5 Things To Know Before You Send Your Save The Dates
By Caitlin Hoare
Sending out Save-the-Date cards is an essential first step in your wedding plans. They notify guests early, helping them reserve the date, particularly if travel or holiday arrangements are involved. Be sure to only send them to those you’re certain you’ll invite, and clearly indicate who in each household is included—plus ones, children, or otherwise—to avoid confusion. Timing is crucial: aim for six to eight months before the wedding, or even earlier for destination events. Lastly, keep your design consistent with other stationery and your wedding website for a cohesive, streamlined experience.
Planning a wedding is quite the journey. It's filled with many decisions, each playing an important role in shaping your special day. Among these decisions, sending out Save-the-Date cards is a significant milestone, marking the official start of your wedding countdown for your loved ones. Before you begin, it's important to understand several key considerations that can impact the smooth running of this process. From the timing of sending them out to the clarity of your guest list, each part plays a vital role in ensuring that your save-the-dates serve their purpose. Let's dig a little deeper and explore five factors to be aware of before you send your save-the-dates, which will guide you through this exciting phase of wedding planning with confidence! ---
1. They are a really important part of wedding planning
Save-the-dates are crucial because they serve as the first official announcement of your wedding date to your guests. They give your guest list advance notice so they can mark their calendars and make the necessary arrangements to attend. Additionally, save-the-dates set the tone for your wedding and give guests an insight into what they can expect, whether it’s a formal affair or a casual celebration. They also provide an opportunity to showcase your creativity and personality as a couple through the design and wording style. This is the perfect opportunity to share your wedding website address with your guests, too. Your wedding website might not be completely finished yet, but that's the beauty of having one—you can keep adding, sharing, and updating it with handy information for guests along the way! Ultimately, sending out save-the-dates helps ensure that your loved ones can be a part of your special day, making them a really important aspect of your wedding planning process. ---
2. Get them sent out at the right time!
Timing is everything when it comes to sending out save-the-dates. Wedding etiquette suggests aiming to send them out six to eight months before your wedding day—potentially longer if you’re having a destination wedding or if many of your guests will need to make travel arrangements. This gives people plenty of time to RSVP and make plans. If your wedding falls on a public holiday or during peak travel season, consider sending them even earlier to ensure that your guests can secure accommodation and transport without too much hassle. ---
3. Only send them to people you definitely want to attend
It’s important to be selective about who receives a save-the-date card. These cards are essentially a commitment to invite guests to your wedding, so only send them to people you definitely want there. Avoid sending save-the-dates to anyone you’re unsure about or who may be on your “B-list” for invitations. Be mindful of your budget and venue capacity when finalising your guest list, ensuring that you only send save-the-dates to those you genuinely want to celebrate with on your special day. This helps manage expectations and avoids potential awkwardness or hurt feelings later on. ---
4. Be clear on who is invited within a household
When addressing save-the-dates, be clear about who is invited from each household. If you’re inviting the whole family, address the envelope to “The Harris Family” or clearly list all family members by name. This helps avoid any confusion about who is included in the wedding invitation and prevents unexpected guests from RSVPing. This is also the time to state whether plus ones are invited. Being clear at this stage saves any embarrassment down the line. If you’ve decided against plus ones or children, make sure this is clearly indicated. Decide early on about kids and plus ones, and stick to your plan. The lines get blurry if you start making exceptions, so consistency is key. Once you’ve addressed everything properly, note your final guest list so you can align your formal invitation details to match your save-the-dates. ---
5. Your chosen location can dictate how soon you need to send them
The location of your wedding can impact when you should send out save-the-dates. For destination weddings or weddings in popular tourist areas, it’s essential to give guests plenty of notice so they can make travel arrangements and book accommodation. Consider sending save-the-dates as early as nine to twelve months in advance for these scenarios. For weddings in local venues or during off-peak times, six to eight months’ notice is usually fine. Always consider the needs of your wedding guests and the logistics of your chosen location when determining the timing. By aligning your timeline with your wedding destination, you’ll ensure that your guests have the time they need to plan and prepare, resulting in a smoother and more enjoyable wedding experience for everyone involved. ---
Coordinate your save-the-dates with the rest of your wedding stationery so your invitations and wedding website all have a cohesive look and feel. This will help streamline the planning process. By keeping these five points in mind, you can ensure that your save-the-dates effectively set the tone for your wedding and help guests prepare (and get excited) for your special day.