Save The Date Cards For Weddings
Wondering if you should be sending out Save The Date cards?
Now that you are hands-on and starting to plan for your big day, people are asking about invitations, Save The Dates and all the little details that come with wedding planning.
Now that the exciting parts of planning are starting, people will want to know all the little details.
Save The Date cards are the perfect way to let all your friends and family know they will be a part of your wedding and allow them to set your wedding day in their calendars.
But what exactly are Save The Date cards, and when should they be sent out?
Don’t worry; we have all the answers for you here!
And if you are wondering when a good time to send our wedding invitations is, we have that covered, too.
We wanted to take the time to answer a few of your readers’ questions.
Here are popular questions we received:
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How far in advance should you send your wedding Save The Date?
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What is the proper etiquette for sending Save The Date cards?
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Do you need to send Save The Dates?
These are all fantastic questions.
If you are part of the bridal Facebook groups, you will hear much talk about wedding invitations and Save The Dates.
The Facebook groups mainly talk about why one would need to Save The Dates and if they are necessary.
After all, weddings are expensive.
You wouldn’t want to spend on unnecessary wedding items.
What Are The Save The Date Cards?
Save The Date cards are your first way of telling your wedding guests that you are getting married and that they are invited to celebrate the big day with you.
They are traditionally used for longer engagements or for destination weddings to give guests plenty of time to make arrangements and book accommodation if need be.
Save The Date cards are exactly what they say they are: a card letting all your wedding guests know to save that date for your big day.
And now that my wedding is coming up, I will be using Minted to send out my own Save The Date cards!
With this in mind, I wanted to share my best tips for when I think you should send out your Save The Date cards for your wedding!
As well as some wedding invitation etiquette you should be aware of.
So, how early do you send Save The Dates?
Before we get started on the best time to send Save The Date cards for your wedding, we wanted you to take the time to like our Facebook Page here! We also use affiliate links in our blog posts, meaning we can make a commission if you use any of our affiliate links.
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When To Send Out Save The Date Cards
Sending out wedding save-the-date cards is an essential step in wedding planning.
You can get this step done once you already have a wedding guest list done up.
You will need a general idea of who you invite to the wedding, especially if you are considering sending save the dates!
If you are having a local wedding, and most of your wedding guests are also close by, you want to send out your Save The Date cards between 4 and 6 months before the wedding date.
This gives guests enough time to make travel arrangements and clear their schedules for the big day.
Then, after they have been sent out, you want to follow up with your formal wedding invitation with all the details of the big day.
I highly suggest using Minted for your wedding invitations as well!
I know for my wedding invitations, I will use their wedding Save The Date collections to let my guests from far away know of our wedding plans!
If you are having a destination wedding, then you want to give at least 8 months and up to 12 months so guests can make the proper arrangements to make sure that they can attend on the day.
Save the date cards for destination weddings not only let your guests know when your marriage is happening but also where.
It’ll be exciting for your guests to find out exactly where they will be going to help celebrate your wedding day.
When to Send Wedding Save The Dates For Out-of-Town Guests
For out-of-town guests, I think sending them as soon as you can is always advisable.
This will give your guests enough time to make the travel arrangements and book accommodations early.
You can start to send Save The Date cards for out-of-town guests approximately six to eight months before the wedding ceremony!
Sending out Save the Dates early will also give you an idea of how many guests will attend from out of town.
This will help you plan your wedding budget and arrange transportation and accommodations.
When you send out Save the Dates, please include all the essential details, such as the date, time, and location of the wedding.
You can also have information about nearby hotels and attractions your out-of-town guests might be interested in.
And for destination weddings or weddings that fall on a holiday, even earlier.
This will give your wedding guests a lot of time and leeway to make and book their travels; it will provide them with enough time to save money and as well as to ask for time off work!
What To Include On Your Save The Date Card For Your Wedding
Unlike wedding invitations, the save the dates don’t have to hold too much information.
