“Forever Laced” Save the Date magnet
We’re so excited to be starting 2015 with a brand spanking new series of wedding invitation related articles, in conjunction with bridal stationery extraordinaire Wedding Paper Divas (yup, that’s the brand ambassador thingy we announced yesterday). Today, we’re talking Save the Dates.
You’re engaged. The wedding date’s set. The guest list that both of you had spent sleepless nights editing over and over again? Carved in stone. You’ve even booked the venue of your dreams. Now what?
Time to send out your Save the Dates.
My Save the What?
If you’ve been stalking wedding forums or hanging around the wedding types long enough (hi!), you might notice the abbreviation “STD” being thrown around. In wedding circles, STD = Save the Date, and not, well, you know…
A Save the Date is a wedding pre-invitation. You are notifying the recipient of a Save the Date in advance that their presence is expected at your wedding, which is taking place on a specific date in the not so distant future. This allows the guest to mark that date on their calendars, and keeping the day free in order to attend the event; in other words, “saving the date” for you.
Foil stamped Save the Date flat cards: 1. Verdant Palms, 2.Simply Shimmering, 3. Love Shines, 4. Pure Radiance, 5. Gorgeous Gleam
Why send a Save the Date?
So why would you want to give a Save the Date announcement? Think of it this way: if you care enough to invite them to your wedding, you’ll do what it takes to make sure that they are actually going to make it.
Wedding invitations are typically posted about 8 weeks prior to the ceremony. A Save the Date message is sent even earlier on, giving your guests, especially out-of-towners, the heads up, and ample time to clear their schedules and prepare for things like: giving notice for taking time off work, making proper arrangements for travel and childcare, saving some cash and buying gifts, and finding appropriate attire for the wedding.
If your wedding is happening in less than three months, or if you are having a potluck party in your backyard where everybody around the block is invited, STDs are optional. There are some instances where sending a Save the Date is courteous or even necessary:
- If you’re having a destination wedding, especially when it’s being held somewhere which requires extensive travel planning.
- Your guest list consists mostly of out-of-towners.
- You’re having a Holiday weekend wedding. Some family have their own observances while others may plan vacations during these periods. It’s not wise to assume that guests will be free at short notice on these dates.
Who do you send a Save the Date to?
Only send a Save the Date announcement to people you are absolutely sure about having at your wedding. Imagine having to retract an invitation. Not a pretty picture.
When do I send my Save the Dates?
A good guide is to send your Save the Dates six months prior to the wedding. For destination weddings, it’s good to send out your STDs eight months or even earlier. Remember, there are a host of things your guests may need to do before attending your love fest, especially if it’s somewhere far flung. If you took 8 months to plan for that great European trip back in 2012, they might need just as much time to prepare and save up for your wedding in Tuscany.
What to include on a Save the Date Card
The basics: couples’ names and wedding date. Location information will be very helpful for guests having to make flight and hotel arrangements to attend the event. A note like “details to come” or “invitation to follow” will let them know that a formal wedding invitation will be sent out closer to the wedding date. If you have a wedding website (create one for free at Wedding Paper Divas), you can have this included on the card as well.
On the address line, write the names of each of the guest you are inviting. Similar to a wedding invitation, having each name in writing will avoid confusion about whether or not their plus one or children will be invited. For more addressing and other etiquette advice, visit Wedding Paper Divas blog or wedding etiquette page.
Here are some Save the Date wording ideas, ranging from the stylishly simple to something more fun and quirky:
Save the Date wording examples: 1. Pure Modern, 2. Vibrant Vows, 3. Passionate Promise, 4. Long Story Short
Surely there are other ways than to send a Save the Date card?
