When to Send Save the Dates & Tips on Etiquette

We've had a lot of inquiries from clients about when to send save the dates, what information to include and best practices. Don't worry, we're here to answer all of your questions and guide you through the process!

You're engaged! Congratulations! Once your wedding date and venue have been selected, it's time to plan your save the dates and put together your guest list. Save the dates should only be sent to guests who you plan on inviting to your wedding. (Pro Tip: To figure out the quantity of how many to order, be sure to think number of households, rather than the number of individual guests. Then add 10-15 extras for additional guests and keepsakes.)

When are Save the Dates mailed?
If the majority of your guests are in-town, it is customary to mail your save the dates 6-8 months in advance. For destination weddings and for weddings that have many out-of-town guests, we recommend mailing save the dates 9-12 months in advance. Following these guidelines will ensure your guests have ample time to mark their calendars and book any necessary accommodations.
Schedule your appointment with us at least one month before your desired mailing date to allow time for design and production.

What goes on a Save the Date?
Include the key information - your names, the wedding date and location. Save the date wording is typically short, sweet and to the point! While you may have a lot of details already planned, it's best to save specifics for your invitation suite and insert cards. For instance, your wedding and reception venue(s) and time of day will be included in your wedding invitation suite. Instead, simply name the city and state for now! We do recommend including "Formal invitation to follow" at the bottom of the card, so your guests know to expect more details later. If you have a wedding website, go ahead and include the URL with links to travel information and accommodations.

Do Save the Dates and Wedding Invitations need to match?
They can, but don't have to! Some of our clients like to opt for fun or casual photo style save the dates, while others like to have it fully match the invitation suite. Many of our couples land somewhere in the middle, where the fonts and style coordinate from start to finish, but leave the best embellishments and pop for the invitation suite.