Wedding invitation etiquette can be hard to understand, especially when it comes to saving the date cards. Should you send one? How long should you wait? What information should it include? You’re not alone if you’re feeling confused or overwhelmed by the different options, so we’ve provided an easy guide to help you navigate to save the date cards.
How to get your wedding save the date right
Your wedding save the date is one of the first things your guests will see related to your big day, so you want to make sure it’s perfect. There are a lot of factors that go into creating a save the date that is right for you and your partner’s vision.
You should be thinking about what message you want to convey in this announcement, who the focus of this announcement should be on (is it more about celebrating you or celebrating your partner?), and what colors and images reflect who you are as a couple and how long before the wedding people need to RSVP.
After all these decisions have been made, consider how many people need invitations or not. In our blog post What To Include On Your Wedding Invite, we discuss if an invitation is necessary for every guest or if some guests can just respond with their RSVP online or by phone.
When planning the design of your wedding save the date, and keep in mind whether or not your invite list has grown since you’ve sent out invites. If there are new names added to the list and they need an invite, then send them a save-the-date along with the invite.
How to pick your wedding save the date wording
When it comes to your wedding save the date, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you want to make sure that your wording is clear and concise. You also want to make sure that you include all of the important details, such as the date, time, and location of your wedding.
Finally, you want to make sure that you’re saving the date to reflect the overall tone and style of your wedding invitations. If you’re hosting an elegant affair, then sending out save the dates with simple and elegant fonts will do just fine.
If you’re planning on having a laid-back celebration where guests are encouraged to wear jeans or Hawaiian shirts, then sending out invitations with casual fonts might be best. Another thing to keep in mind when designing you save the date is how many colors you’ll use.
For example, if you’re using more than two colors for your design, then it’s best not to use any contrasting colors because this can often lead to confusion among people who don’t know what color each letter stands for.
This is when you should send both a save the date and an invitation
You should send a save the date about six to eight months before your wedding. This will give your guests plenty of time to clear their schedules and make travel arrangements, if necessary. Your invitations should go out about four to six weeks before the big day.
This will give you enough time to get a head count and finalize any other details. If you want to invite people close to the event but are worried they might not be able to attend, sending them a save the date card is an option as well. When you send a save the date, it’s up to each person whether or not they would like to respond with interest in attending.
They can let you know that they are unable to come, but don’t have to. One benefit of this is that some people who wouldn’t have been able to attend the event may decide that now they can come since there is no pressure on them.
They may also feel more comfortable giving away their personal information than just receiving an invitation for the first time because a save the date has less sensitive information on it. On top of all this, by sending a save the date card, you avoid getting into arguments with family members who insist on inviting someone without telling you first.
How to make sure no one feels left out by sending a save the date and an invitation
If you’re getting married, you’ll want to make sure that everyone who is important to you is in attendance on your big day. One way to do this is by sending both a wedding invite and a save the date.
Not only will this ensure that no one feels left out, but it also ensures they know when the big day is going to be well ahead of time. You should always include information about the save the date in your invitation so guests are aware of what’s happening and can plan accordingly.
For some people, a save-the-date is sufficient.
However, it’s always important to ensure that everyone who should receive an invitation ends up with one. That’s why you should consider sending both an invitation and a save-the-date in order to make sure you reach as many people as possible and avoid any misunderstandings about your wedding date.
As for how much information to include on either of these two items, keep it short but sweet. You don’t want guests to be overwhelmed by having too much written on your invite or save-the-date, but it is worth including what kind of ceremony you’re hosting and who will be in attendance if they haven’t been told already by other means.
