Save the Dates: Announce Your Wedding in Style

It’s happening: you’re marrying your BFF! Cue the confetti – but also the overwhelm of bringing your dream wedding to life. You’ve set the date and locale. Now it’s time to spread the word. And nobody knows how to make a jaw-dropping, stop-and-stare double door entrance with save the date cards like Cheree Berry Paper & Design.

Save the date cards function as step one in building anticipation and ensuring your favorite people are in attendance on your big day. Guests’ wedding experience begins with the arrival of the save the date card, and as Will Rogers said, “You never get a second chance at making a good first impression.” Like the Welcome Boat whisking you to the White Lotus (with a glass of champagne in hand, naturally), your wedding save the date card kick-starts a memorable journey that will unfold over the months ahead and culminate in your unforgettable big day. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get this party started!

Wedding Stationery: From Save the Dates to Invitations

What is a Wedding Save the Date? 

Wedding save the date cards differ from wedding invitations, but designing them together as a custom wedding suite makes a lasting impact. Sent 7 to 12 months before your wedding, save the dates announce the date and location of your big day. Amid the hustle and bustle of daily life, having advance notice of a wedding date is a must! Though more than a calendaring courtesy, wedding save the dates can also give you an early indication of attendance, thus freeing up space to invite additional guests.

What is a Wedding Invitation? 

Your actual wedding invitation will follow several months later, ideally 2 to 3 months before your big day. Its main objective? Clearly and comprehensively expand on the event details and provide a convenient means for guests to RSVP. You want a recognizable aesthetic throughout your wedding season. This doesn’t mean your save the date and invitation need to be an identical matchy-matchy set. Rather, common design threads should weave throughout the two pieces so that your visuals feel cohesive and categorically you.  

Whether your big day brand is traditional or eclectic, playful or preppy, we have countless ways to customize a save the date with unexpected elements that surprise and delight. At Cheree Berry Paper & Design, no two wedding announcements are the same. We sit down with each couple to get to know them personally and design bespoke wedding stationery suites that reflect their one-of-a-kind love and wedding. 

The Dos and Don’ts of Save the Date Etiquette 

When to Send Your Wedding Save the Dates

Save the date cards inform guests of the date and location of your upcoming nuptials in a practical yet fun way so they can plan ahead. When it comes to save the date etiquette, we follow a few cardinal rules: 

• As mentioned, send your save the dates 8 to 12 months before your wedding. This gives guests plenty of time to plan and make travel arrangements if necessary.  
• Send save the dates to everyone on your guest list (one per household), even if you’re certain they will attend. Not only does this help avoid confusion and possible miscommunication, but it’s also good etiquette and ensures each guest gets the full invitation experience. 

How to Send Your Save the Dates

The most traditional – and impactful – way to send your wedding save the date cards is by mail. In the pile of bills, pre-approved credit card applications and catalogs you never subscribed to, nothing sparks joy and surprise like receiving a carefully crafted wedding announcement. Printed save the dates give guests something tactile to hold onto so they don’t forget the key big day details. A save the date in print also keeps your wedding top of ind each time they see it, holding their interest and excitement for your wedding like a season-ending cliffhanger. And it’s not uncommon for guests to keep our unique save the dates designs for years to come. Be sure to use our guide to addressing envelopes to get each guest’s name just right.

Save the Date Don’ts

Whether print or digital, your save the date don’ts remain the same: 

• Don’t include your wedding registry. 
• Don’t send more than one save the date per household. 
• Don’t send your save the dates more than 12 months in advance. 
• Don’t send save the date cards to people you’re on the fence about inviting. Once your save the date wedding cards go out, there’s no turning back! 

Best Save the Dates: Template or Custom?

We cannot overstate the impact of custom wedding save the date cards and invitations enough! A one-of-a-kind save the date stands out in a sea of on-demand designs you’ve seen again and again. Our save the dates are anything but templated! Our custom save the date cards incorporate unexpected, personalized touches like hand-drawn monograms, die-cut shapes, foil stamping, watercolor illustrations, statement envelopes…you name it, we’ve created it! And yet somehow the original ideas keep flowing, inspired by each couple we meet and their once-in-a-lifetime love story. 

Yes, templated save the dates from online stores offer a convenient way to design an attractive wedding save the date. But you’re usually limited to customizing the couple’s names, date, venue and photo. Many couples choose template save the dates to economize, but you shouldn’t assume our custom cards aren’t in the budget for your event! Let’s talk and see what magic we can create together. 

