The sole purpose of save-the-date cards is to give the people you intend to invite to your wedding plenty of advance notice. If, for example, you are planning to marry during the holiday season or a holiday weekend, you'll want your guests to reserve you wedding date on their calendars months in advance. If you will be inviting guest from out of town who will need to fly in for the wedding, they will need time to make the necessary travel arrangements.
You should send save-the-date cards to all of your intended guests when either of these circumstances fit your situation. Even friends and family members who you already know will attend should be sent a card.
On the other hand, if you are not sure whether a particular person or couple will be invited to the wedding, don't send them a save-the-date card. And there is really no reason, and it's a waste of your precious money, to buy and send these notices when all of your guests live relatively nearby or the wedding will not occur during a busy time of the year.
Planning and Sending
Once you know all of the basic details about your wedding plans, place your order with your stationer. As with invitations, having these cards printed can take up to several weeks, so give your stationer plenty of time. You can mail these cards out up to six months before the wedding date.
Save-the-date cards can be designed to match the rest of your wedding stationery and ordered at the same time, or they can have a completely different look.
Getting your guests' attention
Some brides-to-be really want these cards to be eye catching so that they truly standout and serve as a visual notice. If this is what you have in mind, look for something unusual, such as scratch-off cards or magnets (that can be posted on your guests refrigerators). Maybe you will want to make your own cards, incorporating one or more of your wedding colors, a graphic design, or a photo.
You can buy save-the-date cards through most wedding stationery manufacturers and retailers. If you want to create your own cards or save money, look for a card-design software program. Michael's arts and crafts stores sells a good software program called "Wedding Invitation Kit" that costs under $25. The program is designed mainly for making your own wedding invitations, but it does include note cards.
What you should do
Since this will be your first written contact with most of your guests, it's important that they make a good first impression. Make sure that you spell each guest's name correctly. If you are unsure about the spelling of someone's name, look it up or contact someone reliable.
In your save-the-date, include the date, time, and place of the ceremony along with any other information that your guests will need.
Here is a sample of how your notice might read:
"Please save the date of Saturday, June 25, 2005, 2 PM, for the wedding of Karen Hinkley and Brian Nelson in Minneapolis, MN. Invitation and directions to follow."
Always follow up with the expected wedding invitation, which should be mailed about six weeks before your wedding date.
A nice touch that can truly be helpful to your guests is to list your web site address-assuming you will be updating it with more details.
What you should not do
Keep in mind the purpose of these cards. Don't include unnecessary or inappropriate information such as directions, the rehearsal dinner location and time, or registry information. (Incidentally, if you do list your name with a bridal registry, the only place that information can be included is in a shower invitation. Generally, good etiquette demands that you rely upon friends and relatives to circulate such details by word of mouth and only if asked.)
Since you are not trying to elicit a response, do not include a reply card. And last but not least, you should not e-mail your save-the-date information. Of course, there is always an exception to every rule, but try not to break this one.
About the Author
Jean Bachcroft is a former public relations director, the founder of Bachcroft and Aloha Labels, and the publisher and editor-in-chief of Town and Country Shopping Bargains Magazine. For designer wedding, holiday, and year-round mailing and return address labels, you can visit her web sites at http://bachcroft.com and at http://bachcroft.com
For http://bachcroft.com visit Town and Country Shopping Bargains.
green cleaning service Wilmette ..You have purchased the latest bridal magazines from your local... Read More
In the last article, we concluded by saying that keeping... Read More
The wedding date and time has been set, the location... Read More
Do you remember when there were no children in your... Read More
No one wants to pay more than they have to... Read More
As you reach 30 and beyond, you encounter a very... Read More
Although I do believe in "till death do us part",... Read More
How much should you spend on a diamond engagement ring?$100?$1000?How... Read More
Mattresses and marriage go hand in hand. Sleep is important... Read More
It is the maid of honor's duty to organize the... Read More
Healthy marriages require time, attention, energy, and vigilance. It's not... Read More
Your wedding is quite possibly the most important day of... Read More
It's your day! The most special day of your life,... Read More
Let's face it retirement is a time of great transition... Read More
The extravagance of weddings is a popular topic. We blame... Read More
Trust is the basis of all human relationships. Trust can... Read More
The purpose of a wedding shower is to celebrate the... Read More
No one has as much fun as the bride to... Read More
The elegant and sophisticated look of glittering, gleaming gold. There's... Read More
You've had friends to your home for dinner. Maybe you've... Read More
Let's talk about writing love letters.Not candy coated pap. Not... Read More
Have you ever been lost?My favorite line about being lost... Read More
Many wives cheat on their husbands. This could be due... Read More
Your wedding day, what is presumed to be the happiest... Read More
Wedding favors are a delightful detail for any wedding shower,... Read More
trusted cleaning company Des Plaines ..OverviewI suppose a typical Christian wedding in the UK can... Read More
One of the top priorities on a wedding day is... Read More
You have your band (around your finger), now it's time... Read More
Have you ever had to give a wedding speech? As... Read More
Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel and Bookpleasures is pleased... Read More
Original gift ideas for your Bridesmaids and Bestman.What better way... Read More
For a bride, shopping for bridesmaid dresses can be one... Read More
Today my three-year-old daughter told my husband that she wants... Read More
You're well into planning your wedding and have finally decided... Read More
My husband Bill and I have just had our 37th-wedding... Read More
Weddings are made in heaven, they say, but they have... Read More
Have you ever wondered why your marriage isn't happier? If... Read More
Honor your Emerald Isle heritage with traditions that are romantic,... Read More
From the book Spider's Big CatchAs June wraps its arms... Read More
"Las Vegas theme weddings are the envy of the world.... Read More
The wedding shower is a traditional party of the marriage... Read More
Australia honeymoon vacations are more than just being the pleasure... Read More
An ideal combination. A good career, a great husband and... Read More
Diamond spending - well, that is up to you. What... Read More
A 2005 mother of bride dress tends to have a... Read More
Basically, there are three wedding bouquet styles. The cascade, round... Read More
Increasing numbers of American brides are thinking about doing the... Read More
Candles, rose petals, satin, succulent foods, perfume-you're probably already familiar... Read More
For many brides, the wedding ceremony starts long before they... Read More
The symbolism of Celtic Diamond Rings is relevant to all... Read More
Marriage & Wedding |