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Sending save the dates is a smart way to give potential guests a heads up that you and your sweetheart are getting hitched. More than an engagement announcement, yet not quite an invitation, a save the date does just what the name suggests — it tells loved ones to save the date of your big day on their calendar so they don’t accidentally schedule a non-refundable vacation or their own wedding the same day (can you imagine?).
If you’re thinking about designing your own save the dates, use these expert tips to make sure you’re including all the essentials and putting your own personal stamp on the final product.
1. Design Early, Send on Time
Experts recommend ordering your save the dates about a year before your actual wedding and sending them out a month or two later. That’s because people typically plan their vacations well in advance and it’s easy for their calendar to fill up. A year might seem like a long time, but remember, you’ll need to book your venue well in advance too. Even wedding dresses can take up to a year to order, create, and have fitted.
That said, don’t worry if you’re planning your wedding on a tighter timeline. Even if you send out save the date cards six to eight months before your wedding, you should be okay. The key is to allow more time for weddings that require more planning (destination weddings, for example). The timeline for a locals-only wedding with a small crowd may be even more forgiving. You can send out save the dates with just a date and city, too, and update your guests on the exact venue and timing later on.
2. It’s okay to be creative
You can get save the dates that match the rest of your wedding stationery, but you don’t have to. It’s not uncommon to send out save the dates and still have no clue what your actual ceremony and reception will look like. That makes it pretty difficult to ensure it all matches. So don’t!
Instead of driving yourself nuts trying to nail down the details of your wedding just to create the perfect complementary save the date, just choose a design that speaks to you and your spouse-to-be. It could be a design that centers on an engagement picture or a calendar magnet paired with a silly candid. There are designs that suit your hobbies (travel, for instance) or the season, too. The goal is to showcase your relationship; choose a save the date that does that, and you can’t go wrong.
3. Know your Save the Date Styles
Surprise! There’s more than one way to alert the masses. These days, save the dates come in various styles:
- Save the Date Magnets put the fun back in functionality. Not only do they keep your event at the top of everyone’s mind (your guests will see your face every time they hunt for a snack), but they’re also an easy keepsake because they stick to the fridge and serve an actual purpose.
- Save the Date Cards are ideal for traditionalists, couples planning a more formal wedding, and anyone who has a lot of details to share. The classic card format leaves plenty of room to add key details, plus you can potentially play with the shape of the cards, embellish the envelopes, and even get matching stamps.
- Save the Date Postcards are simple and streamlined, basically offering an all-in-one solution. Put your picture and your wedding details on the front, add your guest’s address and a stamp to the back, and you’re good to go. Because there’s only one page to print and mail, postcards are typically the most affordable option of the three here.
4. Be sure your Guests have all the Important Details
You don’t have to explain your entire ceremony and reception plan on your save-the-date card, but there are some pieces of information that should be included every time.
Start every save the date with your names, wedding date, and the city you’re getting married in. That’s the bare minimum information guests need to hold space on their calendar. Then consider adding details that may change how guests plan. For instance, if it’s an adults-only wedding, that’s good for families to know so they can organize childcare accordingly. Same goes for allowing plus ones or if you’re having a morning ceremony followed by brunch instead of an evening ceremony and dinner; guests need to know who they can and can’t bring and when they’ll be expected to show up.
5. Got a wedding website? Add that too!
Wedding websites have become increasingly popular over the last few decades, reflecting the growing popularity of digital communication. But what many people don’t realize is that when it comes to wedding stationery versus a fancy website, it doesn’t have to be one or the other. Having a website dedicated to your big day adds another layer of communication. You can still send out save-the-date magnets and formal “snail mail” invitations, preserving the tradition and generating pretty keepsakes. But add the website URL to your save the date and your guests know how to find last minute updates and more wedding details that wouldn’t fit on a postcard or magnet.
In 2020, when millions of Americans were forced to alter their wedding plans at the last minute due to the spread of COVID-19, 60% of those couples let their guests know about changes via their wedding website. Direct guests to your site early on and you’ll open a line of communication that’s accessible 24/7.
6. Know what not to Include
Resist the idea that more is always better. There are some types of information that simply don’t belong on a save the date.
- Your gift registries: Most etiquette experts say it’s inappropriate to share your registry information anywhere other than your website as gifts are voluntary and shouldn’t be viewed as a requirement or as the “price of admission.” But they definitely shouldn’t be shared on a save the date, which isn’t even an official invitation.
- RSVP requests: Again, a save the date is a heads up, not a formal invitation. It doesn’t make sense to include RSVP information, especially that far in advance of the actual event. Besides, an RSVP count that early won’t be accurate. People may not be able to commit until they put plans in place and those that do could forget or change their mind, changing your official guest count in the process.
- Anything you’re unsure of: If you haven’t put a deposit on your venue or confirmed with your first-choice hotel that your party will get a discounted block of rooms, don’t put that information on the save the date. The last thing you want is guests making potentially pricey decisions based on wishful thinking. Hold off until contracts are signed and all systems are go before you share those details.
7. For Professional Results, use a Professional Template
Deciding to DIY your save the dates doesn’t mean you have to start completely from scratch. MagnetStreet offers a wide range of save-the-date postcards, magnets, and cards in every style imaginable. Choose a design that suits your style and you’ll have the option to personalize everything from the color palette to the font. There are even fun embellishments like shaped cards with pretty scalloped edges and raised foil to add a glamorous touch of shimmer.
If you’re a graphic designer or well-versed in design software, starting your save the date with a blank slate might not be intimidating. But if you’re more comfortable with a starting point, these pro templates ensure you complete a design quickly, knowing your elements will be balanced, in alignment, and print-ready.
Already clicked through and chosen your save the dates? Round out your wedding stationery with Wedding Invitations and programs that set the scene for a wedding day your guests will never forget.
