The Best Save-the-Date Card Ideas

Before you send your wedding invitations in the mail, you'll want to send your wedding guests a save the date! Though some pairs choose to only send an invite to their guest list, a save the date is extremely helpful if you want to guarantee that the majority of your guest list will be available to attend your ceremony and reception. 

A save the date is one of the first formal wedding announcements you'll make, and it's also often the first correspondence your guests will receive in their mailbox related to your big day. Since a save the date isn't typically as formal as wedding invitations (see some of our favorite online wedding invitations here), you should have fun with the design! Personalize your save the date with a unique print or customized illustration of your locale, even add your favorite engagement photos if you want, and get ready to have your loved ones mark their calendars for one of the most important events in your life! 

Whether you're having a ceremony and reception that will be classic and formal, bohemian-chic, rustic, modern, or minimalist, create a save the date that reflects the style of your upcoming celebration – and your personalities! Discover inspiration for your save the date below, and be sure to shop your favorites!

https://mintedllc.sjv.io/QynDR6

Save-the-Date Cards with Engagement Photo:

If you and your beloved took engagement photos, the save the date offers a wonderful opportunity to share your favorite photo! With custom wedding stationery sites like Minted, couples can even upload a personal photo to see the image on stationery pieces while browsing save the dates online. If you'd prefer to have a professional select the best photo options for you, you can even text Minted your photo to receive five save-the-date design options selected for you personally – for free!

Feel free to select your own preferred design from their selection of save the dates with an engagement photo, or browse some of our favorites below:

“Sweet Love” Save the Date

“Topside” Save the Date

“Shine On” Save the Date

Classic Save-the-Date Cards:

If you and your spouse-to-be are more traditional and perhaps prefer to only share engagement photos on your wedding website, a classic save-the-date design with no engagement photo will be perfect for you. With stationery websites like Minted, you can browse save-the-date cards by the style of your wedding. Whether you're having a rustic wedding, bohemian-chic celebration, modern fête, or a formal soirée, you can send save the dates that begin to introduce the theme of your big day.

Choose your favorite design from their selection of save the dates with no photo, or browse some of the designs we love below:

“Classy Type” Save the Date

“Gilded Drape” Save the Date

“Brush Script” Save the Date

Save the Date Magnets:

As save the dates are sent out anywhere from six to 12 months before wedding invitations, many recipients end up displaying the save the date on the fridge. To make it easy for friends and family members to put your save the date on the refrigerator, Minted offers save-the-date magnets to guarantee your loved ones will remember the wedding day. Ideal for modern couples who want a unique option in lieu of the traditional paper save the date, magnetic save the dates will provide a fun way to remind guests of the nuptials, plus it’s a special reminder of the big day even after it has passed.

You're invited to choose your own design from Minted’s selection of save-the-date magnets, or browse some of our favorites below:

“Flirt” Save the Date

“Marked” Save the Date

“Classic Lettering” Save the Date

Foil-Pressed Save the Dates:

For a first impression that truly sparkles, send a glimmering foil-pressed save the date to your loved ones! With eight different color options – including gold, silver, bronze, ice blue, black, and rose gold – Minted will ensure your save the dates are elegant with beautiful foil designs. Go with the foil element that was pre-designed by an independent artist, or customize your save the date with additional foil details. Minted also offers pre-lined foil envelope inserts in silver, gold, and rose gold to accentuate the foil-pressed details in your save the date.

Feel free to choose a design from their selection of foil-pressed save the dates, or browse some of our favorites below:

“Manuscript” Save the Date

“Gilded Palm” Save the Date

“Diary” Save the Date

Letterpress Save the Dates:

For couples who want to set a sophisticated tone with their wedding stationery, timeless letterpress save-the-date cards are definitely the way to go. The history of embossed stationery goes back to the 15th century, so sending letterpress save the dates will give your event a formal, classic feel. Unlike typical printing, letterpress printing leaves an impression (or indentation) on the paper to give the stationery a high-quality look. In order to maintain this printing technique that has been around for centuries, every letterpress Minted design uses its own individual letterpress photopolymer plate, and each plate is individually hand-printed on antique Heidelberg Windmill presses.

Simply select a design from their selection of letterpress save the dates, or browse the styles below:

“Romance in the Air” Save the Date

“Cross My Heart” Save the Date

“Eternally Yours” Save the Date

How do you announce a save the date? 

Once you and your spouse-to-be have settled on a wedding date, you'll need to announce it to your loved ones. While word of mouth can be used, we encourage couples to commemorate the occasion with stationery. Of course, guests will love receiving your wedding invitation in the weeks leading up to the big day; however, why wait? Announce your date and location in advance by sending save the dates via mail to ensure your attendees start getting just as excited for the upcoming wedding! 

What's a save the date? 

A save the date is essentially the prelude to your wedding invitations. Unlike an engagement announcement that's posted on social media, a save-the-date card is sent via the postal service to those who will also be receiving a wedding invitation. It's not only an announcement of your upcoming wedding, but it's also a promise that an invitation will be arriving with more details to come closer to the wedding. While you can always send invitations to those who did not receive a save the date, it's very important to remember that everyone who receives a save the date should also get an invitation to the wedding, so star creating your guest list early and finalize it before save the dates go out! 

How far in advance do you send out save the dates? 

Keep in mind that every wedding is different, so it's important to do what's best for your nuptials. That being said, most brides and grooms send out their save-the-date cards six to eight months before the big day. If you're having a destination wedding, try sending out save-the-date cards a little earlier in advance – typically eight to 12 months before the wedding. 

Can you ask for an RSVP with a save the date? 

Since wedding etiquette dictates that guests RSVP to a wedding invitation, it is not recommended to ask for an RSVP using a save the date. You may receive a "yes" or "no" from friends and family by word of mouth, phone, or email; however, we still recommend sending invitations to these guests to get a true RSVP. 

How much do save the dates cost? 

Like wedding invitations, save-the-date cards can vary widely in price depending on which stationer or retailer you go with. Online custom stationery sites such as Minted have a range of styles to choose from, which can then be customized based on your preferences. Add-ons including foil color, adding additional wedding details on the back of the card, and more can increase the prices for save the dates. As an example, the basic pricing for quantities of 100 Minted save the dates range from $1.09/each for a 6" x 4.25" postcard and $1.54/each for a classic 5" x 7" card. With frequent promo codes available to customers, you're sure to find a price that fits in line with your budget! 

What information goes on a save the date? 

We love save the dates that offer a glimpse into the wedding, without giving too much away. You want your invitations to excite your guests and offer some hints to the color palette, theme or concept. So what information goes on a save the date? At the very least, a save the date should include the couple’s names and the wedding date. Most brides and grooms also include the location of the wedding – whether that be the venue itself or the city and state. If you'd like, you can also include your wedding website address, so attendees can get more information about the wedding day. This is particularly useful for destination weddings, as your attendees may want to book their flights, hotels, and travel plans ahead of receiving their invitations.