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Save the Date

Wedding invitations are usually sent out three months before the wedding so you might want to notify guests in advance - so they can save the date.

Letting guests know as soon as you’ve booked your wedding day (or at least written the guest list) allows them to put the date in their diaries so they can keep the day free. You’ll also find out in advance if there are people who already know they won’t be able to make it.

Alternatively, you could save some cost and send your wedding invitations out earlier if you’re organised enough!

Save the date wording

There are a couple of ways in which you can ask guests to save the date – either verbally, by email, telephone or by sending save the date cards. Save the date cards don’t have to be formal. We’ve put together a few examples below to help you with your the wording.

‘Dear ........ Please save the date of Saturday 4th June, 2010 to celebrate the marriage of ........ & ........ Invitations will be sent in early April.’

‘Save the date. We’re getting married on Saturday 4th June, 2010 and would love you to be there. Invitations and details to follow. Love ..... and.......’ (Don’t forget to include your surname!)

‘Save the date: ....... and ...... are getting married on Saturday 4th June, 2010. Invitations to follow.’

Save the date card ideas

Save the date cards are usually very simple. A one-sided postcard or smaller sized card detailing the name of the bride and groom and the date, and a request to save the date are all you need. Whilst some choose to coordinate all their stationery, most couples will not have had a chance to think about many things when they book the date – let alone the colour scheme. If this is the case - you might want to stick with something neutral for the time being.

If you’re looking for something a bit more unusual, we’ve put together a few ideas for ‘save the date’ cards.

• Save the date cards on hand-made fans or flowers attached with a pointed paper fastener. Write the details on different petals or fans.
• Two cardboard hearts attached with a pointed paper fastener (aka Brads) – ‘save the date’ on one, details on the other
• Personalised photo postcards or cards. Use a photo taken on your engagement or another nice snap of the two of you together. You can get 100 postcards for £55 from Photobox.
• Plastic Credit cards. Savethedatecards.co.uk has a range of styles starting from £83 per 100.
• Save the date fridge magnets are a great idea for reminding people of the date. There are quite a few suppliers quoting anything from £64 - £124 per 100. Take a look at 123print.co.uk, savethedatefridgemagnets.co.uk , Bride & Groom Direct or Vistaprint.
• Business card templates. It’s relatively cheap to print business cards these days – replace business details with save the date details for as little as £4.50 for 250!
• Save the date stickers can be stuck straight in the diary or on anything you like. Check out Zazzle and Mypanini.com. Alternatively, design your own address labels and create your own stickers. Vistaprint do 140 return address labels for less than a fiver!
• Create your own photo strips/story line with three or four pictures of the two of you. In each picture hold up a different sign to say 1. Save the date. 2. Your wedding date. 3. We’d love to see you there. ‘Slimvites’ from Photobox would be perfect – 100 for £80.
• Save the date post cards with a design of your choice can save a bit of money as you won’t need envelopes. Get 100 postcards for £24 from 123print.co.uk.
• If you time it right, send save the date cards with your Christmas cards.
• Use templates on Microsoft Office to design and print your own save the date cards.

If you choose to make your own, take a look at our tips and advice on making your own wedding stationery.

nofreetime tips

• If you ask people to save the date, keep a note! If would be very embarrassing if you miss them off the guest list having asked them to save the date. Sending a save the date card is pretty much the same as inviting someone.
• If you’ve yet to finalise your guest lists, sending out save the date cards might not be a good idea. If there are some people you really must have at your wedding – verbally ask if they can keep the date free.
• Make sure you include the year – otherwise the guests might save the right date in the wrong year!
• You might want to include your surname just in case the recipient doesn’t know who it’s from! Saying that, if they can’t work out who you are or don’t know you’re engaged – perhaps they’re not such good friends!
• Use Postcards if you want to save the cost of envelopes and use 2nd class stamps.