Calling all brides and grooms who are looking to take their Save the Dates to a new level of wow-worthy mail! Your wedding day is going to be legendary, so why shouldn’t your Save the Date have that same memorable tone? In honor of your one-of-a-kind love, we’ve rounded up a range of one-of-a-kind Save the Date ideas from Zazzle we can practically guarantee your guests won’t be expecting.
And that’s not all, either! As is the case with all wedding planning details, there can be a lot of questions about sending out your Save the Dates, so we’ve prefaced our ideas with some useful tips and general advice. This is one article you’re going to want to, well, save.
Tip 1: Do Send Save the Dates
Save the Dates aren’t mandatory, but they are good etiquette. Rather than springing a far-flung destination wedding on your guests at short notice, give them 6–8 months to make arrangements. Everyone will appreciate the heads-up, and the RSVPs are more likely to be accepted with ample time to spare. Save the Dates also serve as a sneak preview of the wedding details and theme. Think of them as a teaser trailer that ramps up anticipation for the full reveal!
Tip 2: Make Them Concise
If you’re sending out Save the Dates, don’t think they need to contain everything – we have a whole suite of wedding stationery to go, after all. Instead, stick to the essentials: your names, the wedding date/s, and an approximate location (the exact venue can be disclosed later as a surprise). When it comes to designing your Save the Dates, an overpacked card can dull the ‘wow’ factor. Pick a romantic photo, lay out key information, and bowl those aunts and uncles over!
Tip 3: Consider Your Guest List
Potentially not ALL your aunts and uncles, of course. Every guest that receives a Save the Date will be expecting a full-blown wedding invitation, so don’t overcommit right away. Curate your guest list to reflect only those you absolutely must have at the ceremony, and concentrate on getting a Save the Date to them. If circumstances change later on and you’re able to accommodate more people, a Save the Date isn’t a prerequisite.
Tip 4: Check and Proofread the Details
Have you ever been to a wedding where half the venue was empty, and even the bridal party, still dressed in plain clothes, seemed to have been roped in at the last minute? Sending out a Save the Date with errors might not lead to this kind of chaos, but it can certainly cause headaches. Proofread every word you type and recruit a second person to check it with fresh eyes. Nobody likes to have their name misspelled, and an incorrectly typed date could wreak havoc with travel and accommodation arrangements.
Tip 5: Think Outside the Envelope
Save the Dates don’t have to be in the form of cards (as we shall soon see). However, if you’d rather stick to the classic format, there are ways to embellish the presentation. Print each address in a calligraphic font with a rubber stamp, or fasten each envelope shut with a royal-looking wax seal. Add an air of sophistication to your stationery with a monogrammed embosser, or upgrade that plain paper with a fun envelope liner. These stylish touches will impress your guests and give them another glimpse or hint of the coming attractions!
Idea 1: Show Off Your Magnetic Attraction
When your loved ones receive their Save the Dates, they might tack them to the fridge right away, keeping the cards in plain sight until the time arrives. To make things easier for them, why not order a batch of Save the Date magnets or magnetic invitations? Nudge any procrastinators to submit PTO requests or book hotel rooms by giving them something to hang in a frequently visited spot! Because they last longer than paper, they also make durable keepsakes, too.
Idea 2: Keep Guests Guessing with a Puzzle
Earlier, we suggested keeping your recipients in the dark about some details, so as to surprise them later on. If that idea appealed to you, then how about going one step further, and having your Save the Date masquerade as a puzzle? Upload your photo and text to one of our Creator templates, and ship the finished-but-unassembled product to your closest friends and relatives. Completing the puzzle will allow them to piece together the information; how’s that for a romantic and mysterious date reveal?
Idea 3: Tell Them What the Deal Is
More than anything, a Save the Date should be fun. For example: create custom playing cards as a way to announce your date and communicate with your guests. No one will know what to expect when they receive this in the mail, but if you’ve stacked the deck with photos of you and your soon-to-be spouse, a hand or two should tell all. Experiment with some funny messages, too (“We’re going all-in on love”; “Bet on a good time”), and prep those groomsmen for a casino-themed bachelor party!
Idea 4: Make Everyone’s Faces Light Up
Candles are innately romantic; think classy restaurants, home-cooked dinners, and warm baths filled with rose petals. At Zazzle, you can channel that same passionate energy into our customizable candles, and produce something elegant and hopeful. Given their size, you might not mail these to every guest, or save them for members of the wedding party. But for the way they represent that spark the two of you have, we think they’re a surefire alternative.
Idea 5: Drink to the Happy Couple
Let’s face it: the prospect of an open bar or free drinks is sure to get some attention. So, to alert guests to your upcoming nuptials in a fun and informal way, send them a Save the Date coaster. Coasters are particularly appropriate for reception-only invites and can serve a practical function for guests in their home bar or on their coffee table. Accompany your details with a lively message, too (“Booze, Food & Bad Dance Moves”; “The Drinks Are On Us!”).
As you can see, then, there are tons of options out there when it comes to Save the Dates – not just cards and postcards, but everything from luggage tags to poker chips! If you’re in need of some additional advice when it comes to announcing your wedding date, check out our article on “Wedding Save the Date Wording Tips & Etiquette.” And feel free to share any other tips and ideas in the comments below!
Eoin is a Content Specialist at Zazzle in Cork. He’s recently bought a house with his fiancée, and thus most of his time these days is spent trying to keep the walls from caving in and the wolves from the door. Still, he’s always open to book, game, and movie recommendations, so if you have some, let him know: he’ll add them to a very, very long list.
