Save The Dates: Announcing Your Wedding Plans Early

Wedding save-the-dates are an optional but important part of the wedding planning process. They are a pre-invitation that alerts guests that they will be invited to the wedding, giving them a heads-up about the date and location. This is especially helpful for destination weddings or weddings that require travel, allowing guests to book flights and accommodations in advance. Save-the-dates are typically sent out a few months after the engagement and before the formal wedding invitation, which is sent closer to the event. They are less formal and more succinct than invitations, providing a brief outline of the wedding details. The purpose of save-the-dates is to give guests a preliminary announcement, allowing them to mark their calendars and make travel plans if needed.

Alert guests of the wedding date and location

Save-the-date cards are a great way to alert guests of your wedding date and location. They are especially useful if your wedding is taking place in a far-off destination or if a majority of your guests will be travelling to your venue. Giving your friends and family a heads-up about the big day will allow them to get a jump start on booking flights and accommodations.

Save-the-date cards are typically sent out a few months after a couple gets engaged and has decided on a wedding date and venue. They are not mandatory, but they are a helpful tool in the planning process. They let guests know that they will be invited to the wedding and give them a chance to plan around the wedding weekend, ensuring they don't accidentally double-book.

When creating save-the-date cards, it's important to include the date and location of the wedding. You may also want to include the names of the couple getting married, a note that a formal invitation will follow, and the URL for your wedding website, where guests can find more detailed information.

It's best to keep the wording on save-the-date cards simple and high-level, as some aspects of the wedding may change. You don't want to overwhelm your guests with too many details at this stage.

Give guests a heads-up about travel plans

Save-the-dates are an important part of wedding planning, especially for destination weddings. They are a pre-invitation that announces the wedding date and lets guests know that they will be invited to the celebration. This allows guests to plan their travel and accommodation and increases the chances of them being able to attend.

When planning a destination wedding, it is recommended to send out save-the-dates nine to twelve months in advance. This gives guests enough time to make the necessary travel arrangements and avoid last-minute costs. It is also helpful to include travel information on the save-the-date, such as details about airports, hotels, and local attractions. This ensures that guests can make informed decisions about their travel plans.

However, it is important not to overwhelm guests with too many details. The save-the-date should include the wedding date, location, and a simple phrase such as "Invitation to follow". This lets guests know that more detailed information will be provided in the formal invitation.

Additionally, it is essential to address the save-the-dates correctly, specifying who is invited, whether it is an individual, a couple, or a family. This helps to avoid any confusion or assumptions about the guest list.

Overall, sending out save-the-dates with a heads-up about travel plans is a considerate way to ensure that guests have enough time to plan their attendance at the wedding, especially when travel is involved.

Confirm guests' attendance

Confirming guest attendance is a key part of the wedding planning process, and save-the-dates play a crucial role in this. While save-the-dates don't require an RSVP, they are an important step in ensuring your guests' attendance at your wedding. Here are some ways in which save-the-dates help confirm guest attendance:

Giving Guests a Heads-Up:

Save-the-dates alert guests that they will be invited to your wedding, providing them with the date and location information. This allows guests to mark their calendars and make necessary travel arrangements, especially if your wedding is a destination wedding or requires travel. By giving your guests advance notice, you increase the likelihood of their attendance.

Avoiding Double Bookings:

By sharing your wedding date in advance, save-the-dates give your guests the opportunity to plan around your special day. Many personal and professional commitments are confirmed months in advance, so providing an early notice reduces the chances of your guests having conflicting plans or double bookings.

Finalising the Guest List:

Sending save-the-dates helps you finalise your guest list early on in the wedding planning process. Once a guest receives a save-the-date, they will assume they are invited to the wedding, and you will need to send them a formal invitation later. Therefore, save-the-dates encourage thoughtful consideration of your guest list to avoid any potential guest list dramas down the line.

Providing Basic Information:

Save-the-dates typically include the wedding date, location (city and state), and a note that a formal invitation will follow. This basic information gives guests a clear idea of when and where the wedding will take place, allowing them to make initial plans and increasing the likelihood of their attendance.

Sharing Additional Details:

While save-the-dates are not as detailed as wedding invitations, they can include some additional information to help guests with their planning. This may include travel information, such as airport and hotel details, or the URL for your wedding website, where guests can find more comprehensive information about the wedding.

In conclusion, save-the-dates are an effective way to give your guests a heads-up about your wedding plans, allowing them to make travel arrangements and avoid double bookings. They also help you finalise your guest list and provide guests with basic information about the wedding, all of which contribute to confirming their attendance at your special day.

Share wedding website link

Save-the-dates are an optional but helpful step in the wedding planning process. They are a way to give your guests a heads-up about your wedding date and location, especially if travel is involved, so they can start making arrangements. They are also a way to let your guests know that they are, in fact, invited to your wedding.

If you are planning to create a wedding website, it is a good idea to include the link on your save-the-date cards. This way, guests can find more in-depth information about your big day, including the type of celebration you'll be having, pertinent information such as the dress code, and even your registry info.

• Include the link on your save-the-date cards: This is a great way to ensure that your guests have access to all the information they need about your wedding. It is helpful to send out your save-the-dates about four to six months before your wedding date, or even earlier if you are planning a destination wedding. This gives your guests plenty of time to view your website and make any necessary arrangements.
• Share your wedding website on pre-wedding event invitations: You can include your wedding website URL on invitations for events such as your bridal shower or engagement party.
• Slip an additional insert with website info into your invitation suite: Avoid printing your wedding website URL on your formal invitations. Instead, include a separate card with the website info that matches the design of your invitations.
• Share your wedding website privately on social media: If you want to share your wedding website on social media, it is best to do so in a private message or group to avoid causing any hurt feelings among those who are not invited.
• Make your wedding website user-friendly: Use a custom URL that is easy for guests to type into a search bar. You can also make your website interactive by including a welcome message, engagement photos, and a map of important locations related to your love story.
• Update your wedding website regularly: Keep your guests informed by updating your website as you finalize new details. This will help your guests feel involved in the process and excited about your big day.

Remember, your wedding website is a great way to supplement your save-the-dates and invitations by providing more detailed information about your wedding. It is a helpful tool for both you and your guests during the wedding planning process.

Include Invitation to follow

Save-the-dates are an optional but important step in wedding planning, alerting guests to the date and location of your wedding and letting them know that they will be invited to the celebration. They are particularly useful for destination weddings or weddings where most guests will be travelling, as they allow guests to get a head start on booking flights and accommodation.

Save-the-dates are typically sent out a few months after a couple gets engaged, with local weddings sending them six to eight months before the wedding, and destination weddings sending them a year in advance. They are also a good idea if you are planning a wedding with multiple events over several days, as they allow guests to plan their attendance accordingly.

Including "Invitation to follow" on your save-the-date is essential. This key phrase avoids potential confusion and eliminates questions from guests. It lets guests know that more details will be provided in the official invitation and reminds them to be on the lookout for it. It also ensures that guests do not mistake the save-the-date for the official invitation.

• "Save the date for the wedding of George Miller and Kelly Brown. Formal invitation to follow."
• "Save the date: 9.18.21. San Diego, California. Keep an eye out for your formal invitation."
• "Join us in Positano, Italy. Audrey & Dae | September 14th - 17th. Invitation to follow."
• "Save the date for their wedding. We hope to see you in Nantucket on August 7th. Invitation to follow."
• "Save the date. Saturday, the ninth of June, Two thousand and twenty-four. Los Angeles, California. Formal invitation to follow."

Frequently asked questions