Save the Dates 101
November 2017 | Last updated: March, 2020
Don’t forget: As a part of your wedding planning process, one of the most important steps in having a successful event is notifying your guests of your big day!
The What and Why of Save the Dates
Amidst picking out the color palette of your wedding and deciding which flowers your bridesmaids are going to hold, it may seem tedious to send a Save the Date to your guests. In today’s day and age though, Save the Dates are seen as a necessity and unless you are having a small, intimate wedding, and it can almost be seen as inconsiderate to not send one.
Save the Dates serve as the “heads up” to your guests that you’re about to get hitched. They provide the high-level details of your event and help ensure that your guests block off the date of your big day on their calendars. Don’t think that just because you’ve already told them in person or by text when your wedding is that they’ll do this—many people still won’t assume anything is official until they receive something in the mail (or you explicitly say so otherwise!).
The Fine Details
When writing your Save the Dates, be sure to keep the following in mind:
Timeline: The rule of thumb for sending out Save the Dates is generally six to eight months prior to your big day. There are lots of considerations here though. If you’re having a destination wedding where most guests have to travel, consider sending that heads up even up to 12 months in advance. You want people to have enough time to book flights, block off vacation dates at work, and consider child care options. Especially if many of your guests have multiple weddings to go to a year, you don’t want yours to be an afterthought!
Information: The basic details you need to include are the date and location, and of course, who you are! Location can be as specific as the exact venue, or as vague as the city/town that it’s in. Again, exercise judgment here. If people are expected to coordinate travel plans, give as much information as possible for them to do so. Many choose to include a wedding website link at this stage so that guests can head over there for more guidance. It allows your Save the Date card to stay clean and uncluttered with extra details.
Guests: It goes without saying that every guest that receives a Save the Date will expect to receive an invitation. If you are unsure about whether you plan on inviting certain people (say, perhaps an old co-worker, or a boss that you don’t like but feel obliged to invite), it’s better not to send them a Save the Date, then to be forced to invite them because they’ve already been notified. This sort of thinking also applies if you’re worried about capacity.
Wording Examples
Ultimately, Save the Dates are pretty straightforward. Names, date, location. Keep it clean and simple, or make it fun and wacky with different wording, unique card types, or send a champagne bottle with a custom label for an extra festive feel! Here are some wording examples to get you started...
Barbara and John
06.06.2021
Aspen, Colorado
**
She said yes!
Claudia & Mark are getting married
October 28th, 2020
Phuket, Thailand
**
He stole her heart. Now she's stealing his last name!
Blake and Mark
December 9, 2021
New York, New York
**
Please save the date!
April 4, 2021
The future Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Chicago, Illinois
**
He put a ring on it!
Please save the date for Michael and Amanda.
December 1, 2021
Lake Como, Italy
**
Please save the date of October 31, 2021
Julia and William are getting married!
Seattle, Washington
Formal invitation to follow.
**
Pack your bags and save the date for Ben and Ashley!
May 5, 2021
Sydney, Australia
Formal invitation to follow.
**
Max and Nicole are tying the knot!
September 4, 2021
Nantucket Island
Formal invitation to follow.
What tips do you have for writing your Save the Dates? Are you stuck and not sure where to get started? I can help! Head here to see what services I provide and how I can help take some of the work off your hands when preparing for your big day!