Save the Date

Save the dates have become such a popular paper that brides are looking for them right after their wedding planning begins. This choice sets the tone for the type of event that you're going to have. Many brides question when to send. When you're have a destination wedding or a holiday wedding, it is best to send the save the date at least 9 months to a year in advance. If you're having a local wedding, 6 months is usually time enough. This allows for out of town guests plenty of time to make arrangements for their trip. What do you need to include with a save-the-date?

• Accommodations information, making hotel suggestions that are around your wedding site or letting your guests know of wedding room blocks at certain hotels that you have arranged for them. Make sure with those you include hotel name, phone number to call to make reservations, code name, cut off date, and if needed pricing information.
• Travel information is good to have to let them know what airports are around as well as any car rental facilities and shuttle information.
• Planned events are great to let guests know about, so that they can come in in time to participate. Also, if they're making a weekend trip out of it they know what to make preparations for.
• Make sure to include date and if available location!!!

Make the wording on your save-the-date either formal, informal, or fun! Here are some suggestions from The Knot.

Formal Notice
Jack and Jill
are getting married on
July 5, 2005
San Francisco, California

Fun & Flirty
He proposed ... she said 'Yes'!
Jack + Jill
will tie the knot
July 5, 2005
Chicago, Illinois

Totally Carefree
We're taking the plunge!
Hope you'll be there to celebrate our flight.
Jack & Jill
say "I Do"
July 5, 2005
Nantucket Island

Some other tips when choosing your save the date:

• Choose a paper that reflects the wedding colors that you have chosen.
• Use a motif that you want to include in your wedding like a monogram or a design.
• You could choose something as simple as a postcard to a magnetic puzzle that they put together that creates the save the date. Be creative and personalize, personalize, personalize!
• The refrigerator magnets are very popular now because guests can put it on their frig and won't forget! Also, the save the date stickers for the calendar are popular as well.

One last tip to remember, don't send save-the-dates to guests that won't be receiving invitations. This is bad etiquette. We don't want angry friends and family! Sending the save-the-date is only the beginning of planning fun! Plan a delightful one!

Comments

[Samantha]

I did save the date announcements just like the ones showed here. They were Tickets to the wedding but could be ordered in different colors. I got them at http://www.weddinginvitation4u.com/save_the_date.html
They gave me a 15% discount and they ended up being less expensive than I had budgeted.