Of course there are other ways of announcing your upcoming reception! STD announcements need not be expensive or elaborate. Here are two common methods to announce a forthcoming wedding, along with their pros and cons:
Good ol’ Phone Call
You could call every guest on your list or get the help of your bridal party to spread the word about the wedding. Ringing your friends and relatives is one of the most personal ways to let them know about your upcoming nuptials. If you are planning a party where all or most of the guests are from the same town, word of mouth is an acceptable way to announce the news. The down side? Word of mouth invitation can be time consuming, a little vague or even too effective, with the news of your intimate gathering reaching unintended recipients. Having guests’ names in writing makes it clear who exactly is getting invited.
e-Save the Dates
We have to admit, e-Save the Dates are, hands-down, the fastest way to spread the good news to a large group of invitees. With a few clicks of the mouse, you can send an announcement of your upcoming wedding to as many people there are on your guest list. An electronic-STD will not be able to reach out to your technology-averse friends and family (plus there’s also a possibility of the note ending up in the Junk folder of their email application) but the most important thing to remember is that you are setting the stage for the big event. Guests to a formal do, for example, will expect substance in every aspect of your affair, including your choice (or lack) of stationery. Which brings us to…
Save the Date Cards and Magnets
Call us romantic, but there’s just an inexplicable appeal about receiving a physical memento through snail mail.
Save the Date cards are the earliest visual cue a guest will have of your wedding, so if you’re detail freaks like us, you’d want to make that first impression count. Will your wedding be elegantly formal or casual and whimsical? The design of your Save the Date card is an excellent way to set the tone of your wedding style, and drum up excitement about what to expect on that special day.
Having a tropical or beach-themed wedding? These cards will put your guests in a sunny state of mind:
Save the Date cards suitable for a tropical or beach destination wedding: 1.Tied Forever, 2.Nautical Love, 3.Lush Ery and 4.Passport to Paradise
Save the Date cards can be as pocket-friendly or as luxurious — think full-color photos, foil-stamped accents, laser cut borders or letterpress typography! — as your budget permits. For maximum aaw factor, try these super cute Save the Date magnets:
Save the Date magnets: 1. Cherished Calendar, 2. Striking Strings, 3. Romantic Tab, 4. Simple Devotion
How to Save on Save the Dates
If you’re planning on sending a Save the Date card or magnet, here are some great tips on how to save:
Send one Save the Date card per couple or household, not one per guest. 300 people on your guest list? Group them into couples and households. The final number is probably lower than you think. Taking stock of how many cards to send this early on also means that you’ll have one less item to worry about when it’s time to order the actual wedding invitations, potentially avoiding a Bridezilla-style meltdown.
Save with postcards. Postcards Save the Dates generally go for lower than options with envelopes, so you could consider these for less formal affairs. And added plus: postcard postage rates are lower too.
Save the Dates, different formats of the same design "Genuine Love": 1. Flat Card, 2. Magnet, 3. Postcard
Go for half and half. With similar designs for different formats, there's no reason not to mix and match according to your budget. Do magnets for local invitees, and cards for overseas guests. Or send postcards for acquaintances, and the full card and envelope option for your A-list guests only.
Think outside the box. Love the practical aspect of magnets but find them way above your budget? Send address stickers or hanging tags with ribbons along with your cards. Guests can paste stickers on their calendars or use tags as bookmarks for their planners. Address labels and gift tags are 15% off when you order Save the Dates with Wedding Paper Divas.
Take advantage of discounts! Use WEDINSP15 to get 15% off Save the Dates on Wedding Paper Divas.
Details: Enjoy 15% off your order. Excludes photo books, calendars, personalized postage stamps, items from our William Arthur Collection, Engraving collections and our Professional Printing Service.
Fine print: Offer expires 1/13/2015 (11:59 P.M. PT). Save 15% off using the code WEDINSP15 at checkout. There is no minimum purchase required for this promotion. Offer is not applicable to previously placed orders, shipping, taxes, rush processing charges, photo books, calendars, personalized postage stamps, items from our William Arthur Collection, Engraving collections and our Professional Printing Service. This promotion code cannot be combined with other offers. Offer is only valid on Weddingpaperdivas.com and is not applicable on third party or partner websites. To prevent fraud or abuse, we reserve the right to discontinue or modify this offer or cancel any order.
Need more tips and inspiration?
View the Save the Date gallery.
Visit Wedding Paper Divas blog.
Follow the A to Z of Wedding Stationery board on Pinterest.