Save the Date Design Trends That Never Go Out of Style 

No matter the season, save the dates that reflect a couple’s life and love are always in style. But we have a few tried-and-true favorite sources of inspiration:  

• Statement envelopes. From scalloped flaps to patterned liners to personalized faux postage, envelopes embellishments are the frosting on the cake! Don’t miss this opportunity to surprise and delight. 
• Playful wording. While weddings are often steeped in tradition, many couples choose to tone down the formality with fun phrasing. We love crafting clever, tongue-in-cheek messaging for unique save the date cards that spark smiles and laughter. 
• Storytelling. How much do your guests know about your love story? Highlight the hurdles, travels, twists and turns that led you to each other. They’ll be sure to save your wedding date when they know how you got here! 

Sending Save the Dates for Your Destination Wedding

Save the dates are essential for destination weddings. Whisking your friends and family away for an unforgettable weekend (or longer!) is a spectacular way to celebrate your big day. But escaping the everyday requires even more planning on the part of your loved ones. Be sure to include all the details they’ll need to plan their big trip: the date, city, venue, transportation tips, specific hotels where you have room blocks and the link to your wedding website where you can provide additional information and updates in the months ahead. 

Designing Destination Wedding Save the Dates

Save the dates for destination weddings are some of the most fun to design as the destination city can provide inspiration for unforgettable creations. Take our save the date booklet that teased Augusta and Jonathan’s Tuscan nuptials. Bright red foil stamping, cheery cabana stripes and retro photos visually translated la dolce vita. 

If you’re planning a beach wedding, incorporating a canopy of palm trees and tropical blooms instantly puts your guests’ toes in the water and feet in the sand. Planning a mountain wedding? A rustic save the date will peak your guests’ excitement about the adventure and fresh air awaiting them! Europe-bound? From the food and drink to the history and culture, inspiration abounds! And don’t get us started about the fun that can be had later with the invitation, reply cards, and day-of details…! 

 

Creative Save the Date Ideas

Creativity makes a memorable announcement take flight. Incorporate your personalities and style into your save the dates to build anticipation for your event and get guests excited to see what’s coming next.

Save the Dates That Reflect Your Hobbies

When Jesse and Justin married in New York City, we incorporated their love of theater by designing stationery in the shape of a show ticket. They even screened their favorite musical at their wedding, bringing the symbolism full circle. 

If you and your partner love music, what about a save the date in the shape of a record? Incorporating a QR code that pulls up a playlist to your wedding playlist would instantly get your guests excited about your wedding. Tennis lovers Lydia and Barritt served up their fresh and preppy nuptials with a racquet save the date. It was game, set, match! Guests instantly pulled out their calendar to save their wedding date! 

Location-Inspired Save the Dates

For your destination wedding, we have designed save the date postcards playing off the vacation your guests will be taking if they save your date. You could also design a save the date luggage tag, passport or sunscreen! Staying local? Highlight the best parts of your town with hand-drawn maps or tell your love story in an infographic.

Playful Save the Dates

Use a handwritten font, make a joke, or use unexpected paper shapes, textures, stamps, and colors to make your wedding save the date stand out the moment it lands in your guests’ mailboxes. Custom save the date magnets keep your date front and center in the heart of your guests’ homes. We’ve even sent custom silk scarves, coasters, and scratch-offs as save the date cards! The best save the dates are personal and unique.

Photo Save the Dates

While it isn’t customary to use photos on your wedding invitation, your save the date is a time you can incorporate a photo of you and your fiancé. Chances are you now have photos from your engagement session with you two looking fab! TBH, we prefer to feature those photos on your wedding website to let your custom save the date design shine, but photo save the date cards are a personal way to bring a smile to your guests’ faces.

Save the Date Cost: How Much to Spend

Save the date expenses vary depending on the design, paper, and printing method. Printed save the date cards can range from a few dollars to over $10 per card depending on paper type, postage, and custom options. Working with an experienced designer with professional printers can help reduce print costs and ensure quality too. The impact of wedding save the date cards is worth every penny and plays a huge role in ensuring your loved ones can be in attendance on your wedding date.

Let’s Get Some Ideas Flowing for Your Save the Date

Save the date cards are an important part of your guests’ wedding journey that shouldn’t be overlooked. They provide loved ones with advance notice to plan ahead and set the tone for your big day, building excitement and anticipation. Whether you prefer an elegant save the date or a bold, creative save the date that pops, Cheree Berry Paper & Design can craft the perfect design to reflect your celebration that guests will talk about for years.

Let us design a save the date just for you! Drop us a line below and an account manager will get you started on our Creative Process where we get to know you two and your wedding vision. Our connection with our couples is the very best part of our job! We can’t wait to meet you.

Together, we will craft the perfect save the date to match your wedding style and create a memorable announcement that guests will cherish.