddings, it is entirely acceptable to forgo save-the-dates and simply send out wedding invitations closer to the wedding date. This approach can save you time, money, and potential guest list headaches.

Frequently asked questions