save the date
wording & etiquette

A save the date is a card that’s mailed before the wedding invitation. It announces the wedding date and location and lets the recipient know they will be invited to the wedding. Basically, the purpose of the save the date is to get guests to mark their calendars and get excited about the wedding to come.

Nope, sending save the dates isn’t mandatory, but we recommend it for a couple of reasons. First of all, your friends and family members will appreciate the heads-up and you’re giving them plenty of time to make any travel plans (if necessary). Some guests will likely have invitations to other weddings or events on the same day, so you’re more likely to get first dibs on the date. And lastly, save the dates are a great way to show off your engagement photos and kick off the celebration of your upcoming union.

However, a caveat: If you’re having a destination wedding, a summer wedding (that’s prime wedding season, after all), or a wedding that falls on a three-day weekend, then save the dates are a must. Those situations really do require a lengthy heads-up about your wedding, so mailing a save the date well in advance increases the chances of guests being able to attend your wedding.

Mail your save the dates six to eight months before the wedding. This will give guests ample time to request days off from work and make travel plans, if needed. However, if the wedding falls on a holiday weekend or is a destination wedding or summer wedding, aim to send them nine months to a year in advance. For reference, Minted has a comprehensive wedding planning checklist that is helpful when laying out your timeline.

Anyone you’re sure you’re going to invite to the wedding. When you’re forming your guest list, start with your immediate family and closest friends and then consider other family members, school friends, coworkers, friends of parents, etc. If your guest list is not entirely finalized, refrain from sending save-the-date cards to guests on your B-list. Once someone receives a save the date, you’re obligated to send them a wedding invitation, too.

This one is a tricky one, because once you offer a plus-one, you can’t take it back. Here’s our guide on whether or not to add plus-ones to your save the date.

When to include a plus-one on the save the date:

• Married, engaged, and cohabitating guests should get a plus-one.
• Give your wedding-party members a plus-one.
• Guests who have been with their partner for so long that it’d be awkward not to invite them.

When NOT to include a plus-one on the save the date:

• If you’ve chosen your wedding date and location, but not a specific venue. It’s best to play it safe since you don’t know how many people your wedding venue will be able to accommodate.
• You’ve chosen a wedding date and venue, but your budget isn’t finalized—it’s a good idea to wait and see how many plus-ones you’ll be able to afford.
• Since it’s still early, consider not offering plus-ones for guests who are casually dating or single; as the wedding date gets closer, you’ll have a more accurate sense of how many guests will be attending and if you can accommodate additional plus-ones.

Yes, you should put the name of you and your fiancé. And, if there isn’t a picture of the two of you on the front or back of the card, you should also make a point to include your last names. Friends who haven’t heard from you in a while, or distant relatives, may be a bit confused by a card that says “Ashley and Mike” otherwise.

When considering what to include on a save the date, avoid asking for an RSVP. The save the date card is the first piece of information you send out announcing the preliminary details about your wedding, not when you request info about attendance. When you send out your wedding invitations you can include an RSVP request.

There are many different kinds of save the dates to choose from to suit your wedding style and budget. You can go the traditional route with a paper save-the-date card sent via snail mail; you could also opt for a more casual postcard-style save the date or a magnetic save the date that guests can stick on their refrigerator as a reminder. We also have change the date card designs in case you need to postpone your wedding due to unforeseen events. Check out our full list of 38 unique save the date ideas, our roundup of all the different Minted card sizes and formats you can choose from, or our list of 7 change the date card trends.

These days, many couples are opting for electronic invitations to many wedding-related parties, like the engagement party or bachelor/bachelorette party. Electronic save the dates are definitely a convenient and affordable option, especially if many of your guests live overseas or if you’re hoping to keep your wedding as eco-friendly as possible. However, there are a couple of drawbacks to consider:

1. There’s a chance your save the date email might get filtered into a guest’s spam folder or that the email address you have for someone is one they no longer check.
2. Digital correspondence doesn’t have the tangibility factor of an actual save the date card. When a guest receives a save the date in their mailbox, they’ll likely stick it on the refrigerator as a reminder.
3. If you’re emailing a save the date, it might get buried in guests’ inboxes once they’ve read the message.

Another thing to keep in mind is the formality of your wedding to come. The save the date functions as a little sneak peek at the kind of wedding you’re planning. So, the more formal the celebration, the more likely a printed save the date card will convey a similar tone and aesthetic, rather than an email.

Keeping those factors in mind, if you decide to go the digital route, we suggest emailing save the dates to everyone on your guest list. Then, take the extra step to also snail-mail a printed save the date card to not-so-tech-savvy guests (e.g., older guests who might not check email regularly), as well as family members who might want to save the card as a wedding keepsake.

Save the dates tend to be less formal in style than the wedding invitation, so this is your chance to give your guests a glimpse of you as a couple. If you’ve taken engagement photos, choose a couple of your favorites to incorporate into a photo-themed save the date design. Having a destination wedding? Play up your wedding locale with a save the date design that highlights the setting (think: palm fronds, mountain vistas, the Manhattan skyline, etc.). But you can never go wrong with classic stationery choices, like elegant calligraphy, romantic watercolors, and metallic foils. Also, keep in mind, it’s nice if your save the dates tie in somewhat with the theme of your wedding website. For tips on how to make a wedding website and how to choose wedding colors as you design it, we have the resources to make it easy for you!

Yes—anyone who received a save the date announcement must also receive a wedding invitation. When someone receives a save the date in the mail, there is a clear expectation they will be invited to the wedding and that a formal invitation will follow. Failing to send a wedding invitation to someone who received a save the date would essentially be uninviting them. If your guest count and/or the wedding budget has become an issue since mailing out the save the dates, then sit down with your partner to figure out a way to scale back on catering, decorations, or music instead.

And if your questions still aren’t answered or you need some additional inspiration, check out our top 10 tips from wedding planners.