Save-The-Dates: Holiday Weddings, Timing Is Everything

Planning a wedding is an exciting and busy time, and one of the first steps is to share the news with your future guests. Save-the-dates are an essential part of the wedding planning process, giving guests a heads-up about your upcoming nuptials and ensuring they don't accidentally double-book. While they are not mandatory, they are highly recommended, especially for destination weddings or weddings during busy holiday weekends. So, when is the best time to send out those save-the-dates for your holiday wedding?

Send 9 months to a year in advance

Planning a wedding is an exciting and busy time, and one of the first steps is to share the news with your future guests. If you're throwing a destination wedding or getting married on a major holiday, it's a good idea to give your guests extra notice by sending your save-the-dates nine months to a year in advance. This will allow your guests to make the necessary travel arrangements and ensure they have enough time to plan and get excited about your special day. Here are some tips to consider when sending your save-the-dates nine months to a year before your holiday wedding:

• Order and design: Start by ordering and designing your save-the-date cards or magnets. Include key information such as your names, the wedding date, and the city and state of the wedding location. You can also add a link to your wedding website and a note that a formal invitation will follow.
• Timing: Aim to send out your save-the-dates around nine months to a year before your wedding. This will give your guests ample time to book flights, reserve hotel rooms, and make any other necessary arrangements. It's important to strike a balance, as sending them too early may cause your guests to forget, and sending them too late may create issues for guests with travel needs.
• Guest list: Only send save-the-dates to those guests you definitely want to invite to your wedding. Sending a save-the-date creates an obligation to send a formal invitation, so be sure about your guest list before mailing them out.
• Etiquette: While it's not necessary, you can include photos on your save-the-dates to get your guests excited. Be clear about who is invited, and include the names of each person to avoid confusion about whether children or plus ones are invited.
• Follow-up: After sending your save-the-dates, start preparing your formal wedding invitations. Update your contact list with any address changes, and send out the invitations eight weeks before your big day.

By sending your save-the-dates nine months to a year in advance, you'll give your guests plenty of time to plan and ensure they don't miss out on your holiday wedding celebration.

Include names, date, location, and wedding website

Save-the-dates are an exciting first step in the wedding planning process. They are a great way to share your upcoming nuptials with your future guests and ensure they have enough time to put the event on their calendar, make travel arrangements, and get excited about your special day.

If you're planning a holiday wedding, it's important to give your guests ample notice, as they may have other plans or commitments during that time. Here are some tips and suggestions for including names, date, location, and wedding website on your save-the-dates for a holiday wedding:

Names:

The save-the-date card should include the names of the couple. Full names are preferred, but first names are also acceptable, especially for casual and informal weddings. The bride's name typically comes first, but feel free to mix up traditions if your situation is unique. For example, you can put your names in alphabetical order or list the groom's name first.

Date:

The wedding date is the most important piece of information on your save-the-date. Make the date prominent, either in numerical form or written out. If you're having a destination wedding or a weekend-long celebration, include all the dates and specify which day the ceremony will take place.

Location:

For the location, you don't need to provide the exact venue yet. Simply include the city, state, or country for destination weddings. This information will help your guests with their travel plans and accommodation arrangements. Of course, if you already have a venue booked, you can add it to your save-the-date.

Wedding Website:

Including your wedding website on your save-the-date is a great way to provide guests with more information about your wedding plans and related details. You can easily include the URL or create a seamless experience by using a Paperless Post Event Page in place of a separate wedding website.

• "Save the Date! [Couple's Names] [Wedding Date(s)] [City, State, or Country] [Wedding Website]"
• "[Couple's Full Names] Are getting married in [City, State, or Country] on [Wedding Date(s)] Formal Invitation to Follow"

Remember, it's best to send save-the-dates for a holiday wedding at least 9 months to a year in advance to give your guests enough time to plan their attendance.

Send to everyone on the guest list

Save-the-dates are an essential part of wedding planning, and they are especially important for a holiday wedding. While they are not mandatory, they are highly recommended and serve as a polite way to give your guests a heads-up about your big day. This is crucial if you want to ensure that your guests have enough time to plan and attend your wedding.

For a holiday wedding, it is advisable to send your save-the-dates nine months to a year in advance. Sending them early is crucial, as it gives your guests ample time to make travel arrangements and accommodation plans, especially if they are travelling from out of town. It also ensures that your wedding date gets first dibs on your guests' calendars, as they may have other holiday plans or invitations to consider.

