Months Before Memories: Planning The Perfect Save-The-Date Timing

Save the dates are typically sent out between four and 12 months before your wedding day. For a local wedding, send save-the-dates six to eight months in advance. For a destination wedding, send them out nine months to a year in advance. It's important to give your guests enough time to plan and make travel arrangements. However, sending them out too early can also be a problem, as people may forget about the date or not be able to plan that far in advance.

Destination weddings: Send save-the-dates 8-12 months before the wedding

Planning a destination wedding? It's time to start thinking about your save-the-dates. These are a fun and practical way to get your guests excited about your upcoming nuptials and give them time to prepare.

Save-the-dates are typically sent out between eight and 12 months before your wedding day. This gives your guests ample time to clear their schedules and make travel arrangements. It's also enough notice for your guests to book time off work, make childcare arrangements, and save money for any additional costs. Plus, you'll have first dibs on your chosen date, reducing the risk of guests having prior commitments.

However, it's important to note that sending save-the-dates too early can backfire. People may forget about the date or find it challenging to plan that far in advance. Aim to send your save-the-dates no earlier than eight months before the wedding.

Before sending out your save-the-dates, ensure that your wedding website is up and running. Include essential details such as travel and accommodation information, and make sure you've reserved room blocks for your guests. This way, your guests can take immediate action upon receiving your save-the-date.

Your save-the-dates should include your names, the wedding date, the location (city and state), and your wedding website address. You may also choose to include travel and accommodation information, but this is not necessary as long as it's available on your website. A simple statement indicating that a formal invitation will follow is also recommended.

Now, let's talk about who should receive a save-the-date. It's best to send them only to guests invited to the entire wedding day, not just the evening reception. Finalise your guest list before sending them out to avoid any confusion or hurt feelings.

Destination weddings require a bit more planning and preparation, so giving your guests that extra notice will ensure they have a smooth and enjoyable experience. Happy planning!

Local weddings: Send save-the-dates 4-8 months in advance

Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, but it's important to remember that the first step is always the hardest. Sending out save-the-dates is one of the first tasks you'll face when planning your big day. While it may seem like a simple task, there is a lot to consider to ensure you give your guests enough time to prepare without giving them too much heads-up that they forget about your wedding altogether!

For local weddings, it is recommended that save-the-dates are sent out between four and eight months in advance. This gives your guests enough time to plan without being too far ahead that they forget. Sending out your save-the-dates around six to eight months before the wedding is a good rule of thumb. This is especially important if a lot of your guests are travelling or if your wedding is taking place over a holiday weekend. If most of your guests are local, you can send out your save-the-dates four to six months in advance.

It's important to note that you should only send save-the-dates to those on your A-list. Anyone on your B or C-list should not receive a save-the-date as this could be misleading and awkward if they don't end up getting a formal invitation. Sending out your save-the-dates too early can also be a problem as people may forget or not be able to plan that far in advance.

Save-the-dates are a great way to get your guests excited about your wedding and are especially useful for giving guests a heads-up about travel and accommodation arrangements. They are also a great opportunity to show off your engagement photos! While they are not mandatory, they are highly recommended and appreciated by your guests.

What to include: Names, wedding date, location, and wedding website

Save-the-date cards are typically sent out between six to 12 months before your wedding day. They are especially important if you are having a destination wedding or getting married on a major holiday, in which case you should give your guests extra notice by sending them out nine months to a year in advance.

Save-the-date cards usually include the following:

Names

It is important that your guests know whose wedding it is. Wedding and event planner Taylor Keenan suggests ensuring that the couple's names stand out and are totally visible. She says you might even want to pick a different font from the rest of the wording. It is also nice to include a picture of you as a couple if the design warrants it. When printing names, don't forget to use maiden names instead of "the soon-to-be Mr. and Mrs.".

Wedding Date

This is the primary reason for sending a save-the-date card in the first place. Make sure the date of the wedding day is on it, and if you are having a celebration for the whole weekend, make sure that is clear when the ceremony is.

Location

It is a good idea to include the city and state or country of your wedding. This is particularly important if your wedding is taking place in a far-off destination or if a majority of your guests will be travelling to your venue. Share details on airports and hotels so that attendees can make arrangements well in advance and won't have to worry about late booking costs.

Wedding Website

Most wedding planners recommend waiting to send out save-the-date cards until your wedding website is up and running. This way, wedding guests can get to know you better as a couple and become familiar with the type of wedding you're planning.

What not to include: Wedding registry, venue, timing, and dress code

Save-the-date cards are a great way to get your guests excited about your wedding and give them a heads-up so they can plan their attendance. Typically sent out six to twelve months before your wedding day, they are a preliminary notice that helps accommodate your guests' busy schedules. While they can include whatever you want, there are a few things that should be left off as a matter of courtesy and etiquette. Here's what not to include on your save-the-date cards:

Wedding Registry

While your guests will likely want to know where you're registered, it's generally considered inappropriate to print this information on your save-the-date cards. This information is best shared through your wedding website or guests can ask you, your family, or friends for the registry details. Including registry information on save-the-date cards may come across as too forward and hinting at gifts, which is not the purpose of this correspondence.

Venue

While it's important to include the city and state where the ceremony will take place, it's not necessary to provide the specific venue details. At this stage, you may not have booked your venue yet, and that's okay! Simply including the town or city will suffice. Providing overly specific details about the venue may also limit your flexibility if there are any changes down the line.

Timing

Avoid including specific details about the order of events, exact timing, or the schedule for your wedding day. A save-the-date card is meant to be a high-level announcement, reserving the more detailed information for the actual invitation or your wedding website. Including timing details may cause confusion if there are any changes to the schedule and may overwhelm your guests with too much information.

Dress Code

There's no need to include dress code information on your save-the-date cards. This is something that can be communicated at a later stage, either through your wedding website or the formal invitation. Including dress code details at this early stage may be premature, especially if your plans are subject to change.

Remember, a save-the-date card is just the first step in the wedding correspondence process. It's meant to be a simple and fun way to let your guests know about your upcoming nuptials and give them a chance to plan their attendance. By avoiding overly specific details and following proper etiquette, you'll ensure your save-the-date cards are well-received and set the right tone for your wedding celebrations.

Who to send to: Finalise the guest list before sending

Finalising your guest list is a crucial step before sending out your save-the-dates. It is important to only send save-the-dates to those who are invited to the whole wedding day. This means that those who are only invited to the evening reception should not receive a save-the-date. Sending a save-the-date to an evening-only guest can be misleading and awkward.

It is also not recommended to create A, B, and C guest lists, where only the A-list receives save-the-dates. This is because those on the B and C lists may find out that save-the-dates have been sent out, but they haven't received one. This could be an uncomfortable situation. Instead, it is best to have one final guest list, ensuring that only those who are definitely invited receive a save-the-date.

Save-the-dates should be sent to all members of a household in one card, rather than sending individual cards to each person. This saves costs and ensures that guests do not feel pressured to invite evening-only guests.

It is also important to note that once a guest receives a save-the-date, you are obligated to send them a wedding invitation. Therefore, it is crucial to finalise your guest list before sending out save-the-dates to avoid any confusion or embarrassment.

Additionally, it is recommended to have your wedding website up and running before sending out save-the-dates. This allows guests to refer to the website for more details, such as your registry, travel information, and accommodation options. A completed wedding website helps to ensure that guests have all the information they need to start planning their attendance at your wedding.

Frequently asked questions