Wedding Paper Divas recently launched a line of destination save the date cards that focus on major metropolitan areas.  These are a great idea if your planning with have a big city wedding with lots of out of town guests.  Check out some of my favorite designs below:

From L to R: Image from Art Posters International, London Ferris Wheel; Ferris Wheel Save the Date; Chicago Theater Save the Date; Chicago Skyline

From L to R: Golden Gate Bridge;  Golden Gate Save the Date; Lady Liberty Save the Date; New York Skyline

For more ideas on planning the perfect big city wedding, check out this Urban Wedding Inspiration Board.

Get creative with your Save the Date cards! If you’ve decided to send a photo save the date announcement, have fun with it. Whether you hire a professional photographer or decide to have a friend take your photo, here are some unique ways to send your save the dates.

1. Great for Save the Dates or Thank You cards, this photo just requires two plain t-shirts and stick-on vinyl lettering which you can get everywhere from Office Depot to various online stores. (MarthaStewart.com)

2. Another idea is to have your photo taken during certain holidays. Dress up in costumes as a bride and a groom, or dress up your pets (costumes from Buycostumes.com) for a funny and certainly unique Save the Date Card.

3. If you are lucky enough to have your proposal on film, use it in your save the date cards as a creative way to introduce friends and family to your engagement and your upcoming wedding.

Here are a few unique cards to ask that your guests save the date!

Save the date cards are your first chance to let the world know that you are getting married. They offer a sneak peek of the soon-to-be newlyweds’ style, set the tone for your entire wedding celebration and provide friends and family with important information regarding your big day. They should be joyous, stylish and seemingly effortless. One of the best ways to achieve this blend of sophistication and fun is with a photo save the date card.

To make sure that you pick the picture perfect save the date card to land that all-important spot in the middle of the refrigerator, follow these simple steps:

1. Use a plain background. Backgrounds that are too busy tend to lose focus. Instead of choosing a photo set in front of hundreds of people at a concert, for instance, take one on an empty beach or in front of a grassy lawn.

2. Maximize your lighting. Use your flash even when taking pictures outdoors to minimize shadows and give both of you a healthy glow.

3. Dress the part. Wear coordinating, but not necessarily matching, colors. Often black and white come out the best, as in the examples below. Also, if you plan to make your photo black and white, wear a shade that contrasts with your hair–blondes really shine against brown or black, while brunettes look amazing in white.

4. Get a genuine smile. Some of the most spectacular photo cards come from intimate moments captured on film. For the best Save the Date photo, start talking to your soon-to-be spouse during the shoot, sharing inside jokes and fond memories so you can capture a genuine moment to share with friends and relatives.