Save The Date Vs Wedding Invitation What's The Difference

So you've chosen your wedding venue and set the date. You're now at the stage of the wedding planning process where you're free to share the exciting wedding news with your guests so they can mark their calendars for the wedding day. But as you start looking into wedding stationery, you may be wondering what the difference is between save the dates and wedding invitations, what to include on them, and when you should send them out.

Well, we're here to share everything you need to know about your wedding stationery and the joy that comes with going digital with your wedding stationery suite.

What are digital save the dates?

Save the date cards serve as a way to inform your guests of your impending wedding and ask them to block out the day in their diaries. They provide only the most basic information about your big day, which typically includes the date and location.

Sending save the dates is a really useful tool to ensure all your favourite people will be there, giving them enough notice to book time off work and make the necessary travel arrangements. While it is not essential to send out save-the-dates, they can be a very handy source of information for guests and couples alike. Save-the-date cards are particularly useful if you've chosen to have a destination or multi-day wedding where guests will need more time to get organised.

Save-the-date cards were traditionally sent out as paper cards through the post, but a savvy, much more modern alternative is to send them digitally via email.

Are save the dates essential?

While not absolutely essential, online save the dates can be very handy for weddings at certain times of the year. So, if you're planning your celebration during the peak summer wedding season, the sooner you can let your guests know your date, the better. The same is true if you're getting married around other busy times of the year, such as Easter and Christmas holidays, when family members or friends may be planning holidays. Consider whether your guests will need to arrange time off from work; occasionally, they may need to do so months in advance. In short, sending save the dates out means higher guest attendance.

So what needs to go on your save the dates?

You should only really send your save the dates once you've finalised a guest list so you know the maximum number of guests that you will be hosting. The amount of information provided to guests is the main difference between a wedding invitation and a save the date. Put simply, a save-the-date informs visitors that they have been added to the guest list and that a formal invitation will follow. It also serves as an official announcement of your wedding's date and venue. If you're not ready to share this or if your venue isn't yet secured, you don't have to mention it directly. It's fine just to state the city, town, or area, particularly if a large number of guests will need to travel for the wedding, which is especially true in the case of a destination wedding.

What should I include?

While many think they'd never forget all the details, here's a reminder of what should go on your save the dates (just in case!).

Wedding date: The whole point of a save-the-date is to inform folks about your upcoming wedding so they can mark that day or weekend on their calendars. This is particularly important if you're hosting a destination wedding abroad and guests will need to take several days off.

The location: Whether you want to exchange vows on a beach in Bali or down the road in your hometown, it's crucial to let your guests know where they will need to travel.

Your names: This may seem obvious, but in addition to letting your email recipients know who is sending the save the date, keep in mind that some guests may not be familiar with you or your fiancé, and this may be the first time they hear about it.

Wedding website: Your electronic save-the-date is the perfect place to share your website URL. Believe us, your guests will thoroughly enjoy looking through your photos and reading your love story. They will also benefit from having access to extra information such as accommodation options, travel suggestions, registry links, the dress code, and other specifics to help them get ready for the big day as soon as possible.

Formal invitations to follow: Save the date cards can sometimes confuse some wedding guests, as they're not sure if it's the official invitation. Clear any confusion by making a note that formal wedding invitations will be sent at a later date.

What to include on your digital wedding invitations

There's no denying that wedding invitations are an essential piece of your wedding stationery suite, but you should send wedding invitations after the save the dates. Here's what should be included in your official invitations:

The names of you and your partner: Again, it may seem obvious, but it's essential to include this, especially if you're not sending save the dates!

A request to attend your wedding and associated events: This is your opportunity to let guests know if they are invited to the wedding and any other events, such as the rehearsal dinner and post-wedding brunch.

The wedding date, time, and location of the ceremony venue and reception venue: The most important details are to let your guest list know where they need to be and when.

The reception details: Include the full address, directions if needed, parking information and/or transport options if they're being provided.

The RSVP date and method: With a digital wedding invitation, all your guests need to do is simply click on a link to RSVP. This will allow you to keep track of who will be attending quickly and efficiently.

Your wedding website URL: The perfect place to let guests know where more wedding information can be found.

Additional information, such as the dress code, gift registry, travel arrangements, and accommodation, can be included on your wedding website. In fact, the sky is the limit with space on your wedding website, so it's the perfect chance to really personalise it by adding some cute engagement photos or videos, a short bio on your wedding party, and an FAQ page to save you from getting the same questions can also be really helpful.

The pros of going digital with your invitation suite

It'll save you time: No need to worry about collating everyone's postal address, writing out a load of envelopes and traipsing to the post office; online save the dates can be created and sent online in just a few clicks.

You'll save money: Unlike traditional formal wedding invitations, you don't need to budget for printing and postage. You can create your digital wedding invitation suite online for a fraction of the cost.

They're more eco-friendly: Digital save the dates and invitations are much friendlier on the environment, helping you towards a greener wedding.

They're trackable: By using an online platform like Say I do, you can track your online save the dates and wedding invites. There's no need to stress about whether your cards have been lost in the mail; you'll have peace of mind knowing that they have reached their intended recipient.

RSVP-friendly: Probably the most valuable feature of sending online wedding invitations is that you have total RSVP control. Just watch those replies trickle into one handy place!

Let's talk timelines

Ok, so we've established that wedding invitations and save-the-dates are sent out at different times, therefore, keep on track with wedding planning by sending your save-the-date cards prior to the invitation suite. These can be sent anywhere from four to nine months before the big day. But for destination weddings, give your guests plenty of notice to get organised, so the longer you give them notice, the better (within reason)! When it comes to your invitations, let guests know that the official invitation is going to follow, and wedding etiquette indicates you should send them two or three months before the ceremony and reception.