Our Guide to Save the Dates and Wedding Invitations
You’ve officially set a wedding date. Congratulations!
So, what comes next? There’s lots to think about during the lead up to what will be one of the most special days of your life. One crucial element of the wedding planning process is inviting your guests to the celebration. That’s where wedding save the dates and wedding invitations come into play.
To help you, we’ll explore everything you need to know about save the dates and wedding invitations. Keep reading to dig into the differences between the two, including what information they typically include, who to send them to and when to send them.
Save the dates and wedding invitations
Save the dates and wedding invitations are both pieces of wedding stationery that serve a different purpose for your guest list.
Saves the dates are sent early in the wedding planning process to ask your guests to hold the date in their calendars for your wedding. While it does give some information about when and where your wedding will be held, the role of this card is to allow guests to plan and also let them know that a formal invitation will be sent at a later date. You do not need to send save the dates to evening guests unless you make it absolutely clear it’s a ‘save the evening’.
As it gets closer to your wedding date, you’ll need to send out formal wedding invitations. A wedding invitation contains all the necessary details to invite a guest to attend your wedding. This includes the names of the couple, wedding date, location, start time of the wedding ceremony and reception, RSVP instructions and any other details you wish to include. One popular option is to send a separate evening reception invitation with all the details to make it clear to guests that they are only invited to the evening celebration.
Save the dates
When to send save the dates
Once you’ve booked your wedding venue, you’re good to go. Ideally, save the dates should be sent 9 months before the big day, though anywhere between 6 to 12 months works well. This gives your guests plenty of time to secure time off work, organise childcare and arrange travel if needed.
What to put on save the dates
When it comes to what to put on save the dates, it’s okay to keep it simple. Wedding save the dates should provide the following:
- The names of the couple
- The wedding date
- The location of the wedding venue
- Wedding website link (if you have one)
How to create save the dates
The save the date is the first glimpse of the wedding aesthetic. Designing save the dates is therefore an opportunity to establish a visual identity that carries through to invitations, signage and your overall wedding décor. A great place to browse for inspiration is Pinterest. Pay attention to the fonts, hues and designs that catch your eye.
When it comes to how to create a save the date, you have the option of hiring a professional or creating your own. Deciding to DIY your save the dates doesn’t mean you have to start completely from scratch, though. Websites like Canva offer a wide range of save the date templates and you’ll have the option to personalise everything from the colour palette to the font and imagery.
Then, you can choose between getting physical prints delivered straight to your door or sending digital copies to guests. Digital save the dates are often more cost effective and can be sent instantly, while physical ones add a personal touch and can serve as a keepsake for your guests. But while physical wedding stationery might look beautiful, you should consider postage costs when budgeting for invites and save the dates.
If you have a colour scheme or theme you know you’ll include in your wedding, then you can incorporate it into your save the dates. If you’re designing your wedding save the dates from scratch, then you’ll also need to choose your own fonts.
How to respond to a save the date
A save the date is not a wedding invitation, so guests don’t need to formally confirm their attendance at this stage. However, guests can acknowledge that they received a save the date by letting you know that they’re excited about the upcoming event. That being said, if a guest already knows they can’t attend, they should inform you as soon as possible rather than waiting for the invitation.
Wedding invitations
When to send wedding invitations
According to traditional etiquette, wedding invitations should be sent out 4 to 6 months before your wedding day. This gives your guests plenty of time to confirm their RSVP, arrange travel and book accommodation if needed. Your guests should already have your big day in their planners and the invitation is really just to confirm all the finer details.
What to put in wedding invitations
When it comes to what to put in a wedding invitation, you should be sure to communicate all the vital details of your wedding day. Wedding invitations should include the following:
- The names of the couple
- The wedding date
- The address of the wedding ceremony and wedding reception
- The start time of the wedding ceremony and wedding reception
- RSVP instructions
- Travel information
- Accommodation options
- Itinerary if you have multiple events
- Meal selection instructions (if you’re having a formal dinner)
- Instructions relating to children (note if the wedding will be child free or if children are welcome)
- Dress code
- Plus one information
- Wedding website information (if you have one)
How to create wedding invitations
Invitations can set the tone for your wedding and give guests essential details about your big day, so getting them right is important. When it comes to designing wedding invitations, you can use a professional wedding stationery company or create your own using a wedding invitation template.
Wedding stationery designers can help bring your vision to life with their unique styles and expert craftmanship. They will work with you to choose fonts and colours and create custom artwork for the invitations for your special day. Their offerings don’t stop at invitations, either. A wedding stationery professional can provide everything you need for your special day, from place cards to table seating plans. However, to create your own wedding invitations, open a wedding invitation template in a design platform like Canva. Customise the template with your own information, colour palette, font and imagery, then print and share it with your family and friends.
When deciding between digital and physical wedding invitations, consider the tone and style of your wedding. Digital invitations are eco-friendly, budget friendly and allow for quick updates, making them a convenient choice for couples. On the other hand, physical invitations offer a tangible and elegant touch, allowing you to showcase your wedding theme through beautiful designs and high-quality materials but come at a higher cost. Ultimately your choice should reflect your personal style and the experience you want to create for your guests.
Whether you choose to hire a professional or design your own wedding invitations, incorporating your colour scheme into your wedding invitations is a good way to tie them in with the rest of your wedding stationery as well as the overall wedding theme.
How to respond to a wedding invitation
A guest’s first duty is to respond promptly to any wedding invitation. Guests should check their schedule and consult with anyone else included in the invitation, then make their response as soon as they can. If they can’t make it, they should let you know as soon as possible so you have time to invite someone in their place if you wish.
In the RSVP, guests should clearly state whether they will be attending or not and, if applicable, list the names of all the guests attending from their party. When the invitation is addressed to an individual “and guest,” they must decide if they want to bring someone and let you know. Some RSVP cards will also ask guests to pre-select a meal option or to note any dietary restrictions.
That brings us to the end of our guide to save the dates and wedding invitations. We hope you found our guidance helpful and that it makes your wedding planning just that little bit easier. The exceptionally talented team at Heather Glen Country House Hotel are here to offer any further advice throughout every step of your wedding planning. If you’re considering Heather Glen as the venue for your special day, we would love to hear from you.
