Save the Date Invite Etiquette
It’s happening! The ring is officially on your finger and wedding planning is underway. Your date is set, your venue is booked, and your photographer has been chosen. The next step is to create a guest list and send out a save-the-date invite so that your guests can clear their calendars.
But when it comes to save-the-date invite’s you have to do it right. Below are some mistake’s to avoid when announcing your big day to the world as well as a 40% off code just for you!
not sending save-the-date invites
Not sending save-the-date’s at all is most definitely a mistake. Although save-the-date’s aren’t done at every wedding, you are really doing a disservice to yourself by not sending them.
People have schedules to coordinate, travel arrangements to make, and vacation days to consider. Wedding attendance is generally higher for couples who send out save-the-date’s than for those who don’t and that’s kinda’ the whole goal, right?
Plus there are so many easy options these days. Basic Invite has save-the-date postcards and they even offer free guest address printing! All you have to do is stamp!
SENDING SAVE-THE-DATE’S TOO LATE
Tradition tells us that it's best to send out save-the-date’s 6-8 months prior to the big day (and even earlier for a destination wedding). This gives wedding guests plenty of time to book their travel plans, save money and ask for days off work. Any later than that and they won't have enough lead time to do those things.
sending
save-the-date invites too early
However, to counter our last point, if you send save-the-dates any earlier than 6-8 months, they may get tossed aside and completely forgotten about.
TOO MUCH INFORMATION
Save-the-date invites are NOT the same thing as wedding invitations. The only pieces of information needed are your name, your partner’s name, the wedding date, and the general location (city and state is fine). No need to list your venue or any other details.
If you wish, you may also include your wedding website.
sending save-the-dates to “maybe’s”
“Maybe's” are people who you aren’t sure about inviting or not.
Once you send the save-the-date invite out, there is no going back. So only send them to guests you definitely want to attend.
SKIPPING FAMILY MEMBERS/BRIDAL PARTY
Everyone deserves a save-the-date, even those who you’re related to, are participating, or have already received verbal confirmation from. Many people like to have them as special keepsakes or may even incorporate them into a gift idea for the happy couple.
going DIY
There are places where you can cut corners, but this isn’t one of them. This is people’s first impression of your wedding!
While save-the-date’s are less formal than the wedding invitation, they should match the theme or colors of your wedding. If you haven’t officially decided on the theme or colors, select one that’s more neutral.
Plus, you who has the time or money to research, select, and purchase the programs necessary to design a professional looking save the date. Not to mention the overwhelming amounts of fonts, colors, motifs, sizing issues, purchasing enough ink to print them all yourself, and the equipment to cut them uniformly. It’s overwhelming just thinking about it.
You have a million other things on your to-do list, leave save-the-date invite design to the professionals.
DIGITAL SAVE-THE-DATE’S
No. Just, no! This is not your nephews 7th birthday party. Email invitations for informal events like your bachelorette party or a post-wedding brunch is understandable. But, I stand by the old-school-rule that wedding stationary for the big stuff should come in paper form.
These days, so many emails go to spam or people don’t check them. Also, odds are, you have older relatives who won’t know how to view it or friends who may want to keep them as a keepsake.
REGISTRY INFORMATION
While your guests will likely want to know where you’re registered, its bad etiquette to include this information on the envelope of your save-the-date invite. You can include a link to your wedding website (where your registry information can be live) or wait until you send out the formal invitations and include an invitation insert.
including your registry info.
It’s considered bad etiquette to include this information on your save-the-dates.
If your guests want to know where you’re registered, you can include a link to your wedding website (where your registry information can be live) or wait until you send out the formal invitations and include an invitation insert.
UNCLEAR ON WHO’S INVITED
Even on save-the-date invites, it’s best to be as clear as possible regarding who’s invited to the wedding. You’ll want to include the actual names of every intended guest on the envelope. Doing this will prevent awkward conversations or any assumed plus-ones. That way you won’t be surprised by your second-cousins boyfriend or your 7 year old niece is invited. Plus, families will appreciate the extra time to plan for child care, and out-of-towner’s will be given more time to figure out hotel room shares.
ordering them from the wrong place
As a wedding photographer for 9+ years, I’ve heard enough horror stories about save-the-date’s and invitations to know that where you order them matters! Ideally, when selecting somewhere to purchase wedding stationary from you’ll want to make sure they meet the following criteria:
Stationary Sets: Make sure they don’t just offer save-the-date’s or invitations. Ensure that they have all the wedding stationery you need, like save the dates, wedding invitations, enclosure cards, wedding menus, wedding programs, and even matching thank you cards!
Custom Samples - Make sure that they allows customers to order a printed sample of their invitation. Not only does this prevent embarrassing typos, but it enables you to see the card’s paper quality and how it will print before you place your final order.
Free Address Collection/Printing Service - A free address collection service is a convenient way to request addresses from your guests with just three simple steps. Share a link via social media or email, collect addresses, and get free envelope printing.
Unlimited Colors - Very few companies allows customers unlimited color options with instant previews online. Make sure you find one where you can change the color of each element on a card. That way your wedding stationary can be exactly how you want it, down to the tiniest detail.
Free Wedding Websites - Lots of wedding planning sites offer free wedding websites, but if you find an invitation company that offers them, you are in luck! Then you can design a suite to match your wedding invitations for a nice, cohesive look.
Hands down the best place to order save-the-date invites and any other wedding stationary is Basic Invite.
Not only do they meet all the criteria about and MORE, but with this special discount code, you’ll receive 20% of your save the date invite or any other stationary you order with them!
Enjoy!
