Save-The-Date Strategies For Your December Wedding

Save-the-date cards are a fun and practical way to tell your friends and family about your wedding. They are typically sent out six to 12 months before your wedding day, with some sources recommending a timeline of six to eight months. Sending them out early is a polite way to ensure your guests can attend, especially if they need to make travel arrangements or schedule time off work. If you're planning a destination wedding or getting married during a busy holiday season, it's a good idea to send out your save-the-dates even earlier – around nine months to one year in advance. This gives your guests ample time to plan and make the necessary arrangements.

Send 6-8 months before the wedding

Sending save-the-dates for a wedding is an exciting part of the planning process. It's one of the first wedding-planning tasks you'll face and it's a great way to get your guests excited about your upcoming nuptials. It's also a practical way to give your guests a heads-up so they can prepare and keep your date on their calendar.

For a December wedding, you should send out your save-the-dates 6-8 months in advance, so some time between June and October. This is considered the ideal timeline and will give your guests plenty of time to book travel and accommodation, save money, and request time off work. It's also enough time for your guests to make any necessary arrangements such as childcare or pet-sitting services. Sending your save-the-dates during this window will ensure a smooth guest experience, especially for those travelling from out of town.

If you're planning a destination wedding or getting married during a busy holiday period, it's a good idea to send your save-the-dates even earlier—up to 9-12 months in advance. This is proper etiquette and will give your guests ample time to plan their trip and make any necessary arrangements.

It's important to note that you should only send save-the-dates to guests who are invited to your entire wedding day. Do not send them to guests who are only invited to the evening reception, as this can be misleading. Once you've sent out your save-the-dates, the next step is to send your formal wedding invitations. For a December wedding, these should be sent around 8 weeks before your big day.

Send 9-12 months before a destination wedding

Planning a destination wedding? It's important to give your guests ample time to plan and save for the event. It is recommended that you send out your save-the-date cards at least nine months to a year in advance. This is proper etiquette and gives your guests plenty of time to book flights and reserve a hotel room.

It's a good idea to send out your save-the-date cards as soon as you've chosen a venue and set up your wedding website and hotel room block. That way, your guests have all the information they need to start planning their trip.

While it can be exciting to send out your save-the-date cards as soon as possible, it's best not to send them out more than a year in advance. You risk your wedding being too far away to stay on your guests' radars, and they may put off making the appropriate plans.

If you're planning a local wedding, the recommended timeline for sending out save-the-date cards is four to six months in advance. This gives your guests enough time to prepare while ensuring that your wedding stays fresh in their minds.

Remember, it's important to only send save-the-date cards to guests who are invited to your entire wedding day. Evening-only guests should not receive a save-the-date card, as it can be misleading and awkward.

Save-the-date cards are a fun and practical way to tell your friends and family that they're officially on your guest list. By sending them out early, you'll generate excitement and ensure a smooth guest experience, especially for those travelling from out of town.

Include the date, location, and couple's names

Save-the-date cards are an important step in wedding planning. They are the first piece of wedding stationery you'll send out, and they serve as an initial announcement of your wedding date. They are typically sent out six to eight months before the wedding, and they include key information such as the date, location, and couple's names. Here are some tips and guidelines for including these essential details in your save-the-date cards:

The Date

The wedding date is the most important piece of information on your save-the-date cards. It should be displayed prominently and clearly so that your guests can mark their calendars and plan their attendance. You can include the date in a variety of formats, such as written out in full or using numbers only. For example:

> Saturday, the twenty-seventh of May

> Two thousand twenty-four

Or:

> 05.27.2024

If your wedding celebrations will span multiple days or a whole weekend, be sure to indicate this on your save-the-date cards. This is especially important for destination weddings or weddings where guests may need to take time off work and make travel arrangements.

The Location

The location of your wedding is another crucial piece of information to include on your save-the-date cards. This helps guests plan their travel and accommodations accordingly. You can include the city and state or the specific venue, depending on what has been finalised. For example:

> San Francisco, CA

Or:

> The Plaza Hotel in New York, New York

If you're having a destination wedding, it's a good idea to include the country or region as well. You may also want to mention if there is a wedding website with more detailed travel information.

The Couple's Names

The save-the-date cards should also include the full names of the couple getting married. This is a formal way to announce your upcoming nuptials and ensure your guests know whose wedding they are saving the date for. You can use first and last names or just the first names for a more casual approach. For instance:

> James Smith & Andrew Parker

Or:

> Zoey and Josh

If you want to add a playful touch, you can include a fun phrase or quote before the couple's names, such as "A match made in heaven" or "There will be wine!".

In conclusion, including the date, location, and couple's names on your save-the-date cards is essential for providing your guests with the information they need to plan for your big day. These details can be presented in a variety of ways, depending on the style and tone you wish to convey. Remember to keep the wording concise and clear, as these cards are meant to be a simple and exciting announcement of your upcoming wedding.

Send to all guests invited to the whole wedding day

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 eight to 12 months being preferable as they give your guests more time to prepare and change their plans if needed. This is especially important if your wedding is during a busy time of year, like the summer or holiday season, or if your guests will need to travel or make arrangements for childcare.

When planning a destination wedding, it is proper etiquette to provide as much notice as possible to your guests. It is recommended to send out save-the-date cards nine months to a year in advance. This will give your guests enough time to plan their trip and make any necessary arrangements.

For a local wedding, you can give your guests a slightly shorter notice. It is recommended to send out save-the-date cards four to six months in advance. However, it is important to remember that save-the-date cards are not mandatory. If you are running short on time, you can send them out as soon as possible, followed by your wedding invitations.

It is important to note that save-the-date cards should only be sent to guests who are invited to your entire wedding day. They should not be sent to guests who are only invited to the evening reception, as this can be misleading and awkward.

To ensure a smooth planning process, it is advisable to have your wedding website up and running before sending out save-the-date cards. This will provide your guests with easy access to important information such as accommodation options, travel details, and your registry.

Don't send during the Christmas holiday season

When planning a December wedding, it's important to consider the timing of sending out your save-the-date cards to ensure your guests have ample time to prepare for your big day. While the recommended timeline for sending save-the-dates is generally 6 to 12 months in advance, there are a few reasons why you shouldn't send them during the Christmas holiday season.

Firstly, sending save-the-dates during the peak Christmas season can result in your cards getting lost in the influx of holiday mail. You want your wedding announcement to stand out and be noticed by your guests, rather than being overlooked or delayed in the busy holiday post.

Secondly, the holiday season is a time when people are often busy with celebrations and gatherings. Sending your save-the-dates outside of this busy period will increase the chances of your guests receiving and acknowledging your invitation promptly. It's also worth noting that some people may be travelling or taking time off during the holidays, further delaying their response to your invitation.

Additionally, sending save-the-dates during the Christmas season may not give your guests enough time to plan, especially if they need to make travel arrangements or save money for your December wedding. Sending your save-the-dates earlier in the year will provide your guests with more time to prepare and ensure a smooth guest experience.

Finally, sending your save-the-dates during the holidays may not align with your wedding planning timeline. If you're aiming to follow the recommended timeline of sending save-the-dates 6 to 12 months in advance, you may find that the Christmas season falls too close to your wedding date. It's important to give your guests enough notice without sending the invitations too early, as you want your wedding date to stay fresh in their minds.

In summary, while it's essential to provide your guests with ample notice, avoid sending your save-the-dates during the Christmas holiday season to ensure your invitations are received, acknowledged, and well-prepared for by your guests.

Frequently asked questions