Sending a save the date card is the perfect way to set the stage for your wedding. Traditionally sent 6-9 months before the wedding, a save the date gives your guests a sneak peek at your wedding style. It can be an opportunity to share a photo of you and your fiancé or provide your friends and families with important details about your upcoming celebration.

 

First things first: do you need to send a save the date? They’re not a required wedding stationery item, but if you’re planning a destination wedding, plan to invite a lot of out of town guests, or your wedding date falls on a holiday, it’s nice to give guests extra time to plan.

So you’ve decided to send a save the date – but what exactly is a “save the date”? And what details should you include? While there are plenty of etiquette guidelines for wedding invitations, save the dates are often overlooked.

 

WHAT IS A SAVE THE DATE?

A save the date is a card you mail to guests prior to sending a wedding invitation that shares your wedding date and (optional) location. It can double as an engagement announcement, and be a chance to introduce your fiancé to family and friends that haven’t met them yet.

Save the dates will give your guests a glimpse of your wedding style – although they don’t need to perfectly match your invitations, it’s nice to keep a cohesive theme such as using the same color palette or fonts.

What information is included in a save the date?

Your wedding date and names are the basic details to include, but you can share any combination of these details:

• “Save the Date” (or similar: “save our date” “we’re getting married” “hold the date” “mark your calendar”)
• Wedding date
• Bride and groom’s names
• Wedding location (city and state – the venue isn’t listed on save the dates)
• Wedding website
• Travel or accommodations details (but these are often shared on your website)
• “Invitation to follow” (or a line indicating that guests should expect a formal invitation so they know the save the date isn’t the wedding invitation)

Many couples like to share an engagement photo (or two!) on the save the date, but it’s not required. You can absolutely send a save the date without a photo.

TRADITIONAL SAVE THE DATE WORDING SAMPLES

These first three save the date wording examples follow traditional wedding etiquette and would be perfect for a formal wedding.

SIMPLE SAVE THE DATE WORDING SAMPLES

These save the date wording examples are a bit simpler – sometimes just the facts are all you need (or want) to share!

INCLUDING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Maybe you want to keep the front of your save the date simple with a photo and the basic details, but you have more information to share with your guests. That’s where the back of the card can come in handy!

Add another photo, details about travel and accommodations, your wedding website, or more.

Want to see the save the dates previous Banter & Charm brides have sent? Visit the Save the Date gallery to get inspired! Or if you’re ready to get started, schedule a consultation so we can brainstorm unique ways to create a save the date that is a perfect match to your wedding style!