In a previous post (To Save or Not to Save, That is the Question) I talked about if and/or when to send out Save the Date cards to your guests. Hopefully that helped you make the ultimate decision on what works for you.
But if you do decide that's one of the pieces you want to have in your stationery suite (yes, it is definitely optional), let's consider a few more things.
Timing
Never send a Save the Date card more than 11 months in advance. Why? Imagine this scenario. Your wedding is October 31, 2025. You send out Save the Date cards at the beginning of October 2024. They arrive in Aunt Mildred's mailbox by October 15, 2024...and she goes into a panic, thinking your wedding is in two weeks! You can say it's because she didn't read the card carefully enough, and you would be right. But if you're inviting her, it's probably because you love her. So love her (and all your guests) by sending your cards out a maximum of 11 months before the big day, e.g. for the above October 31, 2025 wedding, the earliest you should send your announcement is November 2024.
Unless you're having a destination wedding, it's more appropriate to send them between six and eight months prior to the wedding. This gives your guests a heads up and still leaves the appropriate eight to ten weeks prior mailing time for your actual invitations.
Sending the Save-the-Date card too early can cause problems you weren't anticipating. Is your date and location securely locked down - or will you have to send an updated version with corrected date/location? It's okay to send one out that simply includes your names, the date and the town without specific times and addresses. And is your guest list as definite as you could make it - or will you have to awkwardly wiggle out of an implied invitation? [Insert yucky face here.]
Style
If you stick with the definition of a "formal" save-the-date card, then your design may be more minimalist than you could imagine. Formal = cards with only verbiage, no graphics or embellishments. (And think about that - if your card has only lettering, spelling mistakes will stick out even more than a sore thumb so inviting multiple proofreaders is a necessity!)
"Informal" save-the-dates can then go in any direction you want, including things like photos, graphic elements and cute wording. Personal note: keeping the font and layout similar to your invitations, etc., creates a more cohesive stationery suite.
Sharing your love story with your guests may be a very personal touch you'd like to add, but I would caution you to either:
a. Use the back side of the card for that, leaving only important details on the front side OR
b. Put a link (or QR code) to your wedding website where they can read about how you met...and lots more. (I can help you do that. Email me!)
Etiquette
If someone receives a Save-the-Date card, you MUST follow up with an actual wedding invitation. So your guest list should be mostly finalized by this time.
BUT, in case you didn't know, it is also okay to NOT send Save-the-Date cards to everyone on your list. Consider sending them only to people whose presence you view as essential and skip those that you're hoping will attend but you'll be okay if they can't.
(This is a good way to stretch your stationery dollars. And sending it as a postcard is another budget-friendly approach to take.)
Stationery
While you may only have to choose between formal or informal wording, what you print your Save-the-Date cards on is as personal as your choice of wedding dress. Paper options are limitless. Printing techniques also offer many options. You just have to decide on your budget.
Your Save-the-Date cards can be personal and memorable without having to break the bank! As a custom designer of stationery suites, I pride myself in being someone who listens to your needs and ideas, offers multiple options until we find the right one for you, and promises to deliver a suite that will WOW your guests, no matter how simple or minimalist you want them to be.
Weddings are planned to be a beautiful event, hopefully meeting all the ways you ever dreamed it would be. And The Bride's Secretary wants to be a part of that.
But since weddings are not the only events that are celebrated, I have birthed an offshoot of this business to include those non-wedding options - My Event Secretary. And so to take advantage of its grand opening, I'm offering a 15% discount to any bride who purchases an all-in-one package from The Bride's Secretary.
Got questions? You don't have to save the date with me; we can talk anytime with no strings attached. Email me.
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