When sending save-the-dates, it is important to be clear about who is invited. Send them only to those on your guest list who will definitely receive a wedding invitation. Anyone who receives a save-the-date is expected to get an invitation, so only send them to those you are certain you want at your wedding. It is also important to include the names of each person you are inviting to avoid confusion about whether children or plus-ones are also invited.

The save-the-dates can be sent to everyone on your guest list via mail or digitally. If you opt for mailed save-the-dates, you can choose between traditional cards or more contemporary formats such as magnets or postcards. Digital save-the-dates are a convenient and instant option, allowing you to collect and confirm guest addresses before sending out the official invitations.

The save-the-date should include a few vital details: the fact that you are getting married, the date of the wedding (or the weekend if it's a multi-day event), and the location (city and state). You can also include your wedding website and a note indicating that a formal invitation will follow.

In summary, for a holiday wedding, send your save-the-dates to everyone on your guest list about nine months to a year in advance. This will ensure your guests have ample time to plan their attendance and secure any necessary travel arrangements.

Send digital save-the-dates for convenience

Digital save-the-dates are becoming increasingly popular with engaged couples. One of the main reasons to send digital save-the-dates is the convenience factor. Traditional save-the-date cards require ordering, proofing, printing, waiting for delivery, addressing, applying postage, and physical mailing, all of which can take weeks. With digital save-the-dates, you can skip all of these steps and send them out in a matter of hours. This is especially useful if you're planning a destination wedding or getting married on a holiday weekend, as these types of weddings typically require earlier notice for guests.

There are many paperless invitation platforms to choose from, each with its own pros and cons. Some popular options include Paperless Post, WedSites, Joy, Greenvelope, Evite, Zola, and Appy Couple. These platforms offer a range of digital save-the-date designs, from classic to modern, and some even allow you to upload your own custom design. Most platforms also offer additional features such as wedding website builders, guest list databases, seating chart creators, and RSVP tracking.

Digital save-the-dates are also a more eco-friendly alternative to traditional paper cards, and they can help you streamline communication with your guests. You can use your save-the-dates to quickly collect information from your guests, such as mailing addresses and RSVP information. Additionally, digital save-the-dates are often more cost-effective than printing and sending traditional cards, especially if you have a large guest list.

When creating your digital save-the-dates, be sure to include the following information: the names of the couple, the date of the wedding, the wedding location (city, state, or country), and a link to your wedding website if you have one. You can also add a note to let guests know that a formal invitation will follow with more details. It's important to send digital save-the-dates on time, ideally six to eight months before the wedding for a local wedding, and nine months to a year in advance for a destination wedding or holiday wedding.

Order 6-12 months before the wedding

Ordering your save-the-dates 6-12 months before the wedding is a great way to ensure you don't rush into any decisions and give your guests ample time to prepare. Here are some tips and suggestions for this stage of the process:

Finalise Your Guest List

Before you order your save-the-dates, it's important to finalise your guest list. Sending a save-the-date to someone and then not following up with an invitation is considered poor etiquette. It's best to only send them to people you're sure will be invited. This gives them a heads-up and ensures they don't make other plans. It's also a good idea to include the names of specific invitees on the envelope to avoid any confusion.

Order Extra

Ordering a few extra save-the-dates is a good idea. You or your parents might want a couple as keepsakes, and it's also useful to have backups in case of last-minute guest list additions.

Design and Customise

The design of your save-the-date is a fun part of the process. You can choose to match the theme of your wedding or experiment with colours, fonts, and engagement photos. Include your full names, the date, and the location (city and state). You can also add a line to indicate that a formal invitation will follow. If you have a wedding website, include the URL.

Digital or Physical?

You can choose to send digital or physical save-the-dates. Digital options are convenient and instant, while physical cards can be more personal and exciting for your guests. Digital save-the-dates are also a great way to collect and confirm guest addresses before sending out the official invitations.

Timing is Everything

For a local wedding, it's best to send out your save-the-dates 4-6 months before the wedding. For a destination wedding or a holiday wedding, it's a good idea to send them out earlier—8-12 months in advance. This gives your guests enough time to make travel arrangements and save money.

Frequently asked questions