Many brides wonder whether or not they should send save the date cards. While they are not absolutely necessary they are a great way to announce your engagement to friends and family. They are also especially important when you are planning a wedding that falls on a holiday weekend or is considered a “destination” for most of your guests. So, while not required they are a nice touch!

Often sent 4-5 months before your event, save the dates are also the first piece of stationery being sent to your guests. So, your card can really help set the tone for your event. When picking your save the date card, think about the theme that would best reflect your wedding:

Cultural Wedding

On/Near the Ocean

Traditional & Romantic

Modern & Contemporary (this also works for those of you who are undecided)

I have to honestly say this whole wedding business at the beginning felt so overwhelming! There were decisions to be made that prior to being engaged I didn’t know ever existed such as my wedding colors, what kind of flowers I liked, or how many buttons my fiancé’s tuxedo should have. I guess these are the details that you don’t usually see as a guest. When everything comes together on that big day, all you notice is the anticipated looks, smiling faces, and teary eyes. But all of this wedding planning may have stirred up a little anxiety in me. Just the other night I woke up in a cold sweat. I had a nightmare that everything that could go wrong with my wedding did! I kept asking people in my dream if I could do it over. Well thank goodness I woke up! And I woke up to happy thoughts and the sound of my doorbell ringing with a little present for me on my doorstep. I got my wedding save the dates! Somehow getting them makes the wedding seem so much more real and I’m actually back on track, happily looking forward to my wedding day. It even got my fiancé in the mood. He actually began desperately calling friends and family for their addresses. I was so proud! I didn’t even have to ask.

Save the Date cards are announcements viewed as a preliminary invitation to your wedding. They should be sent at least 4-6 months before your wedding day and at least 2 months before your wedding invitations. Save the Dates aren’t formal or even a necessity so feel free to personalize them creatively. They’re important primarily if many of your friends and family need to travel to your wedding, if your wedding date falls on or near a holiday or if your wedding location is seasonally busy or a popular vacation destination.

Ideally, sending Save the Date cards 9-12 months in advance is recommended if your wedding falls into any of these categories.Save the Dates provide your guests with ample time to request days off from work, to make travel arrangements and to organize babysitters or house sitters. With proper notice, your guests will be able to make your special day an extended special vacation. A thoughtful gesture is to provide them with additional information to help facilitate their travel, about local special events and points of interest and any group discounts available. Your guests will appreciate the advance notice of a Save the Date card as well as cherish it as a unique keepsake of your unforgettable event.

So I finally decided it was time, time to choose the all-important save the dates! Since the majority of my friends and family are coming from overseas, deciding to include these cards was a necessity. Not only is it fun to send out early announcements of your wedding but it is also out of common courtesy. Your guests will need the extra time to make flight and hotel arrangements and take off from work. I know because as soon as I got engaged my family was eager to know all the details of my wedding. The sooner you can get those out, the better! This will increase the chances that the people you love will be able to join you on your wedding day.

Wedding Paper Divas has a lot of chic choices to pick from. After perusing the site for several days, I finally decided to choose a photo card. This is a great way to make use of any engagement photos you have and add personality to your save the date cards. There were so many out there to choose from, some with juicy colors great for summer like the Canna photo cards and others with perfect nature scenes great for spring such as the new Little Bird Save the Dates.

But I finally selected a simple card that perfectly suits my fiancé and I am completely happy with my choice. I was a little indecisive at first. But who could blame me with all the great new designs? After a lot of flip flopping though, I finally made my decision. Can you keep a secret? Guess which one I chose? I couldn’t resist the new Wild Grass photo save the date cards in Sage.

Wild Grass