If you’re planning a wedding, one of the first things you’ll need to do is notify your guests of the date and location. This is where Save the Dates come in handy. Save the Dates are a pre-invitation that lets your guests know when and where your wedding is going to be held so they can make necessary arrangements to attend. However, the big question that comes up is, “How early should you send Save the Dates?”
In this blog post, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about sending Save the Dates and the best timeline to follow.
Why Send Save the Dates?
Save the Dates are a sort of pre-invitation that give guests a heads up about your wedding day. They provide the essential information needed— the date and location —to enable guests to reserve the day on their calendars and make any necessary travel arrangements.
A Save the Date is particularly important if you’re planning a destination wedding or if many of your would-be guests will be traveling to attend. It is also useful if your wedding falls on a holiday weekend or if it’s during the peak season when hotel availability might be a concern.
Sending Save the Dates will ensure that your guests can start to plan and can budget accordingly for your wedding day. In addition, by sending Save the Dates, you’ll be giving your guests an indication of what to expect from your wedding, including the level of formality, the color scheme, and so on.
When To Send Save the Dates
The general rule of thumb when it comes to sending Save the Dates is 8 to 12 months prior to your wedding date. This will give your guests ample notice to schedule time off from work or coordinate childcare arrangements.
Sending Save the Dates earlier is necessary if you’re planning a destination wedding, which requires more extended travel time, or if you’re planning your wedding during a peak season. We recommend sending Save the Dates at least 10 to 12 months in advance of these events.
On the other hand, if you’re planning a local wedding outside of peak seasons and regular calendar days, you may be able to get away with sending Save the Dates 6 months in advance, or even less.
Just note that the sooner you can send Save the Dates, the better. So if you already have your wedding date and venue confirmed, it’s best to get them sent out as soon as possible.
Who Should Receive Save the Dates?
If you’re sending Save the Dates, you should send one to every guest on your final invite list. This includes not only your must-invite guests but also your “B-list,” in case any of them are needed to fill in the gaps once you start receiving RSVPs.
You should also plan to send Save the Dates to all the people assisting you with your wedding, such as your wedding planner, parents, or other important figures. In addition, it’s a good idea to send Save the Dates to out-of-town or international guests.
Last but not least, don’t forget to send Save the Dates to your vendors. They deserve a heads up about your wedding day well in advance of the actual event.
What Should Be Included in a Save the Date?
When it comes to the actual Save the Date, less is more. Your Save the Date should feature the wedding date, location, and the couple’s names. You can also include a fun photograph, a customized design or color scheme, and any essential details—the wedding website, travel information, hotel recommendations, and so on.
A good rule of thumb is to include everything that guests would need to know to commit to attending your wedding. Don’t forget to include the date, location, and some information about your wedding website where guests can find all the details about your big day!
Conclusion
Save the Dates provide an excellent way to get your guests excited and on board with your wedding day preparation. To ensure that your guests have ample time to plan, book travel, and make necessary changes to their schedule, we recommend sending Save the Dates at least 8 to 12 months in advance or even earlier if needed.
Remember to send a Save the Date to all your guests, including vendors and important figures, and keep the Save the Date simple yet informative! By following these guidelines, your guests will be ready to celebrate your wedding day as soon as the invitations arrive!
FAQ
Is 10 months too early for Save the Dates?
When planning a wedding, there are so many things to think about and keep track of that sometimes the timeline can become overwhelming. One of the most important things to consider when planning your wedding is when to send out your save the date cards.
Save the dates are a great way to let your guests know when your wedding will be and give them a little bit of information about where it will be. You might include the date, location, and even a small note about what kind of dress code you’re thinking of. The purpose of these cards is to give your guests some advance warning so that they can make their travel arrangements and clear their schedules for the big day.
As a general rule, save the dates should be sent out six to eight months before the wedding. This gives your guests plenty of time to plan accordingly and make arrangements to attend. However, if you’re planning a destination wedding, it’s recommended you send your save the date cards out nine months to a year in advance. This extra time will give your guests more time to plan for travel arrangements, book accommodations, and request time off work if necessary.
