Destination Wedding Save-The-Dates: How Early Is Too Early?

Planning a destination wedding? Give your guests a heads-up by sending out save-the-date cards early. While regular save-the-date cards are sent out six to eight months before the wedding, destination wedding save-the-dates should be sent out at least six months in advance and up to eight months, or even nine months, before the big day. This gives your guests plenty of time to book travel and accommodation, arrange time off work, and plan any add-on trips. It's also a good idea to include an information packet with your save-the-date cards, outlining the timeline for the weekend's events and any group activities.

Send 6-12 months in advance

Planning a destination wedding? It's a good idea to send out your save-the-dates about 6-12 months in advance. This gives your guests plenty of time to plan and get excited about your big day. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

6-12 Months in Advance is the Sweet Spot

Sending your save-the-dates about 6-12 months before your destination wedding is generally considered the ideal timeframe. This gives your guests enough time to compare flight options, book accommodations, and arrange time off from work. It's especially important if your wedding is in a far-flung location or if guests need to renew their passports. Sending your save-the-dates within this timeframe is a courteous way to give your guests a heads-up and ensure they don't miss out on celebrating with you.

Finalize the Date and Location

Before sending out your save-the-dates, make sure you have finalized the wedding date and location. This information is crucial for your guests as they plan their travels. Even if you haven't chosen the exact venue, including the city or region will help your guests immensely.

Include Key Details

Your save-the-dates should include more information than just the date and location. Consider adding your wedding website URL, a general timeline of events, and hotel information if you've secured room blocks. This helps your guests immensely as they plan their travels and decide how many days they need to block off. You can also include a response card or a poll on your wedding website to get their input on activities they'd like to participate in.

Treat it as a Pre-Invitation

Think of your save-the-date as more than just a date announcement. It's an opportunity to give your guests a sneak peek into what to expect. Include a note that a formal invitation will follow, and consider sending an information packet or directing them to your wedding website for more details. This ensures that your guests have all the information they need to start planning their trip.

Be Mindful of Seasonal Events

When planning your save-the-date mailing, try to avoid peak mailing seasons like the Christmas holidays. Your save-the-dates could get lost in the flood of holiday mail, reducing the chances of them being seen and remembered. Timing your mailing outside of these busy seasons increases the chances of a smooth guest experience.

Include the date, location, and your names

Save-the-date cards are the first piece of wedding stationery you'll send out, and they are especially important for destination weddings. The purpose of these cards is to give your guests a heads-up so they can start making travel plans and preparing for your big day. Here are some tips for including the date, location, and your names on your save-the-date cards:

• Keep it simple and direct: Focus on providing the essential details, such as the date, location, and your names. A traditional format is to lead with the request to save the date, followed by the date and location, and then your names. For example: "Please save the date for [date] in [location]. Join us to celebrate the marriage of [your names]."
• Provide clear date and location information: Be sure to include the date of your wedding, and if it's a destination wedding, consider providing a date range if it's a multi-day celebration. For the location, include the city and country, and if possible, the name of the venue. This is crucial for destination weddings as it helps guests with their travel plans and budget considerations.
• Add a personal touch: While keeping the wording direct, you can still add a bit of personality or a casual tone. For example, instead of a formal "please save the date," you might say "Save our date!" or "Save the date because [your names] are getting married!"
• Include full names: For traditional save-the-date cards, it's customary to include your full names. This adds a formal touch and clearly communicates who is getting married.
• Consider including a wedding website: If you have a wedding website, be sure to include the link on your save-the-date cards. This gives guests a place to find additional details about travel, accommodations, and other wedding-related information.
• Note that a formal invitation will follow: It's important to let guests know that the save-the-date is not the official invitation. Add a line at the bottom of the card indicating that a formal invitation will be sent out later.

Remember, for destination weddings, it's recommended to send out save-the-dates at least eight months in advance, or even earlier if possible, to give your guests ample time to plan their travels and make any necessary arrangements.

