Save the date cards: they’re the first tangible sign that your dream wedding is becoming a reality! They’ll end up on refrigerators and calendars as your guests start getting excited to celebrate with you, and they are often one of the first things you design for your special day. But what should they say? Is there a checklist for what to include?
To answer your questions, we’re going to go through what to include on your save the date cards, and then we’ll look at a bunch of different examples so that you can get a feel for what you’d like your own save the date cards to sound like!
What to Include on Your Save the Date Cards
Couple’s Name
Basic, but necessary. You can go for a casual feeling by using only first names, but I’d suggest that if you are going for a save the date design that doesn’t feature a photo of the two of you, make sure that the cards have your full names on them to avoid any confusion!
The Date
Again, the clue is in the name. If nothing else, your save the date cards should have your name and the date. If you are throwing events on more than one day, specify the range of dates or ‘The weekend of’ to help people make their plans.
The City or Area
You don’t need to worry about having a venue booked to send out your save the date cards, but you do need to include the rough location – the city or the region. This is because one of the reasons to send save the date cards is so that people who need to travel to the wedding have enough advance notice to plan their travel and their accommodation. They might have to book time off work or organize childcare well in advance, and they need to know how far they’re going to have to come.
“Invitation to Follow”
Since save the date cards are so simple, most of your information is going to be conveyed on your actual wedding invitations. Let your guests know that their actual invitations with information like timings and venue are on their way – it should save you a few confused messages from people who assume that the save the date is the invitation itself.
Optional: A Photo of You
Your save the date is all about you. It’s the beginning of your community rallying around you and celebrating your love story, and they want to see you! Using an engagement photograph on your save the date cards is a wonderful way to help your guests feel connected to you – but if that’s not your style, we have plenty of incredible designs for you to check out, too.
Optional: Your Wedding Website
The purpose of your save the date cards is simply to give the three pieces of information we covered above – and, as a designer, I appreciate the way that keeping communication clear and simple gives the opportunity for us to create something really clean and beautiful.
With that said, you might have more information that you want to share. Maybe you had to pick just one engagement photo to put on your save the date cards and you’re dying to show the rest! Maybe you have an online RSVP system. Whatever the case may be, if you have a wedding website, it’s a great idea to put it on your save the date cards.
Optional: RSVP Option
If you’re on a tight schedule with wedding planning and you’d prefer to nail down your guest list, you can offer an RSVP option on your save the date cards. Direct people to your website for digital RSVPs, or include a postage-paid return card for their answer.
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Examples of How to Word Your Save the Date Cards
Now that you know what to include on your save the date cards, let’s look at a few different ways you can word these cards to create the atmosphere you’re aiming for.
Direct and Casual
Save the Date
Jeremy and Kate are getting married!
February 6th, 2021 | Napa, California
Details to follow
Kateandjeremyforever.com
Formal and Elegant
Save the Date
for the wedding of
Jeremy Smith and Kate Valentina
February 6th, 2021
Napa, California
For more details, visit our website at
Kateandjeremyforever.com
Understated and Friendly
Save the date
Jeremy & Kate
are tying the knot
February 6, 20221
Napa, California
Invitation to follow
Minimalist
Save our date
Jeremy + Kate
February 6, 2021
Napa, California
Details to follow
Chatty and Bright
We’re getting married!
Be sure to save our date:
February 6, 2021
Napa, California
We can’t wait to see you there!
Lead with the date
02/06/21
Keep this date free for the wedding of Jeremy and Kate
Napa, California
RSVP at Kateandjeremyforever.com
The Ins and Outs of Wording
I hope that by now you’ve picked up on the fact that there’s no one-size-fits-all, “right” way to design your save the date cards. You can infuse them with your personality and start to give a taster for what your wedding is going to be like – you don’t have to follow a script. As long as they have your names, date, and city on them, you’re good to go!
Wedding invitations, on the other hand, can be a completely different situation. I get questions about wedding invitation wording more than almost anything else. I get it! Save the date cards are simple and clear, but when it comes to wedding invitations, you have a lot of information and tradition to navigate – not to mention family dynamics! That’s why I put together a guide to wedding invitation wording. This clear guide is going to help take the stress out of this process so that you can focus on the fun stuff!
Choosing the Right Save the Date Cards
I hope I’ve managed to dispel some of the mystery around writing your save the date cards! This is such a fun part of wedding planning – it really starts to build the excitement.
For the answers to more frequently asked questions about save the dates, check out this handy guide; and if you’re thinking about ordering your save the dates, I hope you’ll take a look at our fabulous collection of save the date cards.
xo, ashley
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