Save-the-dates: a wedding guide
Save-the-dates are the first thing guests get. They share your date and your city.
When couples book this
About 7 months before your wedding.
Still deciding the wedding
Your wishlist
Answer these before you meet anyone.
Printed, magnet, or digital — what are you leaning toward?
What look are you picturing?
Do you want the design to carry into your invitation suite?
Comparing your options
What to ask each one
This shop's production turnaround
Proof rounds, print run, and shipping time.
Can this shop carry the design into the invitation suite?
How it’s usually priced
Usually priced per household.
Possible extras: Postage, Envelope addressing, Design / photo customization fee.
Booked and settling details
What you settle once booked
Printed, magnet, or digital?
What the card says
Names, date, city or venue, website — and 'invitation to follow'. Details stay light; the invitation carries the rest.
How are you collecting mailing addresses?
The quiet long pole — collecting addresses routinely takes longer than printing. Digital sends still want addresses eventually; the invitations will need them.
How are envelopes addressed?
What to look over
Correct these details as needed.
How many to send?
The save-the-date freezes the guest list's outer edge earlier than most couples expect.
For businesses
The brief a couple sends you has these sections:
- The event
- The piece
- Quantities
- Key dates
- Production
- Logistics
- Contacts