Save the date cards?

Question

I'm getting married next July. I recently moved away from my family. Most of the guests live 6-7 hours away. I think I should send out save the date cards to everyone who lives far away. My Dad (who is paying for the wedding) says I shouldn't waste money on that. Is it necessary to send out "save the date" cards. Would people be more likely to attend if they knew about it far in advance?

Answer 1

If money is an issue then you can just handwrite a message in your holiday cards this winter, telling people to Save the Date of your upcoming wedding. You could even do it by email-- theknot had some nice e-card-style save the dates last time I looked there.

However, always make sure your invitee list is FINALIZED before sending any save the date messages, because once someone receives one, you CANNOT un-invite them. I have seen some brides really screw up on this issue-- they send out save the dates a year in advance, then in the meantime they decide they want a smaller wedding and try to un-invite the big guest list, or suddenly aren't as close friends with people as they once were and want to un-invite... (Rude, rude, rude!)

Answer 2

My cousin did that and it totally helped because we made sure we didn't plan anything else on the same day also is helped because our wedding invitation they sent got lost in the mail so we really never got a wedding invitation so the Save the Date did helped us out lol
Plus for the people that know about the wedding its just a little heads up because everyone can forget
I think it will be likely more people will attend because they will know the date and know not to plan anything else and like I said its a little heads up so they wont forget! So send them like 2-3months before the sending the wedding invitations

I was trying to find some websites for you and most of them had 50 cards for $30-50 which is not that bad maybe a little pricey depending on how many people are invited.
I listed two of the sites I thought were the best below!

Good Luck!
Congratulation! Have an Amazing Wedding!

Answer 3

It is not neccessary to send out save the dates but very helpful if people will have to spend several hours traveling.Most jobs require several weeks notice to take days off being that you customarily send out save the date cards 1-2 months before the invittaions they're very helpful.I say just use them,I don't think it will effect attendance that much by sending them cuz somepeople won't want to drive 6 or 7 hours for a wedding.I say send save the dates only to those that live far away.

Answer 4

I just got married in April. We sent out STD's because we got married on a holiday weekend. If you are getting married at a time when you think quite a few people will be away on vacation or busy with plans made in advance, I would send out Save the Dates. It might even be polite to send them to those guests that have to travel quite a ways to the wedding (so that may make plans.) I made my own and saved quite a bit of money that way, if money is the issue in sending them. Good luck.

Answer 5

My sister-in-law did that since she got married in Yosemite National Park. And that is far away from everyone. I would suggest it if people you want to invite do live that far away. I didn't do it, but I sent out my invites about 3 months before for people living far away so they could get work off if they wanted to attend my wedding. You don't want to send invites out to far in advance because people tend to forget sometimes or lose invites really far in advance. But save the date cards work for that sort of thing because then they get the invite and go, "oh my gosh! I remember getting something else about this!"

Answer 6

Save the date's are a wonderful idea. Now if you are penny-pinching, you and THE GROOM should decide if they are needed, you father doesn't really have much say (unless of course he is paying, then it is your responsibility to convince him of what you want and not let his financial worries put a damper on your day)

My Fiance and I decided on sending out save the dates 13 months in advance of our wedding, but that is because we are doing a destination wedding in another country, and couples will have to spend about $2,500 to come along, so it was really necessary for people to plan.

Once you decide on a date, it doesn't hurt. Once you are committed to a date and a location I would recomend sending them out. However, DO NOT get anxious, how horrible would it be for you to send them out too soon and they be wrong!

Answer 7

I used save the date cards and prefer to get them. It allows me to arrange my schedule far in advance. Unfortunately, a month or two just isn't enough time for some people (including me) to make travel arrangements and by then many flights and hotels are booked. When I am able to get notice far in advance, then I can make sure that my schedule is free & clear and I can get the best travel rates.

I sent out handwritten postcards to every person who was on our invite list as soon as I knew the date and had a rough list. It cost me very little to do it and I figured it couldn't hurt as everyone had to travel for our wedding.

Answer 8

Twenty years ago no had ever heard of wedding 'save the date' cards, and we still managed to have wonderful weddings. Instead of sending out some sort of mass produced commercial item, you should send a short handwritten note -- 2 or 3 sentences is fine.

Answer 9

Depends on how big the wedding will be. It's it's more of a small intimate crowd then there's really no need for it as you can phone up or get ahold of everyone that you want to attend both now and later on. If it's going to be somewhat bigger than I think the card's would be best. What's a few extra $$ to make sure that as many as your loved ones as possible can be there for you on this special day?

Answer 10

I think it would be a good idea because if they have to travel to attend the wedding then it will give them time to save up some money and take the time off work that they need. They dont need to be anything flashy or expensive and you dont need to send them out to everyone, maybe just the people who you dont talk to as often.