Save the Dates - a must?

Re: Save the Dates - a must?

• kelseymw

  

  February 2010 edited December 2011

  For me, Save the Dates were necessary because we had a large guest list and 90% of our guests do not live in Austin. Also our wedding is on Memorial Day weekend. I wanted give guests ample notice. They really weren't a lot of work, and gave me peace of mind that guests would make plans to come.
  
  If your guest list would be receptive to an email STD, then go for it. You know your guests better than anyone. I would think about what tone that might set for your wedding, though. If you plan to put "work" in to the email and make it nice (maybe design something in Pagemaker to send), then it might be better received/give a nicer impression of your wedding. On the same note, if you will spend time on the email why not just spend that time making an actual STD?

  
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• dapo2004

  

  February 2010 edited December 2011

  I've received email save the dates, and they are okay, especially if you are overwhelmed. Try not to overthink the save the dates, though. FI and I ordered postcards through Vistaprint and they were free (except shipping), and we sent those out to our family and friends. It was pretty simple. 

  
  

  Also, save the dates are not required by any means. It's nice to have them, but they are not necessary at all. 

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• jamieann13 member

  

  February 2010 edited December 2011

  I was in the same place - planning the whole wedding by myself and in just under 6 months! We have about 60% of guests that are from out of town, but given my short timeline, Save the Dates just weren't a priority. I had spoken with other brides who had felt that they weren't really a huge help to anything, so I ended up not sending them out. To help things though, I will be sending the invites out 8 weeks in advance instead of 6 - which is this saturday so I'm freaking out a little!!

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• Lili316 member

  

  February 2010 edited December 2011

  While save the dates aren't required, I highly advise you to send at least something out, whether it be printed or email, to let people know in advance.  I just received an  invitation from a friend for his wedding in a couple months, but I won't be able to attend because I didn't have any advance notice and already had a trip planned for that weekend.  Especially if you're getting married during a time with a lot of things going on (holidays, school breaks, end of school/beginning of summer), people really do need more advance notice than a couple months. 

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• dynalee33 member

  

  February 2010 edited December 2011

  I agree! I sent STD's (got 'em cheap at Michael's and printed and assembled them myself at home, turned out nicely!) in February for my July wedding.  Thought it was crazy and excessive, but, I've had numerous people say thanks! Who knew Michael Buble playing in Houston and San Antonio that weekend would be such a big interferece lol!

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• crystalgail

  

  February 2010 edited December 2011

  We also did our Save the Dates through Vista Print.  They were super cheap and looked great!

  But, I've seen a lot of brides starting to do digital Save the Dates.  You can do an email or even create a Facebook Page.  The only problem with this, of course, is if a large majority of your guests are not tech-savvy.

  
  

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• TXMereBear

  

  February 2010 edited December 2011

  We have a lot of out of town guests but the majority of the guest list (around 200) is close family and friends. We didn't send out official 'save the dates' but word of mouth really worked and my mom emailed the guests with wedding date and hotel block rooms info about 3mos in advance to give them all a heads up and go ahead and make their reservations. I don't believe we lost any guests by not sending out official formal save the date cards. Also, the money we saved on that can go towards the food/ alcohol which I believe guests will remember much more! However, if it is a destination wedding- then they are a must.... Good luck!

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