Save The Date Cards: What You Need to Know

Before you dive into the somewhat complicated world of wedding invitations and enclosures, you’ll need to send out your save the date cards to your wedding guests. What’s their purpose? They let your friends and family know that your celebration will be happening in the next few months, giving them ample time to prepare. If you have some Q’s that need A’s regarding save the dates, read on.

Here’s everything you need to know about save the date cards.

Are save the dates necessary?

Nope! If you’d rather skip sending them out, that’s your prerogative. Using your wedding website, sending out an email or letting your guests know via phone to spread the word is fine, save the date cards just add a touch of formality to the process. Alternatively, some couples choose to make a save the date video.

How far in advance do I send out save the dates?

Send ‘em out ASAP. Really, the earlier the better when it comes to save the date cards. This will give your guests plenty of notice, so they can figure out when to take days off work, have time to book hotel rooms and can reorganize their schedule for that date.

Typically couples send them out anywhere from 6 months to 12 months in advance of the wedding. If you’re planning a destination wedding, then they should go out about 10 months in advance.

What do I include on a save the date card?

The information on your save the date cards is much less detailed than your formal invitation wording. They should have you and your soon-to-be spouse’s names, the date of your big day (it is a save the date, after all), the general location (this can be as vague as the city at this point) and the URL of your wedding website.

What should they look like?

You probably have an idea of what you want your big day to look like - or at least a general theme. Don’t feel pressured to make your save the date cards match the rest of your other wedding stationery, but everything you send out should have a similar vibe (they can be sisters not twins).

If you’re ahead of the game and already know how you want your wedding invitations, place cards and menus to look you may be able to get a good deal by ordering everything at once.

Do I send save the dates to all guests?

Before you start haphazardly addressing envelopes, make sure you have your wedding guest list locked in (check it twice to make sure nobody’s missing!). Everyone who makes it onto that list should receive a save the date card. Some couples only send them out to VIPs, but this can lead to awkward conversations if other guests find out. It’s kind of an all or nothing scenario.

Is there any way to cut costs?

As mentioned before, save the date cards are not 100% necessary. You don’t want to forfeit the centerpieces of your dreams because you sent out flashy stationery before your wedding invites, so if they don’t fit into your wedding budget feel free to skip them altogether. You can always use your wedding website to post your wedding date, just to keep everyone in the know. If you’re not being so frugal, opting for postcards instead of packed envelopes will help you cut costs.

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