Wedding
When to Send Save the Dates: Your Ultimate Etiquette Guide
Sending out a Save the Date is an exciting step in your Wedding Stationery timeline. It makes everything feel a bit more real, and lets your guests start getting excited about the big day. Amongst the excitement, you might be wondering when to send your Save the Dates; how early is too early, and how late is too late?
In this ultimate Save the Date etiquette guide, we will be answering all your burning questions, ensuring you know exactly when to send your Save the Dates, who to send them to, and what to write on them.
Table of contents
Do you have to send Save the Dates?
Who should you send Save the Dates to?
What to write on Save the Dates
Do Save the Dates have to match Wedding Invitations?
What is a Save the Date?
Think of a Save the Date as a “pre-invitation” that’s sent out a few months ahead of your formal Invitations. A Save the Date lets your guests know the date and location of the big day, allowing them plenty of time to make arrangements.
The main intention of sending a Save the Date is to give your guests advance notice to hold the date and ensure they are free to attend. You don’t even need to send the exact venue if you don’t have it yet, just a date and location. The details come further down the line when you send out your Wedding Invitations.
Do you have to send Save the Dates?
You don’t have to, but we very strongly recommend that you do! Without giving invitees a heads up, you run the risk of important guests being unavailable. You want as many of your loved ones in attendance as possible, so giving them plenty of notice is both practical and polite.
A Save the Date is also a good place to include a QR Code for a wedding website or registry if you’re having one.
If you’re creating a registry, you can enjoy a £50 treat on us towards your wedding list!
When to send Save the Dates
The sweet spot for sending Save the Dates is around six to eight months in advance. If your wedding is abroad, over a bank holiday or you’ll have a lot of travelling guests, we recommend leaning more towards eight or even slightly longer. This gives your wedding guests plenty of time to book time off work and make travel arrangements.
How early is too early to send Save the Dates?
We know you’re excited, but… there is such a thing as sending Save the Dates too far in advance! Try and keep it to under a year. Any longer than that and your date might be too far away for guests to make plans, then by the time you’ve sent the Invitations you find they’re no longer available.
As mentioned, the only exception here is if you’re having a destination wedding that will require more planning.
… how late is too late?
If you’re four months or less away from the big day, it’s not worth sending Save the Dates and at this point you should just send your Wedding Invitations.
Who should you send Save the Dates to?
Everyone who’s getting an Invitation should also be sent a Save the Date. Send one to each guest, or if you have a family attending who live in the same household, or couples living together, they can just be sent one. You should also send Save the Dates to people like parents and the wedding party. Remember, there’s no going back once your Save the Dates are in the post, so make sure you’re completely happy with your guest list!
What to write on Save the Dates
When writing your Save the Dates, it’s important to keep it simple. While it can be tempting to get carried away, keep the details to the following:
- The couple’s names
- The wedding date
- The venue or the general location
- Include a variation of “formal invitation to follow” to reassure guests that more details will be on the way
Save the Date wording examples
If you need some wording inspiration to get started, here are a few examples covering traditional, relaxed, and destination wedding wording.
Formal and traditional options
Save the Date
For the wedding of
Sally Ann Smith
And
Peter Michael Jones
Saturday, the ninth of June
Two thousand and twenty seven
Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Formal Invitation to follow
Or…
Catherine and Sarah
Invite you to Save the Date
For their wedding ceremony and reception
20th May, 2027
Colchester, Essex
Formal Invitation to follow
Modern and relaxed options
Mark your calendars,
Tom and James are tying the knot!
18th April, 2027
York
More details on the way
Or…
Save the Date!
Priya and Jake are getting married!
5th September, 2027
Montpellier, Cheltenham
We’d love for you to celebrate with us, formal invitation coming soon
Destination wedding
Start packing your bags!
Jess and Emily are getting married in Greece
15th August, 2027
Invitation and travel information to follow
Or…
Save the weekend!
15th-17th July, 2027
Charlie and Ella
Are getting married
Paris, France
Formal invitation, travel and accommodation information to follow
Do Save the Dates have to match Wedding Invitations?
No! Your Save the Dates and Invitations don’t need to match unless you want them to.
If you want some cohesion without them being exactly the same, maybe pick some key colours or themes to include in both the designs. You might also like to choose the same paper for both. A luxury stock will make your Save the Dates even more special. Don’t forget to order a few extra for keepsakes!
Create the perfect Save the Date with Printed.com
Now you know when to send Save the Dates, who to send them to, and what to write on them, it’s time for the fun part! Creating a Save the Date Card with Printed.com couldn’t be easier. Simply upload your artwork, choose your size, shape and paper, and we’ll do the rest! You can even add on White Envelopes completely free! Need inspiration? Why not order a free Wedding Sample Pack?
Ready to make it real?
About the author
When Ellie's not busy crafting content, you will find her at a gig, knitting or crocheting!
