Choosing between paper save the dates and magnets comes down to one practical question: do you want your announcement on the fridge for the next six months, or in a drawer? Magnetic save the dates stay in plain sight, giving every guest a daily reminder of your date. Paper cards get opened, admired, and filed away. Neither format is wrong, but for couples with destination weddings, guests who need travel lead time, or anyone who wants a stationery piece that keeps working after it arrives, magnets do more work. Here is exactly how the two formats compare and when magnets are the better choice.
- How to order: Choose any design, customize it, then select the magnet option at checkout
- Two formats: Pre-applied backing (ready-to-use) or self-adhesive sticker sheets
- Size: Approximately 5.5″ x 4.2″ (140mm x 107mm)
- Pricing: Pre-applied from $8 for 10 (about $80 for 100)
- Any design: The magnet option is available across the entire save the date collection
- Designer proof: Delivered within 1-2 business days
Why Save the Date Magnets Work
Paper save the dates do their job well, but their lifespan in your guests’ daily life is short. They get read, maybe shown to a partner, and then filed away. Magnets behave completely differently. A magnet on the fridge is a piece of household furniture for the next six to twelve months. Every time a guest reaches for the milk, they see your names, your date, and your design.
For guests who need to arrange time off work, book flights, or coordinate travel with other family members, that constant visibility is genuinely useful. It turns your save the date into a planning tool, not just an announcement.
There is also a keepsake dimension. Couples regularly hear from guests years later that the magnet is still on the fridge. A beautifully designed magnetic save the date becomes a small, permanent fixture in the homes of the people who matter most to you, which is a lovely thing to have sent.
The format also works particularly well for destination weddings and long-weekend celebrations where guests need a visual daily prompt to actually book travel. If your wedding requires any kind of advance planning from guests, magnets do extra work that paper cannot.
How Paperlust’s Magnet Add-On Works
Most companies that sell save the date magnets sell them as a separate product: a different collection, different SKUs, limited designs. Paperlust works differently. The magnet option is a checkout add-on that applies to any design in the entire save the date collection.
That means you are not choosing from a stripped-down magnet range. You are choosing from 500+ exclusive designs, letterpress, flat foil, white ink on dark stock, classic digital print, and then simply opting into the magnet format at checkout. The design, the print method, and the paper all remain exactly what you chose. The magnet backing is added by the Paperlust production team before shipping.
Two Magnet Formats
When you select the magnet option at checkout, you can choose between two formats:
- Pre-applied magnet backing: Paperlust applies the magnetic layer to the back of each card before it ships. Guests receive a ready-to-use fridge magnet. No extra steps required on your end or theirs. Priced from $8 for 10, approximately $80 for 100.
- Self-adhesive magnet sticker sheets: A more budget-friendly option where the magnetic backing ships separately for you to apply. The cards and magnets ship together; you peel and stick. Ideal if you are managing a tighter stationery budget and are comfortable doing a small bit of assembly.
Size and Quantities
Paperlust save the date magnets are approximately 5.5″ x 4.2″ (140mm x 107mm), a generous size that sits prominently on a fridge door rather than getting lost among business cards and school schedules. The size is optimized for photo designs and layouts that carry design detail well at scale.
Order quantities follow the same household-not-headcount rule as paper save the dates: one per household, plus 10-15% extra for late additions and keepsakes. Most couples find magnets require fewer units than they initially plan for.
Design Tips for Save the Date Magnets
Because magnets are displayed rather than stored, design choices matter more than on standard cards. A few things worth considering as you build your order:
Photo designs work especially well
A magnet is a miniature portrait of the two of you that lives in your guests’ homes. Engagement photos translate beautifully to the magnet format, they give guests a recognizable image to associate with your names and date, and they tend to prompt more conversations at gatherings when other guests see them on the fridge. Photo designs in the save the date magnets range can be customized through the design tool, with Paperlust’s team available to enhance photo brightness and contrast on request.
Match your print method to your suite tone
If your invitation suite leans formal, letterpress on Wild Cotton, or foil stamping, matching that print method on your magnets sets a consistent first impression. If you are going for relaxed and modern, digital print on matte or linen stock is clean and cost-effective. The same print method options available across the wider collection are available for magnets.
Keep the essential information clear
Your names, wedding date, and location are the three non-negotiables. A website URL is useful if you have one set up. For a magnet that will be seen from across a kitchen, make sure the date reads clearly at a glance, avoid overly ornate scripts for the key line of text.
When to Send Save the Date Magnets
The general guidance for save the date timing applies to magnets: send 6-12 months before your wedding date. For destination weddings or events on long holiday weekends, err toward the earlier end of that range, 9-12 months, so guests have adequate time to book flights and accommodation.
Magnets have a slight advantage here. Because they stay visible rather than getting filed away, earlier is genuinely better, a magnet sent 10 months out will be seen more often and act as a longer-running travel prompt than one sent at the 6-month mark. If your timeline allows it, lean earlier.
For wording guidance on what to include in your save the date, the save the date wording guide covers everything from formal to casual language, what to include, and what to leave for the invitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I order save the date magnets as an add-on to my paper save the dates?
Yes. The magnet option works alongside a standard paper order or as a standalone order. Many couples send a mix: magnets to guests who live in different cities or need more travel lead time, paper cards to local guests. Both use the same design and print method, so the suite stays cohesive.
Are save the date magnets the same size as the cards?
Paperlust save the date magnets are approximately 5.5″ x 4.2″ (140mm x 107mm). This is the standard magnet size optimized for fridge display and photo layouts. The card and magnet share the same design file, the magnet backing is simply added to the card during production.
How long does production take for save the date magnets?
Your designer proof is delivered within 1-2 business days of placing your order. Two rounds of revisions are included at no extra cost. Production and shipping timelines depend on your chosen print method and destination. A 24-hour rush print option is available for an additional fee if you need to move quickly. US orders typically arrive within 2 to 4 business days after production. Orders over $350 USD ship via DHL Express at no extra charge.
Related Reading
Browse Paperlust’s full save the date collection: both magnetic save the dates and printed card designs across digital, letterpress, foil, and metallic print methods. Free white envelopes on every printed order.