But what if you’re thinking about sending out your save the date cards even earlier, say around the ten-month mark? The truth is, there’s no firm rule for how early is too early to send out save the dates. It really depends on your unique situation and what your guests will need to do to prepare for the wedding.
As a general rule, it’s probably safe to say that ten months is a bit early to send out your save the date cards. By sending them out so far in advance, you may risk your guests losing the card, forgetting the date or even losing interest in attending the wedding by the time the actual event comes around.
Another factor to consider is how much information you actually have. If you’re planning a wedding and have not yet confirmed a venue or exact date, it might be best to wait until you have that information before sending out your save the date cards.
While there is no hard and fast rule for how early is too early to send out save the date cards, it’s best to stick to the standard timeline of six to eight months before the wedding. This gives your guests plenty of time to plan and prepare for the big day without risking them losing interest or forgetting about the event. If you’re planning a destination wedding, aim to send your save the date cards nine months to a year in advance to give your guests even more time to plan.
Is it OK to skip Save the dates?
Save the dates are an important aspect of wedding planning as they help notify guests of the upcoming wedding and allow them to plan and prepare for the event. However, whether or not it is ok to skip save the dates will depend on several factors.
If you are planning a destination wedding or have a lot of guests who will be traveling from out of town, sending save the dates will be critical. This gives your guests ample time to arrange their travel plans, including booking flights and accommodation. Typically, you should aim to send out save the dates about six to eight months in advance of your wedding date to ensure that your guests have enough time to prepare.
On the other hand, if you have a lot of local attendees, skipping save the dates might be acceptable. Many guests will not need to travel far, and with advanced notice, they will likely be able to make arrangements to attend the wedding without save the dates.
Another situation in which it may be ok to skip save the dates is if you are planning a wedding on a short timeline. If you have decided to get married quickly, you may not have enough time to send out save the dates and still give your guests enough notice. In such cases, it might be sufficient just to send out formal invitations that include all the necessary details, such as date, time, and location, as soon as possible.
Whether or not it is ok to skip save the dates will depend on several factors, such as the number of out-of-town guests, whether your wedding is a destination wedding, and the timeline you are working on. So if you are unsure whether or not to send save the dates, consider your guests’ needs and your wedding’s unique circumstances to make the best decision.
Is 3 months too late to send out wedding invitations?
Sending out wedding invitations is an exciting part of the wedding planning process. It’s the moment when you officially invite your loved ones and close friends to share the most special day of your life. However, the timing of wedding invitations can be a little tricky, and couples often wonder if they’re too late or too early when sending them out.
So, is 3 months too late to send out wedding invitations? According to wedding etiquette, it’s not too late, but it’s also not too early. The general guideline for sending out wedding invitations is anywhere between 6 and 8 weeks before the wedding date. This gives your guests enough time to make travel arrangements, book accommodations, and RSVP before the deadline.
However, the timing of the wedding invitations can also depend on various factors, such as the size and location of the wedding, if guests need to make long-distance travel arrangements, the number of out-of-town guests, and if you’ve already sent save-the-date cards.
In some cases, sending out wedding invitations 3 months before the wedding can be perfectly acceptable. If you’re having a small, intimate wedding, or if most of your guests live nearby, 3 months’ notice might be enough. On the other hand, if you’re having a large wedding, many out-of-town guests, or a destination wedding, you might want to send out your invitations earlier to give your guests plenty of time to plan.
It’s worth noting that sending save-the-date cards is also a great way to give your guests an early heads-up about your upcoming wedding. Generally, save-the-date cards are sent about 6 to 12 months before the wedding date. This allows your guests to mark their calendars, make travel arrangements, and avoid scheduling conflicts.
3 months is not too late to send out wedding invitations, but it might not be ideal for every couple’s unique situation. The timing of your wedding invitations can depend on several factors, so it’s important to consider your guests’ needs and preferences, as well as the location and size of your wedding. Whether you send out your invitations 3 months or 6-8 weeks before your wedding day, the key is to make sure they arrive on time and give your guests enough notice to plan accordingly.
