Are Save the Date Announcements Worth the Effort?

A lot of brides and couples have asked over the years if save the date announcements are even really necessary, is it really worth the effort, especially if formal or traditional wedding invitations are going to be sent out anyway. So what's the reason and why would you want to use them?

First, depending on what time of the year you're getting married, some of your guests may be making plans well ahead of time for vacations or other travel events. Since wedding invitations aren't usually sent out until about six to eight weeks before the wedding, some guests may need a little more time than that to make sure they're going to be around for your wedding.

So some couples send out these announcements three to six months before the wedding date, sometimes even as soon as they officially announce their engagement and set the wedding date, especially if they're having a short engagement and set the date for just six to months out.

Do they have to be formal like wedding invitations?
No! These "heads up" announcements can be as simple as a single card or even a postcard or they can be folded cards with a little more information on them, but not as much as would be on the traditional wedding invitation.

Some of the things that may typically be included are:

• The couple's names
• The wedding date
• A simple verse or poem about the couple
• The general wedding location, for instance the city and state

Some couples are starting to include more specific details, especially for out-of-town guests who will be invited, such as nearby hotel and travel accommodations, to save time when it comes to sending out the formal wedding invitations later.

That's not a requirement though, and save the dates can still be a simple announcement that, 'Hey, we're getting married! Mark your calendar and watch for an invitation to come later."

How simple or formal you make your save the date is up to you, but here are some unique save the date designs and ideas to get you started thinking:

Photo strips: You know the photos that come out of the photo booths? These are becoming more popular today for putting on save the date announcements. Why have just one photo of you as a couple when you can have two or three?

Post cards: Since these little pre-invitation announcements don’t have to have the formality of the actual wedding invitation, a lot of couples are cutting the cost of postage by mailing out postcards instead. These are great when you're only including your names and date of the wedding.

Stickers: These are handy to include if you're sending out actual cards in envelopes. Your guests can stick them on their calendar as a reminder that an invitation will be coming later.

Magnets: Another popular idea! Who doesn't love fridge magnets? Simply attach a magnet to the back of an announcement postcard and your guests can put them on their fridge.

Laminated bookmarks: An innovative way to tell your guests to "bookmark the date."

DIY for Cheap Save the Date Announcements
To stay on the cheap side, remember, these announcements only get sent to the people who are on your guest list. So if you're not planning on inviting someone, obviously don't send them a save the date announcement or they'll wonder later why they didn't get invited to the wedding.

You can make your own announcements too. If you have a good quality printer, you just need to get some extra supplies like printer ink, card stock and envelopes. Then find some templates online or use an Avery postcard or greeting card template, and you can save some money over purchasing preprinted cards from a stationery store.

Again, these little "heads up" announcements can be fun and non-traditional or they can take on the same formality as the traditional wedding invitations you'll be sending out later.

And while it isn't required that you send them out, they are worth the little bit of effort it takes to put them together and your guests will appreciate the time you took to send them.

From Save the Date Announcements to Save the Date Bookmarks
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