How to Word Your Save the Dates: Tips + Wording Ideas
Why Send Save the Dates?
Just engaged? Then you need to send Save the Dates! They’re one of my favorite parts of stationery because they set the tone for your wedding, give your guests plenty of time to plan, and of course, share your date and location.
If you want to dive even deeper into why Save the Dates matter, I’ve written a full post on it here.
When to Send Save the Dates
Wedding Stationery Timeline Tips
Once you’ve enjoyed getting engaged and are in the planning mode the date and location are your top priorities. You really can’t do anything else in wedding planning until you have those two details set. So now that you have a date and location, sending out save the dates is always a good idea!
Destination Weddings
Depending on when your wedding is, you can consider sending them out up to a year in advance, especially if it’s a destination wedding, a lot of your guests need to travel, or it’s around a holiday.
All Weddings
If you don’t fit into any of those specifics then sending them out at least 6-8 months in advance is a good rule of thumb for most weddings. Working with a stationer can also impact when you send them out depending on their availability and timeline.
I love being able to work with couples from the beginning by designing their save the dates all the way to their wedding day designs so if you’re at this point be sure to fill out my contact form to get started working with me today!
If you want to see how your save the dates tie into your whole wedding stationery timeline in relation to wedding planning be sure to check out my post here.
Save the Date Wording Etiquette: What to Include on Your Card
So now you know why to send them and when to send you need to figure out what actually goes on your save the dates! You can go super simple to more complex (pretty much how all of wedding planning goes). But you definitely need these details to start:
- Names of the couple – definitely include your names so everyone knows who’s getting married obviously!
- Wedding date – this is the whole purpose of your save the dates, you need the actual date so your guests can mark it on their calendar
- City/location – another important detail to give your guests is at least the city of your wedding, you don’t need to add the venue if you don’t want to since you’ll have all of those details with your invitations
- “Invitation to follow” – this is always good to include as it informs your guests that you’ll be sending the formal invitation closer to the wedding
If you include all of the above information on your save the dates you should be good to go, however one other item you might also consider adding is your wedding website…if you have it set up already! This can be especially helpful if you have a lot of guests traveling. It’s a great place for you guests to gather additional information like hotels and other events going on for your wedding before they receive the formal invitation.
Examples of How to Word Save the Dates (Formal to Fun)
Now we’re getting to the fun part coming up with the wording. You definitely need to take into account who you are as a couple and the type of wedding you’re having whether it’s a black tie wedding, at a vineyard, or a rustic barn vibe; these can all impact your wording. Here’s a few ideas to help you start brainstorming your own save the date’s wording. You can also work with your stationer to come up with the best phrase and check out this other blog post with a ton of fun wording ideas for your Save the Dates!
Formal / Black Tie
Kindly Save the Date for the marriage of [Name] & [Name] on [Date] in [City, State]. Formal invitation to follow.
Rustic / Outdoor
Under the twinkling lights of the barn, [Name] & [Name] are saying ‘I do.’ Save the Date: [Date].
Destination Wedding
Pack your bags! [Name] & [Name] are tying the knot in [Location]. Save the Date: [Date].
Romantic Garden
Love is in bloom—Save the Date for [Name] & [Name].
Modern Minimalist
Save the Date: [Couple’s Names], [Date], [Location]. Invitation to follow.
Playful / Fun
He asked, she said yes, and now we party—Save the Date: [Date].
Want your save the dates worded and designed perfectly? That’s where I come in, just fill out my contact form to get started today!
Save the Date Design Ideas
Calligraphy, Pets, & More
The last thing to consider with your Save the Dates is the design (which is of course my favorite part). When it comes to design this is really the first time you get to share the vibe of your wedding with your guests. So while you want to keep it cohesive you can keep it flexible too by giving just a taste of what’s to come.
The save the dates are also a great chance to introduce fun styles like calligraphy, an illustration, or bold colors. I love being able to add something personalized too like a pet drawing. See my post on creative ways to include pets in your wedding stationery. And don’t forget to consider the paper you want to use, you can find paper details in this post.
Custom vs Template Save the Dates
With save the dates you can start with templates to make it really easy or go all the way super custom by working with a stationery designer. It really depends on your budget, time frame, and what you’re looking for. You can learn more about the difference between semi-custom and custom invitations here. Looking for some design inspo for your Save the Dates check out this Pinterest Board!
Need Help with Your Save the Dates? Let’s Work Together
I hope you are now wholly convinced you need to send save the dates and you’re more excited to send them since I’ve gone over all the details of how to word Save the Dates. Ready to create Save the Dates that feel perfectly you? Fill out my contact form today and let’s start designing.
