Spreading the Word!

There are lots of different ways to spread the news of your big day! Whether it’s digital, snail mail, or town crier, let’s review some dos and don’ts about saving the date! As destination weddings and activity centered wedding weekends become more common, save-the-dates are a pretty standard part of the planning and invitation process. It’s a good way to let guests know in advance that, yes, they will indeed be invited to the wedding and should start making plans to attend. Giving them ample notice increases the likelihood that they can share in your big day!

//BPinvites// When should I send them? Save the Dates typically go out about 6-7 months prior to your wedding. Feel free to send them out a bit earlier if you are having a destination affair or a large number of your guests are traveling to be with you. Any earlier than 8 months out is a bit too soon, and your guests will likely just set them aside. If you send them out too close to the invitations themselves, well, you get the picture.
Do I have to send a save-the-date to everyone? If you are certain you want them to attend your wedding, then they should get a save-the-date. This includes all those folks you’ve already told about the wedding; bridal party, family, and close friends. This is your way of telling them to officially put it on your calendar. As for those B-list guests (we all have them), skip the save the dates unless you are prepared to move the straight to the A-list. Once you send these out, there’s no turning back.
Do “plus ones” get a save-the-date too? It’s best to be clear right from the start, and this is definitely the start. Mention plus ones or guests of guests by name to avoid confusion. Address these by name to all those invited, including children or families. This is the best way to avoid confusion about whether or not your cousin can bring her new boyfriend, or if your friend’s three year old is welcome.
Do I put all the information about the wedding on the save the date? Not exactly. You don’t want to overwhelm your guests with lots of reading material right off the bat! Put together a wedding website, and be sure to reference it somewhere on your save the date. Guests can check the website for updates as they become available, get updates on accommodations, additional events and registries. Free websites are available from many places like WeddingWire and The Knot. More custom website can also be created using nifty tools like Wix and Appy Couple ! Whatever method you choose, keep your guests connected to all the information about your big day!

//Appy Couple// Once save the dates go out, you will start to hear from your guests about how thrilled they are to share in your day. Nothing is more exciting! As you continue to plan you can keep them aware of new details and allow for (relatively) seamless communication. Before you know it, it will be time to start putting together your invitations! And we will be right here to help you with that too.
Until next time! XOXO
Elizabeth