So now that you have a rough idea of your guest list and know how much to order--remember: for stationary, you want to think about the number of households and not the number of guests--it is time to begin thinking about your save the dates! Thanks to our helpful timeline in our previous blog post here, we recommend for you to order and mail out your save the dates 10-12 months prior to the big day. While we can certainly design save the dates in a time crunch, allowing yourself this time will cause for less stress and it is giving your guests enough time to plan for your big day--especially if they are travelling from out of town.
Before we get to the fun part--the design--it is also important to note that save the dates are not required. Many couples choose to send out a save the date because it is a fun way to show off those adorable engagement pictures and to of course announce your upcoming nuptials. However fun it is for both of us, etiquette technically does not state that you need to send out a save the date.
One of our favorite things about save the dates is that they can be a little more fun and informal than the actual wedding invitation. Save the dates come in so many different forms--from postcards, to magnets, to engagement photo cards, etc. You will also notice in the pictures below that it is important for the save the date to introduce the style and theme of your wedding. That can be through your wedding colors or an "icon" that becomes a symbol/logo of your big day. This theme is typically carried out to the day of paper goods, such as programs, menus, place cards, table numbers and even thank you cards.
In order to give you just an idea of the vast array of save the date styles, we wanted to share some of the save the dates we have done in the past. Hope you enjoy!
This save the date was a photo from their engagement shoot. The beach backdrop tied in perfectly with their beach-themed wedding invitations!
Or you can do something similar to this save the date. The couple was having a travel-themed wedding and chose to make a boarding pass as their save the date.
Depending on your vision, adding a little humor to your save the date may lighten the mood and give your guests a good laugh ;)
The above save the dates are actually magnets! Magnets are a great way to give you guests something to stick on their fridge in order to remind them of your date :)
There is also nothing wrong with something classic that will tie in perfectly to your special day.
Regardless of your style, vision, or theme, save the dates should include three things: your name, the wedding date, and the location (typically the city and state). Save the dates are also a great way to share your wedding website--if you have one--with your guests!
Next week, we will discuss how and when to order your wedding invitations! As always, please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!