Is it really necessary to send a wedding save the date?

One of the most common questions I receive during my stationery kick off calls;

'Do I need to include a save the date in my wedding stationery package?'

Read on to hear when and why you should send a wedding save the date.

Private Marquee Wedding Save the Date with Watercolour and Ink Illustration

I'll be straight with you, even as a stationery designer who LOVES them, the simple fact is not everyone NEEDS to send save the dates.

HOWEVER - before you discount them from your stationery suite here are some things you should think about:

Easily THE most useful thing about a save the date (and kind of the point of it) is that it gets your wedding date out there in the wild. It literally asks people to SAVE YOUR DATE! Think how hard it is to make that dinner date jump out of the group chat, now multiply that by 20 - thats how difficult it is to get 100+ people together for a wedding. So the sooner you send people notice of your wedding date the better in my book.

There are a couple of situations where I would recommend always sending a save the date.

Out-of-town guests:  If the majority of your guests have to travel a long distance to your venue it's best to give them advance warning to secure accommodation and book time off work.

Peak season or holidays: 

If your wedding is during the summer (such as July or August) around bank holidays, or seasonal holidays peoples diaries get filled fast. Get your date in there before they get booked up!

Destination weddings:  Destination or weekday weddings require guests to make significant schedule adjustments. Give them as much notice as possible and make them realise how much you want their attendance.

Children and school teachers:  If many of your guests are tied to the school term, giving them advance notice during half-terms or summer breaks is crucial. If you are not inviting children they will need to organise childcare so again, get that date locked in.

Commissioning bespoke with only 6 months to go: 

If you are invested in working with a designer to create bespoke wedding invitations the creative and print processes can sometimes take a bit longer than an off the shelf design. Always allow at least a month for bespoke wedding stationery design from commission to in-the-post. If your date is creeping close (less than 6 months away) then in this case, regardless of time I would recommend sending a save the date.

Letterpress Save the Date with Bespoke Frame and Poem | Bonfire Night

You of course have options, a traditional printed card, a digital design, set up your wedding website with a save the date holding page, an email... or you could just text people (pretty boring right!)

Hear me out...

Until your actual wedding day, and apart from maybe a close group of friends and family (your bridal party most likely) none of your guests will get a glimpse of your wedding plans. The ONLY correspondence they will get will be either a save the date, or your wedding invitation.

These items of stationery are your chance to set the tone for your day, excite your guests, make the day truly personal and show people what to expect, as well as giving them all the details they need to plan their movements.

It also makes them feel wanted, part of the group, a considered card through the door is so much more attractive and thoughtful than a...

"Hey Sarah! Steve and I have set a wedding date... can you pop it in your diary x"

WhatsApp message?

Hedsor House Collection Save the Date Featuring the Venues Wallpaper Design & Venue Illustration

There is also something more considered and intentional about sending a physical card.

Text messages get lost, emails end up in junk - a printed card through the letterbox - well that gets put on the mantlepiece or stuck on the fridge. It is saved and displayed and much more likely to get marked on the calendar.

It can also give guests an idea of the day ahead, is it formal or rustic - allowing them to start planning outfit ideas, does it give a glimpse of the venue so they can start thinking about accommodation or travel, is there a colour scheme, is it packed full of personality eluding to a fun and intimate day? All these elements can be interweaved into your save the dates well ahead of the more in-depth invite setting your day up as a true celebration to attend.

William Morris Style Arched Save the Date

There is only really one situation where I WOULDN'T consider sending a physical or digitally designed save the date, and that is if your wedding day is less than 6 months away.

By this time your venue, caterers and other suppliers are starting to need your guest list and dietary requirements. Hotels and weekends are starting to get booked up so at this point I would go straight for invitations with as much info as you can.

Ardington House Pencil us in, Save the Date

WHAT ABOUT COST?

I know there is alot of stigma about 'saving money' by not sending save the dates, but in all honesty a simple save the date card doesn't have to be expensive. It can be by far the most affordable part of your wedding stationery suite.

Also, it's likely you will be sending these out months, even over a year ahead of your wedding date. So if you break down the cost of your save the dates across 12 or even 18 months it really is a minimal amount - a small fee to pay to set off your day in style.

Don't discount them before you have spoken to your stationer, you may find they are more affordable than you think and the benefits of doing so in my opinion outweigh the extra budgeting.

Watercolour Pencil Us In - North Mymms Save the date

WHEN TO SEND SAVE THE DATE CARDS

For destination weddings: 12 - 18 months in advance of your wedding date.

For local weddings with a local guest list: a 8–12 month window will be more than sufficient.

For weddings less than 6 months away - I would go straight to sending invitations.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF SAVE THE DATE THAT MAKE AN IMPACT

~ Physical printed, posted card

~ Digital design (PDF, or animated design) which can be sent digitally (your stationer can most likely design this to reflect the rest of your stationery) This could be a static design, or something more exciting in Canva for example. ~ Set up your wedding website and set a holding page as the save the date, then share the link

.......

So, is it really necessary to send a wedding save the date?

In my opinion, yes - there are so many more benefits to making the most of your pre-wedding correspondence.

Take a look at the below links to help you build a full idea of the stationery items you MUST have, and those which are NICE TO HAVE.

WHAT ITEMS OF WEDDING STATIONERY DO I NEED?

WEDDING STATIONERY CHECKLIST

SAVE THE DATE FAQS

Do all couples need to send save the dates?

Not necessarily. Save the dates are most useful when guests need plenty of notice to make arrangements. If you're planning a destination wedding, getting married during a busy holiday period, inviting lots of travelling guests or hosting a weekday wedding, a save the date can help ensure the people you most want there can keep the date free. For smaller local weddings, they may be less essential.

When should you send wedding save the dates?

Most couples send save the dates between 8 and 12 months before their wedding. If you're planning a destination wedding or expecting guests to travel internationally, 12 to 18 months' notice is often appreciated. The earlier your guests know the date, the more likely they are to be able to attend.

Can you send a digital save the date instead of a printed one?

Absolutely. Digital save the dates are a great option for couples looking to share their wedding date quickly and cost-effectively. Many couples choose a digital save the date before investing in beautifully printed invitations later in the planning process. The most important thing is that the information is clear and easy for guests to keep (and remember).

What information should be included on a save the date?

At a minimum, your save the date should include your names, your wedding date and the location or region where the wedding will take place. You don't need to include timings, menu choices or accommodation details at this stage. A simple "formal invitation to follow" is often all that's needed.

Should evening guests receive a save the date?

If you know from the outset that certain guests will only be invited to the evening celebration, it's perfectly acceptable to send them a save the date too. The key is ensuring the wording clearly reflects the type of invitation they will receive later so expectations are managed from the beginning.

What happens if our wedding plans change after we've sent save the dates?

Occasionally venues, timings or plans may change during the wedding planning process. If this happens, simply let your guests know as soon as possible and include the updated details within your formal invitation. Most guests understand that plans can evolve, especially when weddings are being organised many months in advance.

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Disclaimer;

" The views and statements written in this blog are my own and mine alone. They are based on my 10 years experience in the wedding industry working on hundreds of weddings with a huge range of wedding budgets, from 12 guests to over 200. The comments will not be relevant to every wedding ever planned. If you require specific costs or have any questions regarding your own wedding stationery please either get in touch using my contact form"

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