Here is the honest truth about most paper save the dates: guests glance at them, pin them somewhere vague for a week, then they end up in a drawer or at the bottom of a bag. A save the date magnet does not have that problem. It goes straight onto the fridge, and it stays there for months.
That single behavioral difference is why save the date magnets have become one of the most popular formats for couples who want their dates to actually stick in their guests' minds, not just their inboxes.
Why Magnets Get Kept
The fridge is prime real estate. Most people check it multiple times a day. A beautifully designed magnet sitting on that surface becomes a low-effort, high-visibility reminder of your upcoming wedding, without your guests having to do anything at all. There is no filing required. It does not get buried under mail. It is simply there, every day.
Compare this to a traditional paper save the date. Even the most beautiful paper card eventually gets filed, stacked, or misplaced. The magnet stays visible for the entire lead-up to your wedding, which matters most when you want guests to book travel, request time off work, or plan accommodation.
For destination weddings especially, this is not a trivial point. Guests who need to book international flights or arrange childcare need months of advance notice, and a daily visual reminder helps. If you're planning one, consider sending Destination Wedding Save the Dates earlier to give guests the time they need to prepare.
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Design Styles That Work Best on Magnets
The best save the date magnet designs are clean and graphic. A magnet is smaller than a traditional card, so intricate, fine-detail illustration can get lost. What reads best:
- Bold typography with your names and date as the hero
- Simple graphic elements: florals, geometric shapes, clean borders
- High-contrast color combinations (dark background with light text, or vice versa)
- A strong engagement photo on a Save the Date Photo Cards design
What to avoid: overly busy layouts with lots of small text, very light or low-contrast color combinations, and designs that rely on fine lines or delicate detail that will not reproduce well at magnet size.
If you are uncertain about how a design will translate, order the $5 sample pack to see different design styles and print quality in person before committing to a full run.
Size and Format Options
Paperlust's save the date magnets are 140mm x 107mm (approximately 5.5" x 4.2") - a compact rectangular format that fits perfectly on a standard fridge without taking up too much space. It is large enough to showcase your design and key details while being practical for everyday fridge real estate.
Every magnet includes a free white envelope so your guests receive it properly packaged. Colored envelope options are available if you want the full presentation to feel more considered.
If you prefer something more traditional and postage-friendly, you can also explore Save the Date Postcards, which offer a similar simplicity in a flat card format.
When to Send Save the Date Magnets
Timing depends on your guest situation:
Local wedding (guests mostly nearby): send 8 to 12 months before the date
Destination wedding (guests need to travel interstate or internationally): send 12 to 14 months out
The earlier end of these windows gives guests the maximum runway to book travel, arrange accommodation, and request time off. A magnet that arrives 14 months early is not overkill for a destination wedding. It is exactly right.
Coordinating Magnets With Your Invitation Suite
Your save the date sets the visual tone for everything that follows. When you eventually send your wedding invitations, they should feel connected to your magnets without being identical.
The easiest way to achieve this: choose a magnet design from the same design family or the same artist as your invitation. Consistent fonts, a shared color palette, or a repeated motif (a floral, a geographic shape, a texture) creates visual cohesion without looking matchy-matchy.
If you are using a fully custom invitation design, brief the design team about your save the date so they can carry elements through.
How Save the Date Magnets Work at Paperlust
The process starts the same as any Paperlust order: browse the save the date collection, choose a design you love, and customize it on site with your names, date, venue, and any other details. You can select your preferred paper stock during this step.
The magnet part happens at checkout. You have two options:
- Pre-applied magnet backing - Paperlust applies a professional magnet backing to every card before shipping. Your guests receive a ready-to-use fridge magnet straight out of the envelope. Pricing starts as low as $8 USD for 10 cards, or around $80 USD for 100.
- Self-adhesive magnet stickers - A more affordable option. You receive magnet sticker sheets alongside your printed cards and apply them yourself. This keeps costs down while still giving your guests a functional magnet.
Both options turn any save the date design into a magnet - you are not limited to a separate "magnet collection." Any design, any paper, any print method.
A designer proof is sent within 1-2 business days before anything prints. Two rounds of edits are included. Once approved, your magnets are printed in our Melbourne studio and shipped worldwide via DHL.
New to Paperlust? Sign up for $20 off your first order. If you are ordering your magnets alongside other cards (invitations, info cards, thank you cards), 15% off applies when you order three or more card types.
Ordering more than $350 USD? Free worldwide express shipping via DHL is included.
FAQ
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For most couples, yes. The main advantage is practical: magnets stay on the fridge and remain visible for months, while paper cards tend to get filed or misplaced. Paperlust offers two price points - pre-applied magnet backing (from $8 USD for 10) or self-adhesive magnet stickers at a lower cost - so you can choose the option that fits your budget. If you want guests to genuinely remember your date, especially for a destination wedding, the magnet format delivers better results.
Save the date magnets at Paperlust are 140mm x 107mm (approximately 5.5" x 4.2"). This compact rectangular size is designed to fit neatly on a fridge while giving enough room for your names, date, and design details.
Yes. Any photo save the date can become a magnet at checkout - choose pre-applied magnet backing or self-adhesive magnet stickers. Photo magnets work especially well with engagement shoot photos in landscape orientation, where your faces and expressions are the main focus of the design.
Every order includes free white envelopes. Colored and textured envelope upgrades are available if you want a more premium presentation.
For local weddings, 8 to 12 months before the date. For destination weddings where guests need to arrange significant travel, 12 to 14 months is the right window.
Yes. A $5 sample pack is available so you can evaluate print quality before committing. For the magnets themselves, you can start with as few as 10 cards with pre-applied magnet backing (from $8 USD), or go with self-adhesive magnet stickers for an even more affordable test run.
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