Sending wedding save the dates is one of the first things you’ll cross off your planning to do list. But before you drop those beauties in the nearest mailbox, there are a few things you have to know! It is a little bit more complicated than just selecting an engagement photo, picking a design, and slapping some stamps on them. In order to avoid a total save the date faux pas, read these seven tips from our favorite local stationery designers.
1.) Don’t send them too early, but don’t send them too late.
Blush Paper Co. recommends sending your save the dates out about six months before your wedding date, unless you’re getting married abroad. Then, you’ll want to give your guests a generous 10 – 12 months to prepare travel arrangements.
2.) Choose the right photo.
It’s important to choose the right photo for your announcements. Not all photos work with every save the date layout!, so says Blush Paper Co. You won’t want to use a vertical photo for a horizontal layout. Your photographer will likely take photos of you with white space, allowing your designer room to play with text around you, and a trained designer will be able to make most photos work!
3.) Plan ahead.
Fresh Cut Prints says you don’t want to offend someone by sending a save the date, but then deciding later that you really don’t have room to (or no longer want to) invite them to the wedding. You’ll need to finalize your wedding guest list list well in advance to avoid this faux pas! It’s also best to be clear as early as possible who you’re inviting to the wedding, especially in terms of plus ones and kids. Addressing the save the date correctly can reinforce exactly who is invited to your wedding and who isn’t, and will help avoid any sticky situations later.
4.) Include the right information.
What info should you include on your save the date? Fresh Cut Prints says the date, location (city and state), and a wedding website if you have one. You’ll also want to include a mention of “formal invitation to follow” somewhere on the save the date. You do not need to include specific times and venues at this point; you can save that for the invitation. Also, do NOT include your registry information! Include extra details like this, a list of accommodations, and the suggested attire on your wedding website.
5.) Be cohesive.
Purple Wagon Designs thinks it’s great to have an overlying theme for your wedding stationery – from the save the date to the invitation straight through to the “day of” items, like ceremony programs and place cards, and even all the way to the thank you notes. They can have different levels of formality, but you should incorporate elements that tie them all together, such as the same fonts or colors.
6.) Save the dates don’t have to break the bank.
Postcard save the dates are a good way to keep your costs down, suggests Purple Wagon Designs. You don’t have the added cost of the envelope and you save on postage, too!
And here is one final tip that ALL of the designers agree on…
7.) Make them personal!
Here’s a final tip from Blush Paper Co. – your save the date is the first glimpse your friends and family will have of your wedding. You’ll probably still be undecided on a color scheme, so don’t stress too much about making sure they match your wedding stationery. ick a fun, memorable design that captures who you are as a couple.
Fresh Cut Prints reminds you that save the dates are generally less formal than your wedding invitations. It’s a great place to incorporate some of your personality! Use photos, fun illustrations, and more casual wording than on your invitations.
Let your personality shine, says Purple Wagon Designs! Save-the-dates can be casual, fun, and should be infused with your personality. Don’t feel like your save the dates need to be too matchy-matchy with your wedding suite. Instead, let the invitation design be dictated by the style of the wedding, and let loose with the save the dates. Anything goes – photos, text, or beautiful artwork are a great way to infuse some personality.
I love a good Save the Date! Great tips here from my fellow stationery professionals!
thanks so much for contributing! i think a lot of brides found this post really helpful!
Here is an excellent tip! When designing a “Save the Date” you will want your first names to be in large print, but even bigger print should be the actual DATE!! The words “Save the Date” are so large that you can barely find the day you are supposed to save!!
haha great tip!