You just said yes to forever with the person who feels like home, and the dates are locked in. What could possibly be a more exciting way to share the news than sending out save the dates?
They’re thoughtful, right on trend, and a brilliant way to get your message out there with flair.
Still, there’s a certain etiquette and a handful of rules that come with these announcements. You’ll also want to be really intentional about your wording, visual style, and overall aesthetic.
We’ve packed all of that goodness into this save the date wedding invitations guide. As a sweet little bonus, you’ll discover answers to your most pressing questions.
Save the Date Guide
Before you dive headfirst into wording and card designs, take a peek at some etiquette pointers for save the date announcements. They’ll give you a clear sense of what’s expected.
Do you put plus one on Save the dates?
Yes, in these specific situations:
- For everyone in the wedding party
- For any guest who is married, engaged, or living with a partner
- For those who have been in a committed relationship for a very long time
By Elegant Wedding Invites
What to Include in Your Save the Date Cards
Must have details: Add the names of both partners, the wedding date, and the location so guests can mark their calendars right away.
Nice to have extras: Think about throwing in your wedding website URL, accommodation recommendations, and RSVP details to make things easy for everyone.
Writing your message: Keep it short but full of heart, radiating excitement while delivering all the essential facts clearly.
Timing and Etiquette
Mail your Save the Date cards about 6 to 8 months before the big day so guests have plenty of time to plan. Make sure you address them to everyone on the invite list, even those who have already given a verbal yes.
If plans or guest lists need to shift, be open about it, and communicate swiftly and politely with anyone affected.
Mailing and Delivery
Be sure to include the basics like your names, the wedding date, and the venue location in your Save the Date cards. You can optionally add a wedding website URL, accommodation tips, and RSVP info.
Keep the message tight yet full of information.
Mail cards 6 to 8 months ahead, send them to all invited guests, and graciously manage any adjustments. Use the correct postage, coordinate timely delivery, and monitor shipments if needed.
Lean on digital reminders, respond to guest questions quickly, and nail down all your invitation details.
Following Up
Tap into wedding websites or social platforms to send electronic reminders and fresh updates, keeping your guests in the loop and buzzing with anticipation. Tackle any queries or worries swiftly and with warmth to reassure your loved ones and keep the conversation flowing.
Lock in the details for your wedding invitation suite, making sure everything is consistent and crystal clear.
Save the Date Wording Ideas
The key ingredients of any save the date are the couple’s names, the date, the location, and whatever extra touches you choose to include. What really sets the mood is the tone, something you’ll spot right away in the save the dates wording ideas below.
Traditional save the date wording
Bridget and Tony Invite you to share in the joy of their marriage On April 13, 2030 Southampton, Missouri, United States A formal wedding invitation will follow soon.
Formal wedding save the date
Bridget Anna Smith and Tony Elder Stone Request the pleasure of your company at their wedding celebration April 10, 2018 Southampton, Missouri, United States The wedding invitation will follow in due course.
Casual wedding save the date
Tony asked And Bridget said yes! Now they want to party and would love for you to be there On April 10, 2020 Southampton, Missouri, United States We’ll get a wedding invitation to you shortly.
Save the Date Style and Design Guide
Crafting unique save the date cards means thinking about function, beauty, and personal style all at once. Check out the guidance below to help you get rolling.
Should our cards match with invitations?
Not at all! Your save the dates carry a less formal energy than the wedding invites, so get wildly creative.
Dive into themes and color palettes you adore but maybe can’t pull into the main wedding event. Save the dates hand you a moment to experiment, so make that moment count.
How we choose a save-the-date style?
It really comes down to what speaks to your heart. You might opt for photo save the dates.
Maybe yours will feature a favorite cartoon, beloved dish, a meaningful song, or a treasured story.
Simply land on something inventive that will linger in your guests’ memories. You can wander from funny save the dates to romantic, quirky, witty, and beyond.
Should it be a card?
Cards are the classic, forever choice, yet they don’t always have to be the answer. Magnets, marbles, discs, scrolls, and other creative forms can absolutely serve as save the dates.
Your guests will likely hold onto them as cherished keepsakes.
DIY Save-the-date designs
Before you jump into creating your wedding save dates, browse online to see what resonates with your vision. One solid place to begin is greetingsisland.com.
