February 11, 2021

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT SAVE-THE-DATE ETIQUETTE

Your save-the-date is your first official wedding-related communication, so it’s important to get it right.

It doesn’t matter what kind of save-the-date you want to send out, printed or electronic, there are some general etiquette guidelines you should follow.

WHEN TO SEND THEM OUT

If you are planning a local wedding, it’s best to send out your save-the-dates at least 6 months prior to your wedding – 8 months is even better. Asking people to travel for your wedding? To give guests enough time to make travel arrangements and arrange childcare, send your save-the-dates out 8-10 months before your big day.

WHO SHOULD RECEIVE ONE

Ideally, you should finalize your guest list before you send out save-the-dates. If you plan on having a B-list, who to send a save-the-date to becomes a little trickier. If someone on the B-list realizes they received a save-the-date much later, they will know they weren’t on the original list, which could be awkward.

If you want to play it safe, only send a save-the-date to your closest family and friends and an invitation to them and everyone else. This way, if you have a flexible guest list, nobody feels left out. If you do this, be prepared for a smaller turnout as not everyone will have set the date aside.

Above all else, make sure that anyone who receives a save-the-date also receives an invitation.

*A popular new trend with engaged couples is bypassing the traditional printed save-the-date and opting to text an electronic version, saving time and money*.

WHAT TO INCLUDE

Your save-the-date does not need to be complicated or overly detailed. At a minimum, you should include your names, a date, and where you plan to get married. These basic details are enough for people to set the date aside and make the necessary arrangements ahead of time. You may also indicate that a formal invitation will be sent out in the next few months.