What Are Save the Date Cards and Who Should Use Them?

Save the date cards are sent out prior to wedding invitations well in advance of the wedding date. Couples who have lots of guests living far away or who are planning a wedding on or near a holiday should send save the date cards because they allow guests to clear their schedules and make travel arrangements well ahead of time. These cards also allow guests to take time off from work and save the money they need in order to attend your wedding if they live far away.

Typically, save the date cards are mailed out around six months in advance of a wedding and eight months for destination weddings. Sometimes couples even send them out immediately after they decide the date of their wedding. However, it is not a good idea to send them out too early because then they may get tossed aside and forgotten about.

If you are planning your wedding on or near a holiday such as a long weekend, Christmas, or Thanksgiving, you should send out save the date cards far in advance so your guests can make appropriate travel plans. During these holidays, flights are often booked so it becomes necessary to give people a heads up.

Types

You can get save the date cards either on traditional stationery or with magnet backing. Cards with magnet backing are popular because they can be kept on the refrigerator door. No one is likely to forget about your wedding date if it is stuck on their refrigerator. However, traditional save the date cards are larger so allow you to get a few more words in than magnets.

Style and Design

The style and design of save the date cards ranges from formal to casual. You can order your cards from a design company and choose from a variety of different designs. You can even add pictures of you and your partner to give the cards a personal touch. Messages can also be customized.

If you already know what the theme of your wedding is going to be, it is a good idea to tie your save the date cards into the theme. Furthermore, if you know what colors will predominate at your wedding, you should incorporate those colors into your cards. If you want to make your cards look very formal, use classic fonts. For casual cards, use fun fonts. You can ask your designer for advice on fonts available.

Only send save the date cards to people who you plan on inviting to your wedding. Once they are in the mail, there is no turning back! It is expected that you send save the date cards out even to those who have confirmed their attendance, such as bridesmaids and parents. In the rare case that plans change and your wedding date or location changes, give your guests a call to let them know of the change. You can also create a website for your wedding and update it to ensure that your guests are aware of the changes.