There you can design your cards using handy templates and then download the finished result. You can also customize, print, or send them digitally, all at no cost.
Mountaincow.com gives you access to printing press software. This lets you design cards with text and graphics all within the template.
Shutterfly and Vistaprint make it possible to whip up cute cards or magnets, download your designs, and have them shipped directly to your doorstep.
Should save the dates have pictures?
Save the dates certainly can feature a photo. Some newly engaged couples hire a photographer to capture this exact season and do a session right after, which makes showing off the finished engagement pictures or adorable couple shots a total blast.
Yet plenty of couples opt out of photos too, instead choosing stylish designs that showcase their personality.
It truly doesn’t matter either way, both approaches do the job beautifully! Elegant Wedding Invites
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Save The Date Style and Design Guide
The options and ideas for save the dates stretch on forever because it all swirls around creativity. From overall style to theme, destination flair, and material, our long list holds something truly special for every couple.
Wedding Save The Date Magnets
Magnets are having a huge moment right now for save the dates. If magnet magic sounds like your thing, check out the ideas below.
Romantic Vinyl Record Design
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Lean into a retro vibe and pick a romantic vinyl record design for your save the date. Tuck in a mini backing card and finish the whole thing with a magnet.
It’s colorful, sentimental, and destined to become a keepsake.
Save the Date Acrylic Heart Magnet
Go for acrylic heart magnets if a whimsical theme calls your name. There’s simply no sweeter way to express your love while spreading your big announcement than a clear heart.
Expertly etch your details into it and attach a magnet to the back. This acrylic heart also happens to be completely gorgeous.
Photo Magnet Save The Date
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Let your guests witness the genuine bond you share even as you invite them to save the date. Use photo save the dates with your pictures on the reverse side or woven into the backdrop.
Make it even more playful by using animated or caricature style sweetheart photos.
Wedding Save The Date Destination Wedding
Destination wedding save the date cards are absolutely perfect for celebrations happening abroad. There are wonderfully creative ways to craft them, which we’ve gathered below.
Save the Date Luggage Tags
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Help your guests travel with style by turning your save the dates into luggage tags. They work beautifully for destination themed save dates.
Infuse these tags with color by weaving in elements pulled straight from the wedding locale.
Boarding Pass Save the Date
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Tailor made for a destination theme, guests will receive mock boarding passes. Arrange your information neatly just like it would appear on a real boarding pass.
Just be attentive enough that the layout stays coherent for your guests to quickly understand.
Vintage Airmail Wedding save the Date Paper
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Is an island theme dancing through your imagination? Summon romance, wonder, and a little mystery with airmail save the dates.
They lean vintage with a rich old-world feel.
The truly beautiful part is that they are exceptionally budget friendly.
Rustic Wedding Save The Date
Welcome that laid back spirit with versions of rustic save the dates. We’ve curated a few ideas sure to spark some inspiration.
Feather Wooden Save the Date Magnet
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Whether you’re dreaming of a tropical, rustic, or traditional theme, invite guests to save the date with a feather crafted from wood. Put down every last detail and fasten a magnet to the reverse side.
Guests will end up sticking it proudly on their fridge door instead of losing it in storage.
Long after the wedding, these wood feather wedding save the date magnets will sit as treasured keepsakes.
Pencil Us In – Save the Date Wedding Cards
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Bring a playful, personal twist to your save the date wedding cards with this “Pencil Us In” design. Add a custom pencil featuring your names and wedding date, paired with beautiful, elegant stationery.
This inventive keepsake transforms your announcement into something memorable and chic while staying fun and totally functional for your guests.
Buy here
Price: $0.68+
Rustic Barn Photo Save the Date Examples
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If a farm or country aesthetic is calling the shots, rustic wedding save the dates will be a total hit. Bring photos of the barn into the card background to radiate that easy, breezy feeling.
They carry real sentiment and make a lasting impression.
Unique Save The Date Cards
Venturing beyond the obvious lands you right in the middle of unique save the date cards. Explore a few super trendy ideas below.
Wedding Newspaper Save the Date
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Design a delightful, one of a kind wedding save the date with a custom newspaper inspired layout. Feature your love story, engagement photos, wedding specifics, and even playful headlines.