They need a place and a date along with you and your partner’s name.
You can include a note saying that their invitation will be following shortly.
Or, if you are having a wedding website, you can include the website address there, too.
What To Include on Your Save The Date Card
Now that you know when to send out your Save The Date cards for your wedding, we want to give more detail on what to include!
Ideally, these items should always be on your Save The Date:
- The actual wedding date – This should be indicated to let your guests know so they can start to plan around this.
- Your names – It’s obvious, but you need to indicate who is getting married. If you only include the first names, it makes the event less formal.
- Where you are getting married – If you do not have a wedding venue or location yet, at least indicate what city, province, or country you are getting married in. Your wedding guests can automatically start making travel arrangements.
- Formal Wedding Invitations – Let your guests know that your formal wedding invitations will be coming soon with all the wedding details.
- When website and accommodation information – This is not necessary, and it is optional. But if you have this information, try to add it to your Save The Date cards.
Otherwise, keep it short and cute.
What Design To Choose
There are so many designs you can choose from Minted.com, with a range of layouts and fonts that you and your guests will fall in love with.
From simple and elegant to fun and offbeat, you will find something that fits perfectly with you and your partner’s personality.
This is also a great time to show off your engagement photos by adding them to your Save The Date cards and giving that extra personal touch.
Gorgeous Save The Dates From Minted.com
We highly recommend Minted.com for your wedding stationery!
Expect to find gorgeous Save the Dates from Minted!
Minted.com is the best place to source affordable wedding invitations and Save The Dates.
Expect to only find top-quality wedding invitations from them!
Here are a few that we love:
What is The Difference Between Save The Dates And Wedding Invitations?
Most couples confuse this!
Save the Dates and wedding invitations are essential to planning a wedding, but they serve different purposes.
A Save the Date is typically sent out several months before the wedding date and serves as an announcement of the upcoming wedding.
It provides guests with the basic details of the wedding, such as the date and location, so they can plan accordingly and make travel arrangements if necessary.
On the other hand, a wedding invitation is a formal invitation to the wedding ceremony and reception.
It includes specific details such as the time and location of the ceremony and reception, dress code, and other important information.
Wedding invitations are usually sent out six to eight weeks before the wedding date, requiring an RSVP from the guest.
Save The Date cards are usually sent out much earlier than the wedding invitations (as early as 4-6 months before your big day)!
If you are having a long engagement or destination wedding, it is also ideal to send this as it just informally lets your guests know that you are engaged and are planning a wedding shortly.
Closer to your wedding date, you can then send out your formal wedding invitation, which will detail everything your guests will need to know about the wedding, such as the wedding venue address and timings.
Are Save The Dates Necessary?
I get asked this question all the time.
Do you really need Save The Dates for a wedding?
I think whether or not Save The Dates is necessary depends on the specific circumstances surrounding your event.
However, in most cases, sending Save The Dates is a good idea.
Save The Dates is a heads-up to your guests that they should keep your event date open on their calendars.
This is particularly important if you are planning a wedding or another event that requires a lot of advanced planning and travel arrangements.
Sending Save The Dates can help ensure that the people you want to attend your event will be able to make it.
They can also help your guests plan their schedules and travel arrangements well in advance, which can be particularly helpful for out-of-town guests.
Additionally, sending Save The Dates can help build anticipation for your event and generate excitement among your guests.
So, is it okay to skip Save the Dates?
While Save The Dates are not always necessary, they are generally a good idea to ensure your guests can attend your event and help them plan accordingly.
And that’s it for Save the Dates wedding cards!
Leave us a comment if you will be sending any Save the Dates.
We would love to hear from you.
Read this next:
- Affordable wedding invitations from Minted
- What you need for your wedding registry
- Elegant engagement party invitations
- Unique save-the-date cards
- Cute bachelorette party printable signs
*This post was a collaborative post with Minted.com. All opinions are ours. Thank you for supporting us!
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