Whats the difference between "save the date" and "invitations"?

Question

I have seen both of them on websites and magazines. In what instance would you send out both of them?

Answer 1

Save the date cards are meant to be used with destination weddings. They are sent out as soon as possible so that guest are notified with enough time to take time off of work and make accommodations for themselves.

Invitations are sent out at least six weeks before the wedding. They are the formal invite with a corresponding r.s.v.p.

But many more brides are sending out save the date cards even if they are not having a destination wedding.

Answer 2

Save the date is a card, or magnet, etc. that you would send our months before the wedding invitations. You're basically letting people know to "save the date" for your wedding. Some people have busy lives and need that extra advanced notice in order to not book something else on your special day. Save the dates generally go out about 4 months before the invitations. However, I've heard of them going out anywhere between 12 months before the wedding to 4 months. Save the dates are not mandatory, but they are nice.

Answer 3

Invitations are sent out 6-8 weeks before the wedding, with all the info, rsvp cards, etc. Save the Date cards are sent out sometimes a year in advance with just the date and city listed, usually to out-of-town guests who would need to plan early and make flight and hotel arrangements. Save the Dates aren't standard, most people don't send them. They're just a courtesy, if the engagement is long and you have a lot of people who have to travel a long ways to come to your wedding.

Answer 4

You actually use them both. Save the date cards go out usually 6-12 months in advance after you announce you are getting married but before you know really when and where you are getting married. Closer to the date you'll send the invitations which are much more ornate and have all the information that you didn't know when you sent the save the date cards.

Answer 5

Save The Dates are sent out about a year prior to the wedding, but only after you know where's the wedding will take place, where the reception is, blah blah blah. You can make your own STDs...print on business cards at home...you can slap them on those magnet sheets from Wal-Mart or so and voila.
With the STDs, it may be a good idea to have all your travel, hotel, airline, etc information...it's cheaper to send all that info to begin with.

The Invitations are just that--invitations to the wedding. You don't need to send information since you already did that with the STDs.

Answer 6

Save the date cards usually go out a year before the wedding (or as soon as 8 months before) and it's simply a means for people to be aware of the upcoming wedding date - this is usually good for people having weddings on holidays, or weddings that are at locations where people will need to save money to travel to (like getting married in Hawaii). Usually on the save the date card you will say "invitations to follow..." that way, people know what's going on.

Answer 7

You send the 'save the date' cards out a few months before the wedding so that you're guests don't make other plans (I didn't use those - thought it was a waste of money)...and the invitations are to the actual wedding, sent out 6-8 weeks before the wedding.

Answer 8

Save the date is usually sent anywhere from one year to 6 months before the actual wedding--it's up to you if you want to do this. Some people send them out because it may be during the summer or near Memorial day or Labor day and they want to make sure people know far in advance of your plans.
The actual invitation is sent about 6 weeks prior to the wedding date and includes the RSVP.

Answer 9

Save the date cards are sent out way in advance. Invitations are sent out about a month to two ahead of time. In my preference, though, I would only use invitations, I think save the date cards are cheesy unless there is a reason to send them out ahead of time like a destination wedding or something.

Answer 10

A save the date card is sent a six months to a year in advance to let people (especially if it's a destination wedding or you have out-of-towners comming in) know when your wedding will be and they'll be able to make travel preparations in advance. Invitations are usually sent a month or two months before the wedding.