Save The Date Emails: Crafting The Perfect Pre-Invite

Save-the-date emails are a convenient, cost-effective, and eco-friendly alternative to traditional paper invitations. They are especially useful for destination weddings, giving guests a heads-up to start making travel plans. While they are less formal, they are now widely accepted, except perhaps for the most formal of weddings. Save-the-date emails should be concise, providing key information such as the names of the couple, the wedding date, location, and a link to the wedding website. It is also proper etiquette to indicate that a formal invitation will follow. This article will cover everything you need to know about what to include in your save-the-date wedding email.

Location

When it comes to the location of your wedding, your guests will need to know where they need to travel to for your big day. This is especially important if you're having a destination wedding or if most of your guests will be travelling to the venue.

In your save-the-date email, you can include the city and state or city and country of your wedding location. For example:

> Save the date for the wedding of

> [Date]

> [City, State/Country]

> Formal invitation to follow

If your wedding is taking place in a far-off destination or if a majority of your guests will be travelling, it's a good idea to provide as much travel information as possible. Share details on airports and hotels so that your guests can make arrangements in advance and avoid late booking costs. You can include this information on your wedding website and replicate it in your save-the-date email. Here is an example:

> Save the date!

> [Date]

> [City, Country]

> Invitation to follow

>

> We recommend flying into [Airport Name] and staying at [Hotel Name].

If your wedding venue has a unique name or is particularly well-known, you can include this in your save-the-date email as well. For example:

> Save the date!

> [Date]

> [Venue Name]

> [City, State/Country]

> Invitation to follow

Remember, you don't need to include the exact address of your wedding location or too many specific details in your save-the-date email. Keep it concise and focus on giving your guests enough information to start making their travel plans.

Date

Save-the-date emails are a great way to give your guests a heads-up about your wedding plans. They are less formal than paper invitations and have the advantage of being faster, less expensive, easier, and greener. Here are some tips on what to include when creating your save-the-date email:

Location

It is essential to include the location of your wedding, especially if you are having a destination wedding. This will allow your guests to plan their travel accordingly. However, you don't need to include the specific venue or address; the city and state are enough. You can also add a hint about what guests can expect, such as "Join us for a weekend of sun and fun in paradise!"

The date of the wedding is the most important piece of information to include in your save-the-date email. You don't need to include the start time of the wedding or an itinerary for the entire weekend. Just the date is enough at this stage. If you want to be formal, spell out the entire date. Otherwise, you can use numerals for a more modern and minimalist look.

Wedding Website

Including your wedding website link in your save-the-date email is a great idea. This will allow guests to find more information about your wedding, such as travel and accommodation details. If your website is password-protected, be sure to include the login and password.

"Invitation to Follow" Wording

It is proper etiquette to let your guests know that a formal invitation will be sent out at a later date. This can be done by simply adding "Invitation to follow" or "Formal invitation to follow" to your save-the-date email.

Optional Extras

You may also want to include a photo, a poem, a favourite quote, or other features that express your personality. However, keep in mind that too much information can be overwhelming. The save-the-date email should be short and to the point, focusing on the key details of your wedding.

Names

Save the Date for [Names]

Please save the date for the wedding of [Names].

When and Where

Date

City and State

What to Expect

Invitation to follow

Get All the Details at Our Wedding Website

[weddingwebsite.com]

Website link

The wedding website link is an important component of a save-the-date email. It is one of the few key pieces of information that should be included in the email, along with the date and location of the wedding. The website link can provide guests with additional information, such as travel and accommodation details, and even the wedding registry.

The wedding website URL can be included in the save-the-date email as a clickable link. This makes it easy for guests to access the website and find more information about the wedding. It is helpful to include the website link in the save-the-date email, especially if the wedding website is password-protected. By providing the link in the email, guests won't have to hunt for it elsewhere.

Including the wedding website link in the save-the-date email is also a convenient way to let guests know that more details will be shared in the future. By including a phrase like "Invitation to follow" or "Formal invitation to follow" along with the website link, guests will understand that the save-the-date email is just an announcement and that more information will be provided later.

The wedding website can be a dynamic resource that grows and changes as the wedding plans progress. It can include engagement photos, videos, and other personalised touches. It can also be a central hub for guests to RSVP, book travel, and access all the information they need to attend the wedding.

In terms of timing, it is recommended to send the save-the-date emails 6-8 months before the wedding date for local weddings, and 9-12 months in advance for destination weddings. This gives guests enough time to block their calendars and make any necessary travel arrangements.

Invitation to follow

"Invitation to follow"

This is a key phrase to include in your save-the-date email or card. It's considered good etiquette to let your guests know that a "real" invitation will be coming in the future. This avoids potential confusion and eliminates questions from those invited. It also reminds them to be on the lookout for the invitation.

• "Invitation to follow"
• "Formal invitation to follow"
• "Invitation to follow in the coming weeks/months"
• "Look out for your formal invitation"
• "Keep an eye out for the formal invite"

When to send save-the-dates

It's recommended to send save-the-dates about six months before the wedding. For a destination wedding, it's ideal to send them 10–12 months in advance, as guests will need to plan for time off, travel, and accommodations.

What else to include in your save-the-date

• Your names: Traditionally, the bride's name is listed first, followed by the groom's name. For same-sex couples, consider alphabetical order.
• Wedding date: Only send out save-the-dates once you have a solid wedding date.
• Wedding location: Include the city and state of your wedding. You don't need to add the venue address or name; save that for the formal invitation.
• Wedding website: Include the link to your wedding website, where guests can find more information.

What not to include

• Venue name or full address: Including the city and state is enough for now.
• Hotel/accommodation information: Don't bog guests down with too many details yet.
• Ceremony and reception start times: It's too early to include specific start times.
• Dress code information: Send this with the formal invitation instead.
• RSVP request: It's too early to ask for an RSVP.

Frequently asked questions