When planning a wedding, there are many important decisions that need to be made. One of them is determining when to send Save the Dates to inform your guests of your upcoming nuptials. Save the Dates serve as a way to give guests a heads up regarding your wedding day, including the date and location, so that they can begin to make arrangements and plan for your special day. In this blog post, we’ll discuss when you should send Save the Dates and why.
Why Should You Send Save the Dates?
Save the Dates are the first point of contact for your guests to know that you are getting married. It’s essential to give your invitees enough time to make arrangements to attend, particularly if you are planning a destination wedding or if your wedding is falling on a holiday weekend. Save the Dates also help your invitees prepare for your wedding by booking travel, time off work, and accommodation. Suppose some guests are coming from afar. In that case, the Save the Dates give them enough time to prepare all the necessary arrangements such as booking flights, hotels, and rental cars for your wedding.
How Soon Should You Send Save the Dates?
When it comes to sending Save the Dates, timing is important. As mentioned earlier, it’s best to send them 8 to 12 months before the wedding day. This will give your guests enough time to save the date on their calendar and start planning accordingly. Sending Save the Dates earlier than that is okay, but sending them after 12 months is not recommended.
What if You’re Having a Destination Wedding?
If your wedding is a destination wedding, you should plan to send Save the Dates at least 12 months before the big day. Especially for guests who will have to travel far distances, it is essential to give them enough notice to make travel arrangements and request time off work. With destination weddings, guests may need to save more money, so providing them early is an excellent lead time for them to start saving.
How Should You Address Your Save the Dates?
When addressing Save the Dates, it’s essential to follow proper etiquette. You should address them to the people who are invited “and guest” or to families as a whole. You may also want to consider sending Save the Dates to your wedding party, close family, and friends before you send them out formally to everyone else. This will allow them even more lead time to plan for your wedding day.
Conclusion
When planning a wedding, it is essential to send Save the Dates to your guests. It’s best to send them 8 to 12 months before the wedding day or even earlier if you’re having a destination wedding. Save the Dates provide your guests with an essential heads up and help them plan accordingly. Regardless of when you send them, remember to follow proper wedding etiquette when addressing them. With these tips in mind, your guests will have ample time to make all the arrangements necessary to celebrate your special day with you.
FAQ
How early can I send out save the dates?
Save the dates are an essential aspect of preparing for a wedding. As soon as you finalize your wedding date and venue, you should immediately start planning your save the dates. The ultimate goal of sending out save the dates is to notify your guests of your wedding date so that they can put it on their calendar and plan accordingly. It is essential to know the appropriate time to send out save the dates to ensure that your guests have adequate time to make their arrangements.
The basic rule of thumb is to send save the dates 6 months before the wedding. This timeline allows your guests to make travel arrangements, request time off from work, and make accommodations comfortably. At six months, giving adequate notice is especially important if some of your guests are traveling to attend your wedding. This timeline gives them enough time to arrange their schedules, make travel plans, and book accommodations.
For a destination wedding, it is customary to mail save the dates 8 to 12 months in advance. Destination weddings typically require more preparation and time than typical weddings because they involve traveling, and guests need time to prepare. This timeline provides extra time for guests to make travel plans, book accommodations, and save up for the expenses associated with travel. If you’re having a destination wedding, it is critical to send out save the dates as early as possible to give your guests more ample time to prepare.
For a local affair, send save the dates 4 to 6 months in advance. Local weddings are less complicated than destination weddings, and guests may need less preparation time. Six months is a safe and adequate amount of time to send out save the dates for a local wedding. This timeline ensures that your guests can make necessary plans without feeling rushed.
The appropriate time to send out save the dates depends on several factors such as the location of your wedding and your guests’ travel needs. Be sure to send out save the dates in advance to give your guests ample time to make necessary plans comfortably. Sending out your save the dates at the appropriate time can ensure that your guests are excited to attend your wedding and make the necessary arrangements without feeling overwhelmed.
Can you send save the dates too early?
When planning a wedding, sending out save the date cards is a crucial step, as it allows your guests to prepare for your big day and make sure they are available to attend. But the question arises, can you send save the dates too early? The answer is yes; you can send save the dates too early.
Sending save the dates too far in advance may result in your guests putting your wedding date out of their minds because they feel like it’s too far away to mentally prioritize. It’s essential to keep in mind that most people have busy schedules, and with so much happening in their lives, a wedding happening twelve to eighteen months from now is easy to forget. They might lose the save the date card or forget about it entirely, which can cause issues later on, especially if you’re planning a large wedding.
The general guideline for sending out save the dates is four to six months before your wedding day. This time frame gives your guests enough notice to make travel arrangements, clear their schedules, and confirm that they can attend your wedding. Keep in mind that some guests may need a more extended notice if they need to request time off from work or secure travel arrangements from another country.
Sending save the date too early might also cause confusion in the mind of guests. The date may appear tentative, leading to uncertainty and multiple follow-up questions. Additionally, there might be some miscommunication or misunderstanding about the event details, potentially causing stress and confusion for guests.
It’S crucial to send save the date cards at the right time. Although you might be excited to share the good news about your wedding, sending save the dates too early, such as 12-18 months before the wedding date, could sometimes do more harm than good. It’s best to stick to the traditional timeline of four to six months, as it gives your guests enough notice and helps you to avoid any confusion or misunderstanding.
What is the average cost of Save the Dates?
Save-the-date cards are an essential part of wedding planning. They serve as a precursor to the official wedding invitation and help give guests an idea of the wedding date to plan their schedules accordingly. One of the significant questions that arise during the wedding planning process is: What is the average cost of save-the-dates?
The cost of save-the-dates can vary depending on different factors such as the number of guests, style, additional personalization, and location. On average, couples spend about $150 on their save-the-date cards. This number might seem steep, but it’s a small fraction of the total wedding budget.
Some factors can contribute to a lower cost of save-the-dates. For instance, digital save-the-dates can be downloaded or emailed to guests for free. This option may significantly reduce expenses, especially if you have a long guest list. Also, simplified designs and basic templates with minimal personalization can help cut down costs.
On the other end of the spectrum, some factors can cause an increase in the cost of save-the-dates. For example, if you choose to hire a professional designer or calligrapher, the costs will go up significantly. More complex designs, custom artwork, intricate shapes, or special paper types can also contribute to higher expenses.
The location can also play a considerable role in the cost of save-the-dates. Some cities and states may have higher prices for materials or stationery due to cost of living or availability of materials. Additionally, if you choose to mail save-the-dates internationally or outside your country, shipping costs may add up.
The average cost of save-the-dates is around $150, but this number can vary depending on factors such as the number of guests, style, personalization, and location. As such, it’s essential to factor in these variables when planning your wedding budget and finding a solution that fits into your budget.
