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.
limousine service Crete .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareBeach weddings are popular but they do present "special issues".Failing... Read More
One of the most important steps in planning your wedding,... Read More
With the average cost of a wedding around ?17,000 you... Read More
Creating a wedding budget is one of the first things... Read More
Diamond hunting can be quite traumatic for the uninitiated. It... Read More
In my opinion, these things matter...1. Valuing commitment over instant... Read More
There are many answers to this question, it all depends... Read More
Brides through the ages have accessorized with wedding jewelry to... Read More
Diamonds may be a woman's best friend, but modern man... Read More
After choosing the design for your wedding invitations you can... Read More
Here comes the bride! Walking through the alley confidence holding... Read More
Give disc jockey's credit. Many of them have endured so... Read More
Your wedding is nine months away and you decide to... Read More
Your physiological and psychological expressions of sexual behavior during the... Read More
Marriage and Attraction: Relation is successful as long as there... Read More
"Las Vegas theme weddings are the envy of the world.... Read More
To keep romance alive and nurture the intimacy in your... Read More
What about this business of food for lovers? Is it... Read More
How do you handle arguments that lead to heated exchanges... Read More
Whoever said diamonds are women's best friends, surely missed on... Read More
Ever since Queen Victoria wed in 1840, however, white has... Read More
Just as destination weddings are fast growing in popularity, so... Read More
Wedding shower favors are a way to extend gratitude from... Read More
When planning your wedding, what type of entertainment are you... Read More
"What am I supposed to have in my invitation?" This... Read More
Chicago limo Lisle ..Original gift ideas for your Bridesmaids and Bestman.What better way... Read More
Mens wedding bands are an emerging phenomenon. Whilst women have... Read More
"What in the world could they have been thinking?"Definitely words... Read More
The look of the wedding invitations you send will not... Read More
Your wedding is supposed to be the most important day... Read More
Remember the frenzy of the paparazzi when they caught Sarah... Read More
Strange as it may seem the use of a wedding... Read More
Australia honeymoon vacations are more than just being the pleasure... Read More
Jealousy has often been called the "green-eyed monster," and with... Read More
An ideal combination. A good career, a great husband and... Read More
Let's face it retirement is a time of great transition... Read More
Communication plays one of the most important roles in any... Read More
Before George W Bush became a President, John Quincy Adams... Read More
One of the most memorable days in our lives is... Read More
There are many answers to this question, it all depends... Read More
If you are planning to have a full wedding that... Read More
Many spouses carry heavy suitcases filled with a collection of... Read More
The formula for marital harmony and success is not a... Read More
People are looking for life-long relationships in the most peculiar... Read More
Mattresses and marriage go hand in hand. Sleep is important... Read More
You can look fabulous at your daughter's wedding in a... Read More
So you've been in that perfect relationship for some time... Read More
Every bride wants to look perfect on her wedding day.... Read More
Many wives cheat on their husbands. This could be due... Read More
Proposing marriage to your beloved is a very big step.... Read More
Marriage & Wedding |