Getting Your Wedding Guests to Save The Date
You are engaged - congratulations! Undoubtedly, immediately
after your friends and family squeal with delight over your
news, the first question they will ask is, "So when is the
date?" It can be somewhat annoying, especially if you are very
recently engaged, but really all your loved ones are asking so
they can mentally save the date.
So begins your wedding planning. Obviously the first thing you
need to do is start viewing places for your ceremony and
reception, because without those there is no wedding.
Once you have nailed down your wedding's place and date - then
its time to get the word out. This is especially important if
you are having your wedding during peak wedding season (usually
the spring, early summer) or over any holiday weekend. Keep in
mind, that while surely your guests are looking forward to
celebrating with you, they can have conflicts. Wedding season
unfortunately conflicts with graduation season, and long
weekends are usually booked up with vacation plans way in
advance. If possible, you want to send your save the date cards
out 6-9 months in advance. Lean toward the longer end of that
spectrum if you have guests coming long distance or if you have
a popular wedding date booked.
Now comes the fun part.
What should they look like? Do they have to match? Who should I
send them to? What should my save the dates say? How much
information do I need to include? The answer to all those
questions is easy. Its entirely up to you and your fiancee. As
long as the most important information is on there - your names
and your date all the rest is gravy. However, to help guide you
through the decision making we offer these words of advice.
What should they look like? Save the dates are your opportunity
to get the word out about your approaching wedding in fun,
expressive way. Save the date announcements can be more casual
than your more formal wedding invitation. However, keep in mind
this is your chance to create a first impression. Your guests
will receive your save the date and start forming impressions on
what kind of event it will be. So we suggest you be unique, but
use high quality materials. Nothing sends the wrong message like
flimsy materials.
Some suggestions for unique save the dates can be found here:
http://www.allthepieces.com/Productdesc.aspx?pID=146&cID=514
http://www.allthepieces.com/Productdesc.aspx?pID=141&cID=483
http://www.allthepieces.com/Productdesc.aspx?pID=142&cID=490
http://www.allthepieces.com/Productdesc.aspx?pID=234&cID=986
Do they have to match? Nope. They don't have to match the rest
of your wedding, but they can. If you are the kind of person who
has been dreaming of what your wedding would look like even
before you were engaged then perhaps you have some ideas already
for color themes, design styles, etc. If that's the case, great!
Work with it! However, often times those types of wedding
decisions are not solidified so early in the game so don't sweat
it. The priority is to get those save the dates in the mail so
you get on your guests' calendars. Another consideration, if you
are the type A personality with your wedding plans all mapped
out, you are going to be seeing a lot of those colors or design
decisions over the upcoming months. So much so that you might
get a little sick of your chosen colors (gasp! Say it isn't so!)
The save the date offers the opportunity to use your second
choice color ideas, just to mix it up a bit. The point is, if
you see something completely unrelated to your wedding ideas
that you absolutely love - go for it!
Who do I send them to? Lose the notion that the save the date
has to be sent to everyone on your list - because it doesn't. In
fact, (and you didn't hear this from us) if there are people on
your list that are what we like to call "obligatory invites" =
people you really have to invite due to family ties, or
professional connections, this would be a good time to hold off.
We aren't saying to disinvite them, but if they only receive the
formal invitation then no harm done. The reality is if you are
inviting your boss to the wedding simply because it's the
politically correct thing to do, then you are probably secretly
hoping he/she doesn't come. Having said all this, we do
recommend you make sure you send your save the date to people
who might interact with eachother. Say you have a distant Great
Aunt Matilda who you are inviting purely out of family
obligation. Normally you would not send her a save the date.
However, if your Great Aunt Matilda has dinner over your cousin
Amy's house and sees your save the date hanging on her
refrigerator there might be feelings hurt.
What should my save the dates say? How much information do I
need to include? The way to think of save the dates is almost
like directions. You are instructing your guests to save the
date, and beyond that you are giving them all the most important
information in order to make arrangements to attend. For a local
wedding with not many long distance guests you could get away
with just your names, the date of your wedding and the town
where you will be holding the event. However, that is rarely the
case. Usually planning couples have information they would like
to communicate. Here are the various ways to do so and things
you can include:
The date: Obviously!
Your names: You can keep it casual and just use your first names
or if you are concerned this might confuse your guests you can
use both of your full names. However, the point can be made if
your guests don't know you by your first names, why are they
being invited?
The place: You really don't need to give them the exact GPS
location of you wedding but just a general region would be a
good idea. For example, "New York City."
Everything beyond those first three elements is optional.
Hotel information: Chances are you are going to reserving some
hotel blocks for your guests. If you know that information it
would very helpful to your guests to have it early with your
save the date. However if haven't gotten to your blocks yet,
don't worry. You can include that information with your formal
invitation. If you aren't doing blocks for your guests, its
still not a bad idea to recommend places to stay to your guests.
Website URL: Wedding websites are a great idea. It gives you a
place to communicate all the information you have unlimited. It
also can be updated as decisions are made - which should be a
great comfort to you.
Airport information: If a lot of your guests are flying to your
wedding, then you might want to include how far your ceremony
and reception location is from the airport. Also to note,
several of the major airlines will offer a discount that you can
pass onto your guests. You simply need to call the airlines in
advance and explain that you are planning a large event.
Car rental information: Car rental company will do the same.
They will offer a discount that you can pass onto your guests.
Again, call the car rental companies in advance and explain that
you are planning a large event. Things to do/Places to eat: This
type of information is totally optional but can be a nice touch
for your guests especially if they are coming long distance to
attend your wedding. It could convince your guests to make an
extended weekend of your wedding if you suggest some fun
activities for everyone before and after your wedding. Also, if
you have favorite restaurant recommendations that can be a nice
personal touch for your guests to enjoy.
Lastly, be sure to include the text "Formal Invitation to
Follow" If you don't you will be surprised at how many people
will call you thinking your save the date is your wedding
invitation. Your great Aunt Matilda (assuming you sent her that
save the date after all) is going to ask, "Where is the rsvp
card?"
-written by Lauren Franklin www.allthepieces.com