Save The Date Announcements And Save The Date Invites Are Popular, But When Should You Send Them?

With custom save the date stationery, timing is everything

Save the date announcements have made their way into mainstream wedding planning and wedding etiquette. When I got married, lo those many years ago (13 to be exact), save the date invites were hardly used at all and then only for destination weddings or holiday weekend weddings.

White Rose Save the Date Card

These days, it seems that everyone is using wedding save the date personalized stationery to announce their forthcoming nuptials. So what are save the date cards and how are they used?

Save the date invites: The when and where of planning your event

Personalized save the date stationery is designed to inform family and friends of an upcoming event, in most cases a wedding, so that they can mark their calendars to ensure their availability to attend. Save the date announcements most often take the form of a card or a save the date magnet.

Save the date announcements are typically mailed four to six months prior to the wedding date; however, those planning destination or summer weddings should consider sending save the date reminders up to one year in advance to give invitees ample time to make their plans (transportation, hotel, vacation time, etc.).

Portrait Save the Date Card

While save the date personalized stationery need not be as formal as traditional wedding invitations tend to be, they often carry the colors or theme of the wedding being announced. For instance, tropical destination wedding planners may choose the Paradise, Destination, Palm Tree or Sea Shell Save the Date Announcements to highlight the location of the wedding. Similarly, Portrait Save the Date Cards offer such a variety of ink colors, it would be easy to coordinate them with your wedding colors.

Paradise Save the Date Card

Short & Sweet: Space is a premium on personalized save the date stationery

Save the date reminders are short on space, so information presented should be kept to a minimum. Necessary information includes the names of both the bride and groom (or name of the event if not a wedding), event date and location, including city and state. Don’t assume that anyone receiving your save the date announcement will know you and your fiancé by first names only, and don’t assume that they will know where the wedding will take place. If you want them to attend, tell them what they need to know. That includes telling them that an ‘invitation will follow.’

That said, don’t bog down the reminder card with details that are not necessary at the time. For instance, the time of the ceremony and reception will be important but aren’t now. The guests of honor, the date and location will suffice. If you have a web site dedicated to your wedding or special event, include the address on your save the date announcement; that’s where you can go on and on with details about the event.

Keep your guest list in mind when sending save the date announcements

Here’s an important rule of thumb: you don’t need to send save the date reminders to everyone you plan to invite, but you do need to invite everyone to whom you send save the date reminders. So be careful of your send list; if you’re unsure of whether or not you will invite someone, or if you have space or financial restrictions, only send save the date cards to those you absolutely know you will invite.

Save the date invites makes planning your wedding or event much easier

Once you’ve sent custom save the date stationery, you can focus on other important details of your special day, knowing that you have notified your special family and friends of your big day. Sending save the date announcements can be a big step in the right direction when planning the day of your dreams.