Save The Dates: A Wedding Primer

Save the dates are an optional part of wedding planning. They are a pre-invitation that lets guests know the date and location of your wedding, and that they are invited. They are sent out 6-12 months before the wedding, and are followed by formal invitations 6-8 weeks before the wedding. Save the dates can be a fun way to build excitement for your big day, but they are an extra expense and take time to organise.

Save-the-date cards are optional

Save-the-date cards are useful if you want to give your guests a heads-up about your wedding date and location, especially if travel is involved. This allows them to book travel and accommodation in advance. It also gives them a chance to make plans around your wedding weekend and ensure they don't accidentally double-book.

However, there are some downsides to sending save-the-date cards. They can be time-consuming and expensive, especially if you have a large number of guests. You will also need to finalise your guest list and send save-the-dates only to those guests you definitely want to invite to your wedding. Sending save-the-dates to some guests and not others can lead to awkward conversations.

If you decide not to send save-the-date cards, you can simply use your wedding website, send out an email, or call your guests to spread the word. This can be a more cost-effective option, especially if you are on a tight wedding budget.

They give guests a heads-up about the date and location

Save-the-date cards are a fun and practical way to tell your friends and family that they are VIPs and officially on the guest list for your wedding day. They are a pre-invitation that announces the date and location of your upcoming nuptials.

The purpose of save-the-date cards is to give your guests a heads-up about your wedding date and location, so they can prepare in advance. This is especially helpful when travel is involved, as guests can book airfare and accommodations for the weekend. Even if your guests live nearby, they can still mark the date on their calendars and will appreciate the advance notice.

The information on your save-the-date cards should include the date of your wedding, the location (this can be as vague as the city or state and postcode), and a note to let guests know that a formal invitation will be sent at a later date. You can also include a wedding website if you have one.

It is recommended to send save-the-date cards out 6 to 12 months in advance of your wedding date, with 8 to 12 months being preferable for destination weddings. This gives guests plenty of time to plan and make any necessary travel arrangements.

Save-the-date cards are a great way to get your guests excited about your upcoming nuptials and ensure they have all the information they need to attend. They are an important part of the wedding planning process and help to ensure a smooth guest experience.

They can be digital or physical

Save-the-date cards are a fun and practical way to tell your friends and family they're VIP—officially on the guest list for your wedding day. They can be digital or physical, and are usually sent out 6 to 12 months before the wedding. They are especially important if you're planning a destination wedding, as they give your guests ample time to plan their travel and accommodations.

Digital save-the-dates are a modern and convenient option, but there's nothing more polished and personal than a physical card sent through snail mail. There are many customisable designs available online, and you can even include your engagement photo for a personal touch. If you're on a tight budget, there are also plenty of printable save-the-date templates where you can get a custom design at a fair price.

Physical save-the-date cards can be mailed to your guests, and there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure their safe delivery. If you have embellishments or unconventional mailing materials, such as magnets, expect a slightly higher cost per card. It's also a good idea to bring your envelopes to the post office to be weighed by a clerk to get the exact price per card. Finally, always hand your precious save-the-dates to an actual postal worker instead of dropping them in the mailbox.

Whether you choose to go digital or physical, save-the-dates are a great way to get your guests excited about your upcoming nuptials and ensure they have all the information they need to attend.

They don't have to match the wedding invitations

Save-the-date cards are an optional precursor to wedding invitations. They are sent out 8 to 12 months before the wedding, whereas invitations are sent 6 to 8 weeks before. Save-the-date cards are a way to let guests know that they will be invited to your wedding and to give them a chance to plan around the date. They are also a way to ensure that your guests don't accidentally double-book, especially if your wedding is a destination wedding or during a holiday weekend.

The main purpose of save-the-date cards is to give guests a heads-up about the date and location of your wedding. They are usually more casual than wedding invitations and often include a photo of the couple. They don't have to match your wedding invitations, and you are free to choose any design you like. This means that you can be creative and playful with your save-the-date cards and then switch to a more elegant or formal style for your wedding invitations.

While it's perfectly acceptable to have matching save-the-date cards and wedding invitations, it's not required or expected. Etiquette experts agree that it's not necessary for these two types of wedding stationery to match. In fact, it's common for them to be completely different in terms of design and aesthetic. This gives you the freedom to choose a save-the-date design that reflects your personality and creativity without worrying about coordinating it with your wedding invitations.

If you're worried about consistency, there are a few ways to create a cohesive look without having identical save-the-date cards and wedding invitations. You can choose two designs that fit within the same overarching theme or colour palette. For example, you can use a holiday-themed colour scheme for your save-the-date cards and then incorporate those colours into your wedding invitations in a more subtle way. This way, the two designs will feel connected without being matchy-matchy.

Ultimately, the decision to match your save-the-date cards and wedding invitations is entirely up to you. If you prefer all your wedding stationery to sync up, you can certainly design them to match. However, if you want to explore different styles or themes, feel free to embrace the creative possibilities and choose designs that speak to you. Your guests will appreciate the advance notice provided by the save-the-date card, regardless of whether it matches the invitation or not.

They should be sent 6-12 months in advance

Save-the-date cards are an exciting part of the wedding planning process, and they should be sent out 6-12 months in advance of the wedding date. This is a guide, and the timing can vary depending on the location of the wedding. For destination weddings, it is recommended to send save-the-dates 8-12 months in advance, while for local weddings, 4-6 months is generally enough time.

Sending save-the-dates 6-12 months in advance is beneficial for several reasons. Firstly, it gives your guests ample time to plan and prepare for your big day. They can book travel and accommodations, rearrange their schedules, and even set up travel alerts to get the best deals on airfare. It's also a chance for guests with children to make childcare arrangements. Sending save-the-dates early is especially important if your wedding is taking place during a busy holiday period, as your guests will likely need to book their travel and accommodations well in advance.

Secondly, sending save-the-dates this far in advance ensures that your guests don't make other plans, such as long vacations or attending another wedding. This is crucial, as you want as many of your loved ones to be able to celebrate with you as possible. It also gives your guests a chance to check your wedding website for updates and access your registry, which is useful for pre-wedding events like bridal showers.

When creating your save-the-date cards, you can include a few key pieces of information: your names (full names are preferred but first names are also acceptable), the date of your wedding, and the location (this can be as vague as the city or state). You may also include a note that a formal invitation will follow and your wedding website URL.

It's important to note that save-the-dates are not mandatory, and some couples may choose to spread the word via email, phone, or a wedding website. However, sending save-the-dates adds a touch of formality to the process and gets your guests excited about your upcoming nuptials.

Frequently asked questions