This creative format injects so much personality and excitement, setting the entire tone for your celebration while making your wedding save the dates completely unforgettable.
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Price: $8.58+
Digital Save The Date Template
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Quickly design and send a polished digital save the date to your guests through email or social media. Pick your favorite layout, drop in your wedding details, and make it your own with photos or fonts.
It’s a fresh, eco conscious route for announcing your save the date wedding plans, quick, affordable, and gorgeously on trend.
Buy here
Price: $3.00
Scratch off card save the date invite
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Build the suspense by doing something wonderfully unexpected like scratch card save the dates. Pack them up snugly and send them off to your guests.
Let them guess who’s walking down the aisle and on what exact date by scratching the card panel.
This approach is pure perfection for a casual save the date style.
Old Money Save the Date Invitations
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Channel timeless sophistication with an Old Money style save the date template. Employ rich, classic typefaces, formal phrasing, and black and white photos to summon a genuinely luxurious feel.
These save the date invitations establish the mood for an elegant celebration, a perfect match for formal weddings hosted at upscale spots like historic estates or refined city ballrooms.
Creative Save The Date Cards
If you’re craving something quirky and funny, these awesome save the date cards are ready for you.
Photo Strip Save the Date
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Make a fun and unforgettable Photo Strip Save the Date by lining up a series of candid or thoughtfully styled shots that radiate your unique chemistry as a couple. Pick high quality save the date images, drop in your wedding information, and arrange a strip layout straight out of a photo booth.
Perfect for front and center fridge displays and lasting keepsakes!
Puzzle Save the Date Cards
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Pair your happy news with an intriguing puzzle for guests to crack. Transform your names, photos, and wedding date into a puzzle.
It’s such a playful way to welcome them, especially if a country theme is part of the plan.
These Kids are Getting Married Save the Date
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For lighthearted themes, these kids are getting married save the dates hit the sweet spot. Feature baby pictures of you and your partner as the main backdrop.
Guests will absolutely smile and might even feel a wave of nostalgia if they knew you way back when.
This style of card lands right in that tender spot between sentimental and wonderfully playful.
Cheap Save The Date Cards
Hoping to keep your spending in check? Take a look at some cheap save the dates you can pick from.
Gold Foil Printed Cut Save the date Cards
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If you’re aiming straight for glamour or luxury, Gold Foil Printed cut save the date cards are your best friend. They announce their presence boldly while grabbing the attention of everyone on your guest list.
The real cherry on top is that they don’t cost a small fortune.
Letterpress Save The Dates
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Give your wedding save the date cards timeless charm with sophisticated letterpress printing. Choose thick, tactile paper, classic font choices, and refined compositions to create a feel of pure luxury.
Personalize your save the date templates with your names, date, and venue for a beautifully polished first hello.
Wedding save the date postcards
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Postcard save the dates land somewhere between adorable and wonderfully inexpensive. They come cloaked in all sorts of moods, from graceful to unpolished, and romantic to deeply personal.
You can craft destination save the dates with postcards, or even lean into the seasons. There is so much you can do with postcards, you’ll be smitten.
Change The Date Wedding Cards
Everything in life can shift and so can your wedding date. So if something comes up that means you can’t host your wedding on the originally planned date, here are some solid ideas.
A wedding might need to be canceled or pushed back for countless reasons.
They can stretch from a family loss to illness, a rough season in your relationship, a global health crisis, or anything else entirely. It absolutely doesn’t have to feel awkward, even if wedding correspondence has already been mailed.
There are so many creative change the date cards ready to come to your rescue.
Simply offer a sincere apology to your guests, share the reason for the change if you feel comfortable doing so, and clearly communicate the new plan. Don’t forget to sign off warmly at the bottom, together with your partner.
For instance
We need to share the news that our wedding date has shifted due to some circumstances beyond our control. However, keep your dancing shoes at the ready and come celebrate with us on September 13, 2020 in Southampton, Missouri, United States.
We are so sorry for any trouble this may cause, Bridget & Tony
Your wedding day stands among the most beautiful days of your life. Start it all out on exactly the right foot by asking your guests to save the date.
If you feel totally lost about where to begin, this post walks you through everything you need to know.
From answering the big FAQs to exploring save the date styles and types, we’ve covered it all. And if you find yourself needing to change the date, you’ll also discover answers right here.