Save The Dates: Sending Sweetness Or Stress?

Save the dates are typically sent out six to 12 months before your wedding day, with eight to 10 months being the ideal timeframe. This gives your guests ample time to prepare and change their plans if necessary, especially if they need to make travel arrangements, book accommodation, or request time off work. For destination weddings, it's recommended to send out save the dates nine months to a year in advance to give guests enough time to plan their trip. It's important to note that save the dates should only be sent to guests who are invited to the whole wedding day and not just the evening reception.

Save-the-date cards should be sent 6-12 months before the wedding

Save-the-date cards are an essential part of wedding planning, giving your guests a heads-up about your big day and ensuring they can be there to celebrate with you. While they are not mandatory, they are a considerate gesture, especially for guests who need to make travel arrangements or save up for the event.

So, when is the right time to send out those save-the-date cards? The general consensus is that they should be sent out between 6 and 12 months before your wedding day. This gives your guests ample time to prepare and make any necessary changes to their plans. It's a good idea to aim for the higher end of this range, giving your guests as much notice as possible.

For destination weddings or weddings during a holiday weekend, it's advisable to send save-the-dates even earlier, with a recommended timeframe of 9 months to a year in advance. This is because destination weddings often require more extensive planning for guests, including passport and visa applications, and holiday weekends are usually in high demand for travel and accommodations.

However, it's important not to send save-the-dates too early. While your enthusiasm for your upcoming nuptials is understandable, sending them out more than a year in advance may be too far ahead for your guests to commit. People's plans and circumstances can change, and they may not be able to reliably confirm their attendance that far in advance.

To summarise, sending your save-the-date cards 6 to 12 months before your wedding strikes the right balance between giving your guests enough notice and avoiding the risk of them forgetting or having to change their RSVP later.

They're especially important for destination weddings

Save-the-date cards are an important part of wedding planning. They are the first piece of wedding stationery you'll buy and are a courtesy to your guests, giving them time to plan their travel and make any necessary arrangements. They are especially important for destination weddings, where guests will have a lot more planning to do.

Destination weddings require more notice because they require more planning. Guests may need to buy plane tickets, arrange babysitters, ask for time off work, and ensure they don't use up vacation days. For this reason, it's best to send out save-the-dates for a destination wedding about 12 months before the wedding date. They should be sent no later than nine months before the wedding, and ideally, you should give your guests as much notice as possible. This will ensure that your friends and family can be by your side on your big day.

The save-the-date for a destination wedding should include the date and location of the wedding, as well as the name of the venue if possible. This will help guests plan their travel and accommodation. It's also a good idea to include your wedding website on the save-the-date so that guests can find more information and stay updated.

If you're planning a destination wedding, it's important to keep in mind that the timeline for sending out invitations is also different from that of a local wedding. It's recommended to send invitations for a destination wedding about 12 weeks in advance. However, setting up a wedding website can be even more beneficial, as it allows for easy updates and gives guests the opportunity to RSVP for each activity.

In conclusion, save-the-dates are especially important for destination weddings as they give your guests ample time to plan their travel and make any necessary arrangements. By sending out your save-the-dates and invitations early, you'll ensure that your loved ones can celebrate with you on your special day.

You don't need to send them to those only invited to the evening reception

Save the dates are typically sent out six to 12 months before your wedding day. This gives your guests plenty of time to prepare and change their plans if necessary. However, if you are only inviting certain guests to the evening reception, you may be wondering if you need to send them a save the date.

The general consensus is that you do not need to send save the dates to those who are only invited to the evening reception. Sending a save the date to these guests could be misleading and cause confusion, as they may assume they are invited to the whole day. This could lead to awkwardness and hurt feelings when they eventually receive their evening-only invitation.

Evening-only guests do not require as much advance notice as those attending the full day. They will not need to take time off work or make travel arrangements, so a separate notification closer to the date will be more appropriate. This will outline the specific details of the reception and make it clear that they are only invited to this part of the day.

However, there are a few reasons why you might consider sending save the dates to evening-only guests. Firstly, they will still need to know the date of your wedding, so they can make sure they keep the evening free. Sending a save the date will ensure that everyone who is invited knows the date well in advance, making planning less stressful for you. Secondly, sending a save the date can make your evening-only guests feel special and valued. It shows that you are excited about their presence at the reception. Finally, save the dates are cheap and easy to order, so they won't blow your budget.

If you do decide to send save the dates to evening-only guests, it is important to word them correctly. Make sure to mention the evening reception somewhere on the save the date to avoid any confusion or misunderstanding. For example, you could say "Save the evening for the wedding reception following the marriage of Emma & John". This will make it clear that they are only invited to the reception portion of the day.

They should include the date, location, and names of the couple

Save-the-dates are an important part of the wedding planning process. They are typically sent out six to 12 months before the wedding day, with eight to 12 months being ideal. This gives your guests ample time to prepare and change their plans if necessary. Sending out save-the-dates early is especially important if there are lots of weddings in one summer, as you want yours to be the first in your friends' diaries.

Save-the-dates should include the date, location, and names of the couple. Here is some more detail on each of these:

Date

The date of the wedding is the most important piece of information to include on your save-the-date. It is helpful to specify if you are having a weekend-long celebration, making it clear when the ceremony is.

Location

The location is another key detail to include. You do not need to include the exact venue, but providing the city and state is sufficient. This is particularly important if your wedding is in a different location to where you are currently living, or if it is a destination wedding. This gives guests enough information to start making travel plans.

Names of the Couple

It is important that your guests know whose wedding it is! Include both your full names, and consider making them stand out with a different font or larger text size. You may also want to include a picture of you as a couple.

In addition to the date, location, and names of the couple, you may also want to include a note that a formal invitation will follow, and your wedding website.

It's best to be clear about who's invited

Save-the-dates are an important part of wedding planning, giving your guests a heads-up about your wedding date and location. They are especially useful if your wedding is at a far-flung location or during a busy holiday period. However, it's best practice to only send them to people you definitely want to attend your wedding.

Be Clear About Who Is Invited

It is important to be clear about who is invited to your wedding when sending out save-the-dates. This is because, once someone receives a save-the-date, they will assume they are invited to your wedding, and it can be awkward to un-invite them. Therefore, it is advisable to only send save-the-dates to those guests you definitely want to be at your wedding. This includes anyone you are sure will be invited, such as close friends and family. It is also a good idea to send save-the-dates to those who will need to make travel arrangements, giving them ample time to book flights and accommodation.

Evening guests, on the other hand, do not usually require a save-the-date. They can instead be sent a separate invitation specifying that they are invited for the evening, or even a verbal invitation if you prefer a more informal approach. This is because evening guests do not need as much advance notice, and sending them a save-the-date might lead them to assume they are invited to the whole day.

Finalising Your Guest List

It is also worth noting that sending save-the-dates will require you to finalise your guest list relatively early in the wedding planning process. This is because you will need to be certain about who you are inviting before sending out save-the-dates, as you cannot un-invite someone without causing potential embarrassment. Therefore, if you are not yet sure about your guest list, it may be wise to hold off on sending save-the-dates until you are more certain.

In summary, when sending out save-the-dates, it is important to be clear about who is invited to your wedding. This means only sending them to those you definitely want to attend, including close friends and family, and those who will need to make travel arrangements. Evening guests, on the other hand, do not usually require a save-the-date, as they may assume they are invited to the whole day. Finalising your guest list early is also important, as you cannot easily un-invite someone who has already received a save-the-date.

Frequently asked questions