Add your wedding website

Your wedding website is a great way to provide guests with more information than you can fit on your save-the-date card. It's also a good way to build excitement and share fun facts. You can include travel information and accommodation details, as well as a schedule of the weekend's events. If you don't have all the details finalised, your website can be a place to direct guests for updates and new information as your plans progress.

If you're pressed for space on your save-the-date card, you can keep the design basic and direct guests to your website for all the specifics. This is especially useful for destination weddings, where guests will need to plan their travel and may want to extend their trip.

Your wedding website is also a great place to include your wedding hashtag, if you have one. This will get guests excited and encourage them to engage and share their photos and experiences.

You can also use your website to spread the word about your gift registry. It's considered poor taste to include registry information on your save-the-date, so posting this information on your website is a good alternative.

If you're sending out save-the-dates by email, you can include a direct link to your website. Otherwise, be sure to include the full URL on your card so guests can easily find it.

Send one per household

When planning a destination wedding, it's important to give your guests ample notice. This allows them to make the necessary arrangements, such as booking flights and accommodation, taking time off work, and planning any additional travel. While the general recommendation is to send out save-the-dates six to eight months in advance for a traditional wedding, this timeline may be extended for destination weddings.

For destination weddings, it is suggested to send out save-the-dates at least six months in advance, with some sources recommending up to eight months or even a year for early planning. This extended timeline is crucial for guests who need to make more extensive preparations, such as those travelling from out of town or internationally.

Now, let's focus on the "send one per household" aspect. This strategy is an efficient way to manage your save-the-date distribution list and ensure you don't overwhelm your guests with duplicate invitations. Here are some key points to consider:

• Guest List Organisation: Group your guest list by household or couple. This will help you determine the number of save-the-dates needed and streamline your mailing process. It's also a good idea to create a spreadsheet or use a wedding planning website to keep track of addresses and responses.
• Clarify Who's Invited: When sending one save-the-date per household, be clear about who is invited. Include the names of the specific guests on the card or envelope to indicate that the invitation is for the entire household. This is especially important if you have families or couples living together.
• RSVP Management: Keep in mind that sending one save-the-date per household may impact your RSVP process. You can include an RSVP card or online response option with the save-the-date to get a preliminary headcount and plan accordingly. This is particularly useful if you're organising group activities or need to secure a room block at your hotel.
• Final Invitations: Remember that a formal invitation will follow the save-the-date. You can use the invitations to confirm attendance and finalise details for each guest or household. It's important to send these invitations closer to the wedding date, as you will have more finalised information to include.
• Additional Considerations: If you have guests who are not part of the same household but live in the same area, you can send them save-the-dates as a group, indicating that they are among the invited. This way, you can give them a heads-up without sending individual save-the-dates.

By sending one save-the-date per household, you can effectively manage your guest list and ensure that your destination wedding plans are well-communicated. This approach balances the need for advanced notice with a streamlined and organised approach to your wedding stationery.

Include an information packet

Save-the-date cards are the first piece of wedding stationery you'll buy, and they're especially important for destination weddings. It's best to send them out 8-12 months in advance to give your guests ample time to plan their travel. Here's how to include an information packet with your save-the-dates:

Treat it as a pre-invitation

Instead of a simple postcard, consider sending out a packet with additional information. This means treating your save-the-date as a pre-invitation rather than just a notice of your wedding. Include a general timeline for the weekend's events, from the welcome party and brunch to any group activities.

Provide practical information

Make sure you've already secured a room block at your hotel, so guests can figure out which days to take off work and reserve their rooms. Include the name of the venue, as guests may need this information to plan their travel and assess affordability.

Ask guests what they want to do

If you're still figuring out activities, ask your guests! Include a response card or a link to a poll on your wedding website, and ask guests to pick what they'd like to do. This will help you plan accordingly.

Make it interactive

If you're planning something intimate or remote, ask guests to RSVP as part of your save-the-date, and use the invitation as a formality later on. This can be a fun way to get guests involved early in the process.

Create a wedding website

Be sure to provide all the information on your wedding website as well. If you're short on space, keep your save-the-date basic and direct guests to your site for travel specifics and a schedule of the weekend.

Frequently asked questions