These days lives are hectic, schedules are packed and people are busy. Weddings that take place near holidays or during the summer months may be difficult for guests to include on their calendar unless given plenty of notice. Most people schedule vacations for the summer months and may not want to, or be able to, change their plans to attend your wedding. Three day weekends such as Labor Day, Memorial Day, and Columbus Day, aren’t considered major holidays but are often used as an opportunity for a long weekend getaway. A save the date card allows guests to plan their vacation and getaways so your wedding is part of their travel itinerary.
Wedding invitations are traditionally sent out six to eight weeks before the event. That may not be enough time to book airfare at a reasonable price or find a hotel room close to the wedding and reception sites. Save the date cards let guest do exactly that “save the date” on their calendars and start to make travel and lodging accommodations. It is critical for a destination wedding to send save the date cards.
The first step is to make sure the date and city of the wedding is firm (and of course you’ve chosen the right groom). It’s not necessary to have the location chosen although Saturdays in June and July fill up fast at prime wedding sites.
When compiling your list for sending save the date cards, remember you’re actually compiling the guest list. An invitation will be sent to each one. Save the date cards aren’t wedding or engagement announcements. The more guests at the wedding reception, the higher the cost, once you’ve sent the card you can’t change your mind and un-invite the person to attend.
Everyone who is invited should receive a save the date card, not just out of town guests. Hurt feelings can arise if someone who expected to be invited doesn’t receive the card. No amount of explanation will convince them they really were invited you just didn’t think they needed a save the date card because they’re in town. Don’t risk hurt feelings because you want to pinch a few pennies. One advantage of save the date cards is that guests may decline early which opens up a spot for someone else on the guest list.
The cards are personalized of course with the names of he bride and groom, the date and the city and sate. Inks and envelope liner colors can be chosen as well.
Weddings can be formal and informal, whimsical or modern, fun or reverent. And so can save the date cards. There are no hard and fast rules. It’s not necessary to coordinate these cards with the wedding invitations as you would with response cards, thank you notes, and menu or wedding program cards.
Formal Save the Date Cards
“Simple Save-The-Date Card” is classy and elegant on bright white cardstock. The font is in a script that looks like calligraphy. “Twin Hearts Save-The-Date Card” has interlocking hearts at the top. The information is in a font that looks like it’s handwriting on bright white cardstock. “Forever and ever” is a little brighter with a bright pink paisley design on the right hand of the card on white cardstock. The font is a cursive script.
Whimsical Save the Date Cards
There are no rules for save the date cards so why not have a little fun? “Couple” card has a fun bride and groom drawn as cartoons on either side of the information. The ink is mostly black with red hearts and flourishes on a white card. “Flower” card has the same feeling but instead of a bride and groom it features a bouquet of stylized flowers in shades of pink and purple. Save the Date is written in purple underlined by a green flourish. If your wedding will be at the beach then “Beach Themed” is perfect with hand drawn seashells in pink, blue and yellow on a sandy beach.
Modern Save the Date Cards
“Double Hearts” design shows two overlapping pink hearts on the left hand side of the card with the information on the right hand side on pink and white stripes. A more modern approach to the beach themed card is the “Seashell Hearts” featuring a card with a blue background showing off a photo of a sandy beach and wave with “save the date” written in the sand. “In Love” has the word love printed with each letter in a different color of pink, yellow, aqua, and blue. “Pink and Green” is exactly that a two toned green card with pink horizontal stripes setting off the middle.
Save the date cards make sure guests won’t schedule something else for your very important wedding day.
Dee Power is a freelance writer who writes about weddings and save the date cards.
Dee Power is a freelance writer who writes about weddings and save the date cards.