Using Save the Date Cards for Your Wedding

If you just recently got engaged then you're probably discovering that you really don't know as much as you thought you did about planning a wedding. There are so many small, yet critically important items that must be addressed in order to ensure your wedding is a success. Save the Date cards are very important to the planning of your wedding. This article discusses the importance of the cards, as well as how to go about using them.
What are Save the Date cards?

If you're like me, I had never heard of the cards until my fiancée informed me of their significance. Save the Date cards are announcements to inform and ask that the guests of your wedding keep that particular date on their schedule free. They're helpful if you have guests that will need to travel from out of town to your wedding, if your wedding date falls during a busy wedding or holiday season, or if the locale of your wedding requires many people to book flights and hotels. People respect and appreciate the ability to plan ahead, especially if it requires logistics planning.

Designing the cards.
First of all, the Save the Date cards are not formal. Unlike the invitations, your cards allow you to use your creative imagination. The themes can range from humorous to artistic, as long as the information is clearly displayed. By going to a website like BigDates.com, you'll clearly see that you have many design options available. If you want to stick to a formal theme, then you could even have the cards match your wedding invitations. The styles include brochures, post cards, booklets, and magnets. I highly recommend the magnets. Remember, Save the Date cards serve as a reminder to keep a particular date free, and what better way to remind someone than have a magnet posted to a refrigerator?

Because the cards don't have to be formal, you can opt for a more casual design by simply using graphics that are wedding related. The cards would also look neat with a picture of the bride and groom on them. Use your judgment and personal style when designing them.

What goes on the cards?
The Save the Date cards need to include the following information: names of the couple to be wed, time and date of the wedding, city and state of the wedding, and location of the church. Also, if you're not using the magnet style then some of your guests may confuse the Save the Date cards with the actual wedding invitation. This happens because the cards are a recent trend and many people don't know about them. At the very bottom of your Save the Date cards, add the line "Invitation to follow" to ensure that people will not make that mistake. If you're using the brochure style then you could easily fit this line onto the back or on the inner lining.

I also recommend that if you anticipate many guests driving from out of town then provide additional information such as airline, hotel, and car rental information to help facilitate the process. Being that some people may choose to stay an extra day or two, it could also be a wise and creative idea to include information on things to do in the area, such as theatrical shows or sports events.

Who gets the cards?
If you're on a budget and you need to save money, make a list of friends and family members that you know for sure will be able to attend. All of these people on the list don't necessarily need a Save the Date card. Besides that, everyone that you plan on inviting to the wedding should receive a Save the Date card.

When do the cards go out?
Save the Date cards are typically sent out five to seven months before the wedding. However, if you're having a destination wedding where advanced booking is required, I suggest sending them out as early as possible. For instance, sending the cards out ten months in advance will allow your guests ample time to make necessary arrangements for your wedding. Also, if your wedding falls during a busy wedding season then follow the same rule of thumb. Ten to twelve months prior to the wedding is plenty of time to get it done.