Save-The-Date cards designed by The Envelope

Hi Arina,
I have chosen to use save-the-date cards for my wedding, but I'm a little confused by all the style selections. Some save-the-dates go into great detail, while others are very straight to the point. My other question is whether or not save-the-date cards are similar to wedding announcements and can I use mine for both? Although my budget is not necessarily an issue, I don't want to get into a position where my save-the-date card cost gets out of control. Should my save-the-dates also match my invitation, which will be designed by a different company? If so, this may be a challenge! Do you have any advice on which style of save-the-date cards is right for me?
- - - Cynthia (Chicago)

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, Cynthia! And, congratulations for deciding to use save-the-date cards to announce your upcoming wedding. If you haven't done so already, I suggest you read our "Hey, Save That Date!" article, which is also filled with great information you may find useful.

Save-the-dates are a wonderful courtesy to your guests. As you will discover in this article, they come in many shapes and styles. I don't necessarily believe that your save-the-date should resemble your invitation, especially if you are planning to have formal invitations. I always love save-the-dates which are informal, welcoming, and most of all, fun! Some people may also use them as wedding announcements, but keep in mind that those are sent out only to people invited to the wedding.

As far as deciding which card style is right for you, let's start from the basics! The main reason many couples are deciding to use save-the-dates is because they want to stylishly announce their wedding to the people they will later invite, and of course, give guests plenty of time to reserve the wedding date on their calendars. If many of your guests reside in the area where your wedding will take place, you may want to keep your save-the-date short and simple. Or, if you have a wedding web site, which lists all the details of your big day, sending out a save-the-date announcing your wedding date and web site address will also suffice. For example, the couple who chose to use the card above announced their wedding date as well as the location of the wedding and reception. On the bottom of the card, they wrote "formal invitations to follow".

If, on the other hand, many of your guests will be traveling from other parts of the country (or world), a save-the-date filled with important information becomes not just a fun announcement, but also an important tool for guests who may not be familiar with the area.

When designing your save-the-date cards, keeping important information concise and easy-to-follow is key! If you hired a designer, take time to consult with him or her about the best way to organize the information and make it easy to find. For example, the invitation on the right, once untied, opens up to a three page booklet that lists all sorts of helpful facts about the wedding -- accommodations near the reception facility, group discount information, plus activities in the area, including phone numbers, web site addresses, and personal comments. Contact information is also included, in case guests have questions.

How much detail is too much? When you have a very large guest list with many out-of-town guests, my motto is "better safe than sorry". This is why I sometimes recommend sending out save-the-dates with as much necessary wedding information as possible to help guests prepare for travel and orient themselves to the wedding activities, especially if this includes pre- and post-wedding day events (rehearsal dinner, brunches, etc.). The below invitation is composed of four beautifully designed sheets of paper, each with its own purpose. The first sheet announces the date of the wedding. The second has a friendly personal message from the bride and groom. The third lists all the information for out-of-town guests, including which hotels have rooms blocked off for the wedding, their hotel rates, their proximity to the reception location, rental car information, and hotel shuttle bus information. The fourth and final sheet lists all the fun local activities including business hours and entrance fees.

Cynthia, ultimately the style you will choose will reflect your wedding as well as your guest list. No matter if you choose to send an informal card announcing the date of your wedding or a detailed booklet listing all the wedding information, your guests will not only be thrilled about the upcoming event, but realize that they will be attending the wedding of a very courteous couple.