By Ashlee Williams
Save the dates should be a fun, low stress way to spread the news that your officially getting married.
I Do's of Save The Date Cards
♥ Keep the announcement simple; you don't need to list any specific wedding information. Here is a sample of wording:
Stephen Anderson and Kristin Davis
are getting married
Saturday, Nov 16, 2011
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Formal Invitation to Follow
♥ Send your cards 6-8 months prior to the wedding - eight months in advance is best if many of your guests will be traveling from out of town and need to make arrangements.
♥ Save the dates are not absolutely necessary, but it may be a good idea to send them. Especially; if you are having a destination wedding or a wedding that takes place on a major holiday weekend (Thanksgiving, Christmas) then the cards are a must to let your guests know far enough in advance to avoid conflicting plans.
♥ Be creative and stylish with your Save the Dates. For an ultra formal wedding it's customary to send a formal layered card with an envelope. However, for a more "fun" wedding your card options are limitless. For a fall wedding you could send a leaf in a box with the announcement on a small card, or maybe send a leaf shaped announcement. For a destination wedding, you couldh have post cards sent from the location saying "Can't wait to see you here on December 15 for our special day!" For beach weddings, you could send a message in a bottle with your rolled up note of information. Use your imagination to make your announcement as unigue as you are.
♥ Remember, a save the date card is like a pre-invitation - once you send it to a person, by the standards of etiquette you have invited them to a wedding and must them a formal invitation too.
♥ Even if a recipient of your save the date card lets you know they cannot attend before the invites are officially sent, you must send them one anyway.
Dont's for Save the Date Cards
♥ Evites (as trendy as they are) or emails do not count as save the dates. Don't send save the dates through the Internet - always send them through the Postal Service.
♥ If you are inviting someone to bring a guest with them, don't forget to address the save the date to that person with the words "and guest". Decide in advance who your inviting with and without a guest to avoid confusion later on.
♥ Don't forget to send save the dtes to even the VIP's; your bridal party, and groomsmen, and even your parents! Just because they are involved doesn't mean they shouldn't feel like valued guests too.
♥ Recommended online Resources ♥
