All You Need to Know about Wedding Save the Dates

Planning a wedding is an intricate dance of dates, details, and dreams. One of the initial steps in this exhilarating journey is sending out the 'Save the Dates,’ a cherished tradition that marks the beginning of the countdown to your big day. These small, yet significant, pieces of stationery serve as a prelude to your big day, giving your guests a sneak peek into the forthcoming celebration. In this blog post, we'll explore why wedding save the dates are a vital part of your wedding preparations, different types of save the date cards, and what to include in them.

What Is a Save the Date?

Save the Date cards serve as preliminary invitations that pave the way for your ideal wedding. These cards are distinct from the formal wedding invitation and are sent out months in advance, exclusively to announce the wedding date to your loved ones. Unlike invitations, these cards do not provide additional details about the celebration, and there's no need for recipients to respond to them.

When to Send Save the Dates?

Send the save the date cards at least four to six months before the wedding, or even earlier for destination weddings that involve extensive travel arrangements. For destination weddings, it's common to mail these announcements eight to twelve months ahead. Providing this early notice enhances the chances of guests attending. If your wedding is less than four months away, you might consider not sending a save the date.

Once you've confirmed your wedding date and venue, it's time to send out your save the dates. However, there are a couple of essential wedding planning tasks to complete before mailing them.

Key Wedding Planning Steps before Sending Save the Dates

Typically, couples may overlook essential steps before sending save the dates. Being aware of these planning tasks in advance allows couples to schedule their preparations effectively and ensure timely delivery of their save the dates.

• To feature engagement photos on the save the dates, you need to arrange the photoshoot in advance to ensure you have the pictures before ordering your cards.

• Everyone who gets a save the date should receive an invitation. Thus, you must create a wedding guest list to identify save the date recipients. Only send these out after finalising your guest list and confirming that your venue can accommodate everyone. 

• After completing your list of recipients, you should gather their postal addresses or email addresses, depending on the method you plan to use for sending the cards.

• Choose a date and venue, considering that they are connected – you can either fall for a location and pick from their available dates or choose a special date and find a venue later. On your save the date cards, a general location like the city is enough; you don't need to specify the exact venue now, as you can finalise those details down the line.

• Create your wedding website so that you can share your website URL in your save the dates for the guests to check the details of your wedding.

• The next step is to select your cards, customising them to your liking, and placing the order. Choose your supplier and a gorgeous design that matches your wedding theme; remember that this will be the design line for the rest of your stationery (guest cards, menus and others) or choose a different design. Do your save the dates with enough time in advance in order to fix any mistakes.

Do We Have to Send Save the Dates?

Sending save the dates is optional, but it's a considerate step in wedding planning. They provide guests with an early notice of the wedding date, especially helpful for destination weddings or when travel arrangements are involved. While not necessary, these notifications can enhance the overall guest experience by offering ample time for planning. Ultimately, the decision depends on your preferences, the nature of your wedding, and the convenience you want to provide for your guests

Do You Send Save the Dates to Evening Guests?

Sending save the dates to evening guests is a thoughtful and considerate way to include them in the excitement of your upcoming celebration. While traditionally these wedding announcements are often associated with the primary or day guests, extending this gesture to evening guests helps ensure they have ample time to make arrangements and mark your special day on their calendars. It adds a personal touch, making all attendees feel valued and included in the anticipation of your wedding.

What Information Should We Include?

Save the dates are generally more concise and compact compared to wedding invitations, serving the purpose of informing your guests about the invitation and providing straightforward details about the wedding date. Include any relevant information that assists guests in planning for your significant day. You should generally include:

• Your names
• The wedding location(no need to disclose a specific venue yet; city is sufficient at this point)
• The wedding date
• The wedding website URL (if you already have one)
• “Formal invitation to follow”

Every save the date should make it clear it's not the actual invitation. Regardless of the style, couples should always write "invitation to follow" on the card, so guests know the invitation is coming and this isn't the complete information.

Traditional vs Digital Save the Dates

Many couples opt for the classic approach of traditional cards, selecting a design and incorporating their engagement photos for a personalised touch. While these cards are a classic choice for their simplicity and ease of distribution, there's no rule against embracing creativity. 

Explore alternatives like magnets or printing information on distinctive items such as a bar of chocolate, a personalised puzzle piece, or other objects that hold personal significance for you as a couple. The possibilities are boundless, allowing couples to infuse their personalities into this special announcement.

Electronic Wedding Save the Dates

Choosing between traditional and digital save the dates is like deciding between classic snail mail and the speedy world of the internet! The traditional route involves sending charming physical cards through the mail, creating sweet keepsakes for your loved ones. 

On the other hand, digital alternatives have gained popularity in the modern world – especially by the couples who intend to plan an eco-friendly wedding. They are budget-friendly and can be easily designed, and quickly sent at a very low cost. By sending out save the dates electronically, couples save a great deal of their time and money and guests can access the information from their inboxes either on their laptops or phones.

Conclusion

Save the Dates serve as delightful preludes to your formal wedding invitations, offering a sneak peek into the joyous occasion that awaits. These early announcements provide guests with essential details such as the wedding date, venue, and sometimes even a glimpse of the chosen theme. They also set the tone for the upcoming celebration, creating a sense of anticipation and excitement among recipients. Whether conveyed through traditional cards adorned with charming designs or shared digitally with a touch of creativity, save the dates play a crucial role in building the excitement and ensuring that loved ones mark the special day on their calendars.