Save-the-Date cards let guests know a wedding is being planned for a particular date, giving them enough time to clear their schedules. These cards should be sent at least six months before the wedding date. If you are planning a destination wedding, live in a resort town, are planning a wedding during peak travel times, or know many of your guests plan their travels twelve months out, sending Save-the-Date cards earlier is always acceptable.

Creating the Save-the-Date Card

There are a couple of points to keep in mind. First, this card is a preview of your wedding; therefore, its formality and tone should reflect the overall tone of your event. Second, the card is not an invitation to anything; it is merely a precursor to the invitation, giving the guests time to make travel arrangements, so be sure to send those invitations when the time is right. Although the Save-the-Date conveys basic wedding facts, many couples choose to include more detailed travel, tourist, and accommodation information so that guests may begin planning their trip.

The basic Save-the-Date wording is simple.

Bride's and groom's name

The host's name (optional)

Date of the wedding

Geographic location of the wedding (a specific venue is not necessary yet, but at least the city or state where the wedding is being planned)