What is a Save the Date?
Save the Dates became popular back in the mid-2000’s and have increased in popularity over the years. People often ask, what is their purpose compared to an invitation? Save the Dates are really no more than an announcement of your upcoming wedding date and location. This informs your guests that they are officially invited to your wedding. This is also a great way to set the tone of your wedding if it will be a more formal event (black tie) or if are you going for a more laid back and casual affair. What ever the theme may be, it is a chance to really let you as a couple let your personality shine through.
What information should be on my Save the Date?
With the technology available today, there are a tremendous amount of options to choose from when designing your Save the Dates. Regardless of what program or company you decide to use, one thing remains the same and that is what should be included on them. The “must have” information to include is (1) you and your fiancé’s name (obviously! LOL), (2) date of your wedding, and (3) city and state. You can add in your website if you have already set this up, but keep it simple just make sure you always include “Formal invitation to follow”. This lets your guests know that this is not the actual invitation.
When should I send out my Save the Dates?
The biggest question as planners we get from our couples is:
“When do I send out my Save the Dates?”
Save the Dates should be mailed out 4-6 months before your wedding. This will give your guests plenty of time to mark their calendars and ensure that they are available for your big day.
If you are planning a Destination wedding that requires extensive travel, you may want to send them out a littler earlier. Usually, for these types of weddings the recommendation is 6-8 months prior to the big day. This will ensure the likelihood that more of your intended guests will be able to attend.
Can I send my Save the Date digitally?
In an era of rapidly improving technology capabilities and ever increasing electronic communications use, a more and more common question being asked is “can a Save the Date be sent electronically?” and the answer to the this is ABSOLUTELY! There is just one note of caution with this delivery method and that is that it sometimes may get dropped in the spam folder of a guest’s inbox (keep this in mind when choosing this option). I know I don’t always check my spam folder so unless you want to send out reminders this may not be the best option for you.
Is a Save the Date Really Necessary?
The answer is NO… A Save the Date is not required to send out to your guests. However, this pre-invitation may be important depending on what you envision for your special day. This is because it provides key information to your guests as discussed earlier. Plus, it’s a fun way to let your guests know about your upcoming wedding!
