Hello all! It’s time for another of our weekly advice features and this week, we’re talking Save the Dates. Our favourite wedding experts and Little Book For Brides members are here to tell you all you need to know about those super important wedding date announcements.
So, if you’re thinking about your Save the Dates or are wondering how to let you select guests know the details of your day, this feature is for you. Let’s start right at the beginning and explain just what Save the Dates are all about. The brilliant Sarah from Sarah Wants explains,
“Save the Dates announce that you are getting married and they let guests know the wedding date. Usually Save the Dates just got out to your day guests but it’s becoming more popular to send them to your evening guests too, especially if they live further afield and you’re expecting people to travel a long way to come to your wedding.”
As for the style and content, what should you do? Well, Freya from br&.newweddings tells us more:
“Your Save the Date is your window to the big day – make sure it represents your style so guests can get excited about your wedding as much as you.”
“The only thing that guests need to know at this stage is who is getting married and on what date, but you can always include the venue or general location so guests can start looking at accommodation if they want. You could also include your wedding website if it’s ready to go, especially if you think it might give guests extra info before the invitations get sent.”
For more Save the Date styling advice, Sophie from Studio Sophie is here.
“A good styling tip to remember is that it’s really enticing for your guests to see that first glimpse of the look and feel you have in store. Save the Dates are a great sneak preview of elements which will make your wedding unique – even if you don’t have the whole thing figured out just yet.”
“It can feel daunting to choose a design for your Save the Dates at an early stage of your plans, when other elements may be undecided. The answer is to go pure and simple. A plain card with elegant text and subtle colours can feel exquisite in its minimalism.”
“If you’re a decisive type and already have a lengthy Pinterest board of exactly the look and feel you want, then dive in. Any good designer will be able to interpret those ideas into something beautiful and unique for you.”
More practical guidelines come from Norma & Dorothy.
“The most common mistake we see is couples thinking they need one Save the Date per guest which can quickly see costs adding up. You actually only need one per household, which cuts most numbers by around 40%, leaving more budget for your invitations!”
“Save the Dates are also perfect for subtly letting people know if they on the evening guest list. A simple ‘Save the Evening’ can stop an awkward conversation later down the line. The idea of Save the Evening cards is very popular and we offer customers the option to split their order into different wording options.”
So, what’s on trend when it comes to Save the Date designs? The team from The Foil Invite Company gives their take on popular styles for this year.
“Calendar Save the Dates are a fun way to ensure that your guests won’t forget the date of your big day. They’re a great choice when you’ve not quite nailed down your theme as they complement almost every type of wedding. 2018 is seeing a chic tend of minimalism in luxury wedding stationery, especially in one of these season’s favourite colour combinations – rose gold foil and blush card.”
“Using photographs in wedding stationery is another trend we’re seeing more and more of. It’s hard to think of a more personal way of presenting your Save the Dates. Plus, your friends and family will treasure having a printed version of one of your favourite photographs. Lastly, having your wedding date on the fridge is a sure-fire way of keeping it in the minds of your guests! Magnetic Save the Dates are a lovely surprise when they arrive in the post and are just a little difference from the usual invitation card.”
But, do you really need Save the Dates? The wonderful Lucy Says I Do has the answer.
“I’m often asked ‘do we need Save the Dates?’ and my answer is no, but you might want them, particularly if you know lots of people who are getting married in the same year. You might want to make sure you give your guests the first heads up before you send your invitations and, of course, you might just be so excited about your wedding that you just really want to send Save the Dates and that’s fine too!”
“As with all stationery elements, I’d always recommend creating a Save the Date that’s a reflection of you as a couple and your wedding day. This way it not only gives your guests a hint at what’s to come on the big day but it’s also a little flash of your personalities, like a little story of you.”
“Remember that designers are often booked up well in advance, so if you find someone whose work you really like, contact them early on in the process. In fact, when it comes to Save the Dates, my advice is start early. These might not be the most important part of your wedding, I completely understand that, but if you leave it until the last minutes, you may end up disappointed.”
Destination weddings and stylish elopements are certainly on the rise and, if you’re travelling further afield for your wedding, Save the Dates can be really important as the team from the utterly fabulous EYI Love explains.
“If you’re heading to more exotic climes to celebrate, the sooner you send your Save the Dates, the better. Giving your guests time to organise time off, travel and accommodation will be much appreciated.”
“You could also consider setting up a wedding website early and include these details on your Save the Date. The website can then direct guests to travel, accommodation and further details rather than clogging up your Save the Date.”
“Be sure to include ‘formal invitation to follow’ at the bottom of your cards and guests will know there’s more to come but short, sweet and straight to the point is definitely our favoured choice of wording on a Save the Date. Leave all other details, such as dress codes and times, for the invitation.”
But, when should you send out your precious Save the Dates? Nikki from Knots & Kisses offers these words of wisdom.
“Send Save the Dates anywhere from a year to nine months in advance of your wedding. Consider sending them earlier than that if you’re getting married abroad or have lots of guests coming from further afield or you know lots of your guests have jobs that need them to book time off further in advance.”
“See your Save the Date as your opening glimpse into the style and feel of your wedding so try to set a colour scheme or feel for the day before you send these out. Don’t reveal too much though! You want your guests to be excited but still really want to receive their formal invitation.”
Working with a stationer for your Save the Dates could well be your first foray into commissioning bespoke designs and, if that’s the case, there’s no need to worry. Designer Louie from Louie Tilley Lettering has this advice for you.
“There’s so much scope with stationery so always ask for exactly what you want, even if you think it can’t be done because the likelihood is that it can! Give your designer as much info as you can; images, colours, designs – the more info that we have, the quicker we can provide a quote and, let’s face it, this is the important bit.”
“Honesty and transparency is absolutely key. If something can’t be done to a high stand and within budget then I would be the first to let you know and I always recommend alternatives to you. You should also expect great communication. I keep my clients up to date with designs so whilst I’m busy lettering, they’ll always receive ‘work in progress’ snaps.”
If your Save the Dates are going to be your first adventure in wedding DIY, designer Lizzie from Connie & Joan has plenty of advice for you.
“If you’re making your own stationery or using one of our beautiful stationery templates, there are definitely a few things to keep in mind. To be sure of the best results, especially if you’re customising templates, use a computer or Mac rather than a table or phone.”
“Do some research about printing your stationery. If you’re going to print at home, check your printer’s manual for the type of paper and the weight it will handle. Also check if it will take smaller cards. However, if you’d rather get your designs printed, I’d recommend speaking to your local printing shop. They might be more flexible in terms of sizes, card types and quantities than an online printer and you’ll have the added comfort of having someone to speak to.”
“Whether you’re printing at home, online or at your local printing shop, don’t forget about envelopes for Save the Dates. Either choose envelopes made of the same paper or opt for a contrasting look for impact.”
And now you know everything there is to know so you can Save the Date in style!
Love,
Tamryn x
Tamryn Settle View all Tamryn's articles
Self-confessed wedding addict Tamryn spends her days in her Berkshire studio writing about all things beautiful and romantic with her black Labrador for company.
