Save the date cards are not always necessary but it’s an addition to the wedding stationery set that some people don’t want to go past. You want to let people know you’re getting married, but isn’t that what a wedding invitation is for? Well, no.
WHY A SAVE THE DATE INVITE CARD?
So generally, the save the date is something simple sent out well in advance of the big day to give guests the opportunity to make travel and accommodation plans (especially if they’re having to travel far for a destination wedding, or even if the wedding is falling on grand final weekend and hotels will be booked out by fly-in-fans).
That means that maybe a save the date card isn’t necessary if you’re only planning a few months ahead and the wedding invitations are going out soon anyway.
Still not sure whether you need one? Try our short quiz:
Destination wedding
You must have a save the date if you’re asking people to travel, especially overseas, so that they’re able to organise their trip. For a destination wedding consider sending it out four to eight months ahead so guests have a chance to research what they’re going to need to do. Later, the wedding invitation will give them all the details of the day itself. It’s a good idea to provide information about possible accommodation and travel with the save the date for the destination wedding card, rather than with the wedding invitation. The information with the wedding invitation can then be more detailed, with information about activities you might have planned outside of the ceremony and reception, and want your guests to join you on.
Well planned
You’ve planned your wedding on a perfectly timed schedule and there is a three to four month window where you want to let people know you’re getting married and it doesn’t really make sense to wait for the invitations to go out. This is the perfect time to send out the save the date. In this case, it’s as simple as a card with the date and place, with a note of information to follow. Maybe you’re not much of a traditionalist though, and you don’t really want to send out a save the date. That’s alright as well, just make sure you’re not asking anything from guests that they don’t need to be warned about well in advance.
The International wedding
In a global society, it is more than likely that at least one of your guests, if not several are living overseas. Whether it is your grandparents from the home country, cousins from across the ditch, or friends who have moved overseas to study or work it is extremely common these days that several of your intended guests live overseas. Many such guests would love the opportunity to fly to share your happy day, but like everyone else will need time to plan a trip, particularly if it involves 30 hours of flying time. If you are expecting that one or several of your guests fall into this category we recommend a save the date.
There just isn’t time
With only two or three months until your wedding day, you can save time and energy by sending out the wedding invitation at eight weeks with your other wedding stationery cards and avoiding the question of a save the date card.
THE BASICS
You’ve taken the quiz and you’ve decided you do need a save the date card for your wedding. Who do you need to send it to? What should you send? When do you need to send it out? How do you ask people to save the date?
Who to send it to
Send your save the date invitations to everyone you mean to send the wedding invitation to. There’s no point sending it people you have no intention of inviting, and there isn’t really any reason to leave off anyone from the guest list if you plan on sending them an official invitation anyway. Don’t panic if you leave anyone out though. Like we said, the invitations are going to follow so the worst you’re going to get is a ‘where was my save the date card, huh?’.
When
Save the date cards should be sent out at least three to four months ahead of time for your average wedding. Destination weddings, and weddings where you expect a number of your guests to travel from overseas, should aim to send their save the dates out four to six months in advance, depending on how far guests will need to travel.
What to send
Traditionally, the save the date card matches the suit of wedding stationery that will follow in a few months. But there are also some alternative weddings save the date invite ideas that we look at later, which meansthe card itself isn’talways absolutely necessary.
How to say
The save the date invitation follows a lot of the rules we’ve talking about before for wording your wedding invitation. The key is to:
- Maintain a tone that’s consistent with the kind of wedding that you’re planning;
- Say who is getting married;
- Include where and when the wedding is occurring, and specific details that might affect what guests will have to plan, and
- Include that more information is to follow the save the date card so that you don’t have a flood of calls coming in asking what this save the date thing is all about.
The best save the date cards are simple, which means keeping the basic who, what, when.
OUR FIVE FAVOURITE SAVE THE DATE INVITES
Stuck for save the date card ideas? Here are some of our favourites. If you’re looking for something themed, take a look at our beach themed wedding invitations, our look at colour, or try our inspiration for a Spanish styled wedding.
Save the date 1
Something decorative on the front and text based on the back, with a little bit of geometric shape for relief. This is a great example of an understated, elegant save the card.
Save the date 2
Following on with some more geometric print, which is softened by the gold stamped decorative font through the middle. We love the combination of fonts and the simple decoration.
Save the date 3
This simple, black and white save the date shows how letterpress can be used to create interest in the textured paper. It’s also a great example of less is more when it comes to what to include in the wording.
Save the date 4
Again, this save the date invite is mostly text, with a vintage feel created by the colours and varied typeface.
Save the date 5
If you prefer something a little decorative, this subdued floral watercolour is beautiful on thick, textured card.
THINGS TO REMEMBER
- Send the save the date to everyone on the guest list;
- As we mentioned in our Wedding Invitation Do’s and Don’ts, specifically address the people you want to attend by name, so that there is no confusion about who is invited;
- If you’re sending out a card, maintain consistency with your wedding invitation stationery set, and
- To try not to put any information on the save the date that you’re going to repeat on the invitation cards, unless it’s absolutely necessary like the names, time and place.
ALTERNATIVES TO THE SAVE THE DATE INVITATION CARD
Magnets
Save your guests the trouble of having to hunt around a spare magnet for the fridge and make your save the date a magnet, and not just magnets on the back but a personalised magnet they can keep after the wedding has come and gone.
Flip books
Sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/185914290837721970/
Flip books are the perfect save the date to pack in all the personal photos and memorabilia of your relationship that you want to share with the people who are going to be at your wedding.
Postcards
Destination post card
Post card
This makes a lot of sense for a destination wedding – a postcard with a photo of the destination on the front with details of the date and time.
Postcards work just as well with any kind of wedding and save the date. Maybe you want to do a photo of where you’re getting married or make it a keepsake with something a little bit more personal (a photo of the happy couple maybe?).
Stickers
Stickers are a bit of a novelty and a lot of fun. We especially like the idea of the small stickers that people can put in their diary or on their calendar. If you know guests are a little bit more digitally inclined, consider a matching digital version that people can attach to their online calendar.
Mini calendar
We love the idea of the mini calendar. Not just a photo of a calendar with the date to save circled, but depending how much time ahead you’re planning, a full twelve month calendar personalised not just with details of the wedding, but with other information as well.
Photo strip
You get to have a little bit of fun in a photo booth, and once it’s scanned in and printed, information can be provided on the back. Unlike posed and professional photos, this save the date will be different and hopefully come across as spontaneous as you rush to get the signs up before the next flash.
Balloons
If you’re camera shy why not try something like the photo strip but on helium balloons (held well away from your face)?
Tie-the-knot
We love this example of craft and a literal interpretation of tie-the-knot. This DIY bad boy probably won’t be possible if you’re short on time but it’s a good reminder to try and personalise things as much as possible for the people you’re asking to join you on the big day. Even if it’s as simple as hand written addresses. It might not feel like it while you’re hand is aching, but people notice.
Cover Photo Sourced: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/524880531543273449/