Congratulations – you’re getting married! But what’s next? Once you have decided upon the details of your wedding, it’s time to let your loved ones know when to expect the event. Sending save the date cards out to your guests is the first step. But what are they and how do you use them? We’ve crafted a handy guide to help you through the process.
What save the date cards are
They are essentially pre-invitations which you send to everyone that you’re inviting (even your parents). They let your guests know the day and time of your wedding. This allows them to prepare in advance and block off your big day on their calendar so that they don’t book a holiday or another event in its place! They can take any form you like; feel free to be as creative as you want with your invitations.
Do you have to send them?
While save the date cards aren’t mandatory, they are helpful in that they give your guests plenty of notice to prepare for the event. They’re a courtesy, of sorts. They also make it more likely that your guests will actually attend your wedding. However, you do need to consider whether or not they suit you – they do add another expense to your wedding budget, and they may require you to set your details and guest list far in advance of your wedding.
When should you send them?
Ideally, the sooner the better! Most people post them out around 4 to 6 months before the wedding, though if you can mail them earlier, that’s great too – especially if you’re planning an overseas wedding which will require people to prepare flights and accommodation.
What should be on the invitation?
Whatever information will help your guests prepare for the big day! The day, time and location of the wedding, as well as any information on theme or dress code you’d like to share. Feel free to keep the message short and sweet; including your names and other essential information is fine. Do title them formally; using titles such as “Mr.” and “Mrs.” helps to improve the quality of the invitation.
Can you send them digitally?
Of course! Sending save the date cards via email may be a more convenient and cheaper method. However, you do risk having the email fall into people’s spam or junk folders, where they won’t be seen, or sending it to an old address. Sending it physically may be a more reliable way of doing it; it also comes with the added factor of tangibility –people are more likely to put the invitation up on their fridge or office space as a reminder. A physical invitation may also be perceived as more formal, if you’re going for that.
What style should I choose?
This is totally up to you! Channel your inner artist and have fun with it. You can make the save the date cards yourself if you have the time or you can enlist the support of a designer. The style you select may also depend on the theme of your wedding – whether it’s modern, traditional, tropical or art deco, for instance. Some ideas for designs include using photos of the two of you, creating a mock-calendar or a fake-luggage tag, or even printing your details on an object such as a piece of cloth or a box (if it’s in your price-range!).
Hopefully this guide has helped you better understand the process of creating and distributing save the date cards. Good luck and enjoy the journey!
