Do I have to send save the dates?

Do I have to send save the dates?

Keeping your wedding timeline on track isn’t just something that needs to be considered on the big day itself. In the weeks and months leading up to your wedding, reaching specific milestones and ticking off the tasks that get you there is the key to a productive, relatively chaos-free, calmer wedding planning experience. A big milestone that every couple is proud to mark is the sending of save the dates and invitations.

While often mentioned in the same breath, wedding invites and save the dates are very different. Here we take a look at how, why sending save the dates is a great idea, and the sending timescales that will keep your wider wedding timeline on course.

What exactly is a save the date?

A save the date is the invite before the invite. It announces the official date of your wedding and its location to help prospective guests plan ahead to perfection. Save the date cards are generally reserved for your wedding A-list – i.e. the loved ones that you definitely want to spend your special day with.

While many couples choose to use their save the dates to give a hint of any wedding theme or scheme that they have planned so far, they can be any design and are often sent in digital format.

How do save the dates differ from invites?

Your save the date is a simple prompt that you plan to get married on a specific date at a certain venue, and would love the recipient to be there too. You’ll essentially use your save the date cards to give guests advance notice that they should keep this date free.

When compared with the official wedding invite, a save the date simply covers the basics. The invitation, which is sent closer to your wedding date, provides all the juicy details, including the time, address and the opportunity to RSVP. Here The Knot reveals the additional information that many couples choose to include in their wedding invites yet leave out of their save the dates:

“To provide guests with those extra details, Kentris recommends including additional wedding stationery and inserts with your wedding invitations that include details such as hotel information, an itinerary if you’re having multiple wedding events (rehearsal dinner, farewell brunch, etc.), maps to the wedding venues, if childcare will be available, and the wedding website. Wedding registry information is traditionally kept off printed materials…”

Your wedding invitations will be much more formal, and will directly complement your chosen wedding theme and colour scheme.

Do I really need to send save the dates?

In short, no. The perks of sending save the dates however, mean many couples make them a key part of their wedding plans.

Your save the dates will give you an insight into how many guests you could be hosting 12 to 18 months down the line when your wedding day arrives. They’ll also help future guests (including out-of-towners travelling from a little further afield) to plan ahead, making them more likely to respond with a big “YES” when the time comes to RSVP.

For couples hosting larger celebrations, and those with wedding dates that are during peak wedding season or around major holidays, save the dates provide extra peace of mind that the people you want to share your day with can be there.

When should I send my save the dates?

Sending save the dates around six to 12 months before your wedding is what many couples choose to do. For those marrying overseas or entertaining out-of-town guests, it’s a matter of the more notice, the better! Your official wedding invitations can then be mailed two to three months before the big day.

Before sending those save the dates, you’re going to need to find your dream wedding venue. Thankfully, you don’t have to search too far to discover just that! Get in touch with our team today to book a private viewing or request a brochure.

To get in touch with a member of the team, please email or call us via the contact details below. Alternatively, if you'd like to request a brochure or enquire about date availability, please click 'Enquire Now' in the menu at the top of this page.

Katie Davies

T: +44 1487 829 555
E: info@holmewood-hall.co.uk

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