In a world of increasingly busy lives, save the date cards are designed to inform guests of the date of your upcoming event, so that they may plan far in advance to attend. Save the date cards have gained popularity throughout the past decade, yet are still a fairly new trend in the scheme of things. As a result, many find themselves unfamiliar with save the date use and etiquette. If you find yourself in this position, read on.

Are Save the Date Cards Necessary?

You want all of your friends and family present at your special event, but you may be wondering if save the date cards are really necessary. This question becomes especially prominent when planning an event on a tight budget.

Save the date cards are not necessary for every event, but are highly recommended in the following instances:

Holiday Weekend Events
People tend to plan far in advance for long holiday weekends. Typically, invitations are mailed six weeks prior to an event, where as save the dates are mailed four to six months prior to your event. Without alerting guests far enough in advance, you run the risk of your event conflicting with their scheduled holiday plans.

Traveling Guests
If more than a handful of your guests will be traveling to your event, bear in mind, they will need to plan ahead for flights, hotels, and perhaps time off from work. Advance notice is always helpful for guests in these situations.

Destination Events
Likewise, if you are planning a destination wedding, guests will need to book flights, hotels, and arrange for vacation time as far in advance as possible.

Seasonally Popular Tourist Locations
If your event is taking place in a popular tourist location, keep in mind that hotels may book up fast, so prior notice is helpful.

Weekday Events
Though most big events take place on Saturdays and Sundays, this is not always the case. Due to venue reservation and cost, many events take place on Friday evenings. In addition, some choose to hold their event on a sentimental date, such as Valentine’s Day. In these cases, it may be helpful to inform your guests further in advance, as they may need to take time off from work.

If none of these situations apply to your event, simply mailing your invitations approximately six weeks in advance should be sufficient.

How Far in Advance Should I Mail My Save the Date Cards?

You want to give your guests adequate notice, but you do not want to mail your save the date so far in advance that they have time to misplace and forget it.

As mentioned above, it is customary to send save the date cards four to six months prior to your event. However, if you are planning a destination or major holiday wedding, it is recommended that you send them nine to twelve months in advance.

Also be weary about sending save the dates during the holidays, because you run the risk of it being lost in the holiday shuffle.

What Information Should I Include on My Save the Date?

A common save the date mistake is not including enough information on your card. Remember, save the dates are a fairly new trend, and not every guest that receives one will be familiar with the practice. For this reason, the purpose should be clear. Include the following:

Names and Event Description: “Jane and Joe are Getting Married” or “Susan’s Bat Mitzvah”

Event Date

Event Location

“Invitation to Follow”: To ensure that no guest will mistake it for an actual invitation.

What Should My Save the Date Look Like?

The best part of save the date cards is creating them! It is customary to match the theme and mood of your event to your save the date card, yet you may get creative in doing so. Save the date cards can come in any shape, size, or format, and will be your guests first impression of your event, so have fun!

Recommended Links:
LCI Save the Date Cards

Kristen Desrosier