Sending out Save-the-Dates

We have great save-the-date choices at very reasonable prices and specialize in save-the-dates with a local theme – Baltimore and Maryland artwork, drawings of local wedding sites, local maps, crabs and Chesapeake Bay lighthouses and more.

The question we are asked most often is when to send the save-the-date out.

First, you need to have dates secured and contracts signed for your major vendors. Then, you need to be absolutely sure what the capacity is at your ceremony site and at your reception site. We also recommend that you work out enough of your budget and cost per guest so that you know you are comfortable inviting everyone on your list. Once someone receives a save-the-date, you can’t cut them from the wedding invitation list if you decide to have a smaller wedding. All of this advice sounds obvious, but we could tell you a few stories.

We recommend sending save-the-dates out 6-9 months before most weddings. This gives your out-of-town guests time to put in for vacation at work, book hotels, and to look for good airfares. But send a save-the-date even if you don’t have 6 months – it will include information or link to information on your wedding website, and you won’t have to give hotel, registry, travel, and other information out to one guest at a time. And if your wedding is in another country, send them earlier just in case some guests have to renew their passports.

It is a good idea to have your return address on the back flap of the envelope. This mailing is your test to see if you have the correct addresses for your wedding guests. If something comes back to you in the mail, you can research it before the wedding invitations are mailed.

The other question we are often asked is whether the save-the-date has to match the wedding invitations.

In a word - no. Most couples who are choosing save-the-dates have not finalized the wedding colors or decor yet - they have a general idea of what the wedding will look like, but the specifics are not in place. So the save-the-date should go with the feel of the wedding but does not have to match it. For example a cute save-the-date with Adirondack chairs on it might not be the best choice for a black tie wedding in a grand ballroom, but would be perfect for a country barn wedding or a beach wedding.

Have fun with your save-the-date - people love receiving save-the-dates with engagement photos, pets included, city skylines, timelines and stories of your relationship. Your save-the-date sets the stage for friends and family to look forward to celebrating with you, and that's what it's all about.