By Colette Petersen
Photos by David Cro

Most women want to shout their engagement to the world. Caught up in the initial excitement of choosing a wedding date and practicing her new signature she wants to tell everyone her good fortune. A recent trend involves sending save-the-date cards as soon as the date is chosen. Be sure you make the most of the opportunity to communicate early with your guests.

Traditionally, save-the-date cards would only be sent when necessary. Not every wedding event, or even every guest, required this additional notice. Close family and friends who live far away were given more time to prepare. Destination and holiday weddings were the most likely to require more advanced notice for guests because guests needed to make travel arrangements.

Today brides generally send save-the-date cards to all intended guests. The wedding location still determines how early save-the-date cards should be sent. If the wedding will occur near a popular tourist destination such as Nashville or Orlando more notice is required so guests can get the most reasonable airfare possible. Travel on busy holiday weekends fills up fast, so eight months in advance is recommended. Keep your guests’ needs in mind when timing your save-the-date cards. For most situations, six months in advance is the best bet unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Sending save-the-date cards cannot take the place of invitations. Any guest who receives a save-the-date card MUST receive an invitation to the wedding as well. Save-the-date cards are a good way to double check the addresses for the invitations. You will be able to start finding correct addresses for any returned items long before the invitation is addressed.

Along with helping organize and prioritize your guest list, save-the-date cards contain information that helps keep the invitation uncluttered. If save-the-date cards are sent early and include travel details, that information does not have to be repeated in the invitation, so there is one less piece of paper in the envelope.

A save-the-date card is a great place to let your creativity shine. These cards must contain basic information—name of bride and groom, wedding date and location. With this information in place you can be as creative as you want with the card itself and its packaging. Quillin suggests adding your own artwork such as a “sketch of the bride and groom” or a funny quote personal to the happy couple. Try to complement the invitation you will be sending and the theme of your event, but the cards should be more relaxed and fun. Use color or varying shapes and sizes to make your cards stand out.

Early notice of your special day provides a service to your traveling guests. Plan ahead and send a package of brochures and hotel information. It’s always a good idea to pre-book a block of hotel rooms for your guests. For destination weddings some guests may decide to extend their stay and make a vacation out of the trip, so be sure to contact the tourist board for some brochures. Consider sending a travel package to your guests and make the save-the-date card a postcard from the wedding destination.

Quillin notes that in the Washington, D.C., area, as with many metropolitan locals, it is common for the couple’s family to live out of the area. Couples may find themselves planning a lengthier celebration that allows guests to vacation and visit the sights while they are in town. Organize a sightseeing trip for family and friends on the Wednesday or Thursday before the wedding. This allows both of your families to become better acquainted and reduces the pressure to give everyone equal time on your important day. Be sure to let your guests know in the save-the-date package that there is plenty to see and do if they choose to use your celebration as a vacation and extend their time in your area.

Save-the-date cards have become an easy way to preempt the invitation and give early warning to your special guests. Remember to send the cards when needed—to facilitate the planning and travel of your guests. Follow up with your invitation, and don’t forget to give travel options for a destination wedding. Use these cards to make the first statement celebrating your special day.