Save The Date Strategies For Cruise Weddings

Save-the-date cards are a fun and practical way to tell your friends and family they're invited to your wedding. They are typically sent out six to 12 months before your wedding day, with the earlier option being preferable as it gives guests more time to prepare. If you're hosting a destination wedding, it's recommended to send save-the-dates eight to 12 months in advance to give guests enough time to plan their trip. For local weddings, four to six months' notice is generally sufficient. Sending save-the-dates early ensures your guests can join you on your big day and helps to get everyone excited about your wedding.

Destination Wedding Save-the-Dates: Send 8-12 months before the wedding

Planning a destination wedding is exciting, but it's important to give your guests ample time to prepare. Save-the-date cards are the first official communication your guests will receive about your wedding, so it's crucial to get the timing right.

For destination weddings, it's recommended to send out save-the-dates eight to twelve months in advance. This gives your guests enough time to plan their trip, make travel arrangements, and secure accommodations. It's also beneficial for those who need to request time off work or make childcare arrangements. Sending your save-the-dates early ensures a smooth guest experience and generates excitement for your big day.

When creating your save-the-date cards, include key details such as the date of your wedding or the weekend of the celebration, the city or location of the event, and the names of the couple. You may also include optional information such as a formal invitation to follow, your wedding website, and hotel information.

It's also a good idea to have your wedding website up and running before sending out your save-the-dates. This allows guests to refer to it for more detailed information, such as your registry, travel tips, and other wedding-related updates.

Remember, save-the-dates are not mandatory, but they are highly recommended to give your guests a heads-up and increase the likelihood of their attendance.

Local Wedding Save-the-Dates: Send 4-8 months in advance

Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, but sending out save-the-dates is an exciting first step! For local weddings, it's a good idea to give your guests at least four to eight months' notice. This means that if you're planning a local wedding, you should send out your save-the-dates four to six months in advance, and your formal wedding invitations two months before the big day. This gives your guests plenty of time to make any necessary arrangements, such as booking travel and accommodation, taking time off work, and sorting out childcare.

It's important to remember that sending out your save-the-dates early will help build excitement for your wedding and ensure a smooth guest experience. While it's not necessary to include all the details in your save-the-dates, providing some key information such as the date, location, and your wedding website will be helpful for your guests.

• Finalize your guest list before sending out save-the-dates.
• Make sure your wedding website is up and running, with important details such as travel information and your registry.
• Include your wedding website address on the save-the-dates so guests can easily access more information.
• Follow up with your wedding invitations eight weeks before the wedding.

Remember, the most important thing is to give your guests enough notice so they can plan accordingly and be a part of your special day!

What to Include: Couple's names, wedding date, location, and wedding website

Save-the-dates are crucial for a cruise wedding as they allow guests to plan their travel and accommodation. They should be sent out between six to twelve months in advance, or even earlier if guests are travelling long distances. Here's what to include on your save-the-date for a cruise wedding:

Couple's Names

The names of the couple getting married are essential. Use full names, and ensure they stand out with a visible font. This is especially important if your guests might not know the name of your fiancé or if there are multiple weddings coming up in your social circle.

Wedding Date

The date of the wedding is a key piece of information. If your wedding celebrations span a weekend or multiple days, be sure to include that information so guests can plan accordingly.

Location

The location of your wedding is another critical detail. Even if you haven't finalised the exact venue, include the city or region where you plan to get married. This will help guests understand the scale of the trip they need to plan and can also be a fun teaser for the festivities to come.

Wedding Website

Creating a wedding website is highly recommended, as it allows you to include more detailed information about your wedding plans. Your website can include travel and accommodation details, a schedule of events, and any other helpful information for your guests. Include the URL of your wedding website on your save-the-date so guests can easily access these additional details.

Optional Extras

While not required, you may want to include a note that a formal invitation will follow. You can also add hotel information if you've reserved a block of rooms for your guests. A picture of the happy couple is another fun, optional addition to your save-the-date.

What Not to Include: Registry information, venue, timing, or dress code

Save-the-dates are an important part of the wedding planning process, giving your guests a heads-up and plenty of time to make travel plans and accommodation arrangements. While save-the-dates can include whatever information you want, there are some details that are best left off. Here's what not to include when it comes to registry information, venue, timing, and dress code:

Registry Information

It is considered inappropriate to include registry details on your save-the-dates. This information is typically shared through your wedding website or guests may ask you, your family, or friends for these details. It's best to leave this information off your save-the-dates and include it elsewhere.

Venue

While it's important to include the city and state of your wedding, you don't need to include the specific venue name or address on your save-the-dates. This information can be reserved for the formal wedding invitation. Providing the location will help your guests make travel plans, but they don't need the exact venue details just yet.

Timing

At this early stage of wedding planning, there's no need to include specific timing details on your save-the-dates. You may not have finalised the exact timeline for your wedding day, and that's okay. The purpose of the save-the-date is to inform guests of the wedding date and location, so stick to sharing just that.

Dress Code

Save any details about wedding guest attire for the formal wedding invitation or include it on your wedding website. It's too early to include dress code information on your save-the-dates. Guests who are curious can always reach out to you directly to inquire about the dress code.

Remember, the key is to keep your save-the-dates simple and high-level. You don't want to overwhelm your guests with too many specifics, especially since some aspects of your wedding day may change during the planning process. Focus on sharing the essential details and leave the rest for the formal invitation or your wedding website.

Who to Send Them To: All guests on the final list

Save-the-date cards are typically sent to all guests on your final list. This is because, once a guest receives a save-the-date card, you are obligated to send them a wedding invitation. It is also misleading and awkward to send a save-the-date card to a guest who is only invited to the evening reception.

It is important to have a finalised guest list before sending out your save-the-dates. This is because you do not want guests on your B or C lists to find out that save-the-dates have been sent out and that they were not included.

Save-the-dates are usually sent out 6-12 months before the wedding. If you are hosting a destination wedding, it is recommended that you send out save-the-dates 8-12 months in advance. For local weddings, 4-6 months is generally enough notice.

Frequently asked questions