It’s your big day coming up.
You’ve decided on the date. You’ve picked out the perfect venue. And you’ve come up with the guest list.
The next stage is to send out the save the date postcard to all of your guests.
A save the date postcard is sent to guests before the wedding invitation to make they free up space on their calendars. It might be helpful to think of it as a kind of “pre-invitation”.
Let’s take a look at the top design tips for making a save your date postcard for your big wedding day!
Why the Idea of a Save the Date Postcard is Great
In modern times, we find that our friends and family are busy all year round. You want to make sure they don’t make other arrangements on your special day.
This is especially important if your wedding is set to take place in peak season, has guests coming from overseas, or will take place abroad.
Save the dates are not just about providing your guests with information but also giving your guests some idea of the theme of the wedding.
When to Send Out Postcards
The simple answer is – as soon as you know the date and location of the wedding.
Many couples choose to send out save the dates over a year before the wedding. However, as a general rule the latest they should go out is 6 months before the date of the wedding. And this should be much earlier than this if the guests are coming from afar.
Who Should Receive it
It’s probably obvious, but only send save the dates out to people who are definitely invited to the wedding. Because save the dates don’t feel the same as a formal invite, you may not take it as serious.
While you don’t have to send a save the date to every guest, if someone receives a save the date, they will also expect to receive a formal wedding invitation down the line. So make sure you’re not going to change your mind about their invite.
The most important people to send save the dates to are close relatives and people who are set to play roles in the wedding day.
And you should also specify whether the guest is free to invite a “plus-one” or their partner. This can avoid any awkward confusion when the guest turns up with their whole family without your permission.
What Information to Include
It may not include all the details of your wedding that you would normally include in the wedding invitation.
However, guests are more likely to take a proper save the date postcard seriously compared to if you just let them know via a Facebook message.
This means you should include the date and the location of the wedding (the city, town or area is enough). Information about the venue, the exact times and the dress code are not necessary for the save the date postcard.
Don’t forget to notify guests that they will be receiving a “formal wedding invitation” later. If you don’t do this, you may find your friends and family calling you to find out where what they should wear and what time it all starts?
Why Style and Design Matter?
Save the date postcards are not only about letting your guests know about your upcoming big day.
The design and style of the postcard also plays a key role. How you design the postcard provides the guests with a feel for the theme of your wedding.
It may help to think of the save the date postcard as the start of your wedding. It’s the first impression your guests will have, and the postcard should reflect the wedding day itself.
You should carefully discuss with your wife/husband to be, what kind of mood and theme you are going for at your wedding. An important rule of design is to be consistent, and this is no truer than when it comes to save the dates.
How to Use Color and Theme
Think carefully about the colors of the wedding, and try to make them match with your save the date postcard design. This will instantly give people an impression of what type of wedding you’re going for.
Perhaps even more importantly, the design or theme of the save the date postcard reflects the theme of the wedding. For instance, if you are going for a rustic and classic wedding, then create a rustic postcard.
In contrast, if you’re having a modern garden wedding then you could provide indications of this with the use of the color green and a flora border.
You can also show whether you want the wedding to be a very formal occasion or a rather more casual affair. This not only is a reflection of your wedding day, but also you and your partner’s personalities.
Adding a Photograph
Lastly, you need to add a photograph of you and your partner looking your best.
You can use an existing photograph of you both on holiday in your favorite restaurant or enjoying your favorite joint activity. However, many couples choose to take a photograph especially for the postcard.
You can get really great creative with this. Many couples incorporate the information about dates and location into the picture, such as by holding up signs with the things guests need to know.
With these tips in mind, you can design your own save the date postcard that gets people excited for your special day and keeps the all important date fresh in their mind.
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