The love of your life proposed and now you’re engaged! Hooray! You celebrated your engagement amongst your nearest and dearest, the planning is well underway, and now it’s time to announce your wedding with the help of your very first wedding stationery piece: Save the Dates or pre-invitations that officially announce you’re getting married! If you’re not sure where to start, what to include, when to send or who to even send them to, Lace and Belle is answering your questions before you share the details on paper.

Is it necessary to send save the dates?

While save the dates are an optional wedding stationery piece, I do recommend them, especially if you’re getting married in midst of wedding season, around a holiday, or if you’re having a destination wedding. Guests will appreciate the advanced notice to take time off from work for travel-related reasons. Not to mention, you want your guests to be excited for your wedding day, so what better way to do so than by letting them know they’ll be invited!

What information is included on a save the date?

Since save the dates are an informal pre-wedding invitation, you only need a few straightforward specifics, so there’s no need to worry if you don’t have times finalized yet. Save the dates should include your names, the wedding date, location (typically the city where your ceremony will be held), and the phrase “formal invitation to follow.” A wedding website can also be included if you have one to direct guests to find more information regarding your wedding day.

When are save the dates typically sent to guests?

Save the dates should be sent out approximately six to nine months in advance. If you’re having a destination wedding, then I suggest sending them out earlier; nine to twelve months in advance. This will allow your family and friends to begin making the necessary arrangements, such as requesting time off from work and obtaining a passport, if necessary.

We have our guest list compiled. Are save the dates sent to everyone we have listed?

A save the date should only be sent to those guests you’re 110% sure you will be inviting to your wedding day.

What about the design? Do they need to match our wedding invitation suite?

Not unless you want it too. Save the date cards are informal and give you an opportunity to have some fun with the design. Feel free to choose a favorite engagement photo and get creative with the verbiage and overall style. Photo save the dates are the most popular style choice as it’s a wonderful way to show off a few images from your engagement session. Other favorites include magnet-style save the dates or non-photo save the date cards.

Are you ready to get started on your custom save the date cards? Let’s chat! Lace and Belle offers a variety of save the date styles that are sure to get your guests excited for your wedding day.