When to send save the dates for other events

Another question that comes up a lot: When do you send save the dates for a birthday?  Or for a Halloween party?  Or a Bar Mitzvah?

You didn't think people only sent out save the dates for weddings, did you?  Actually, people send out save the dates for a variety of events.  If you are planning something far in advance, it's going to be a big bash or important life event, or you want people to be able to schedule time of work... well, those are all the reasons you might send out a save the date.  Be it for a wedding, a first communion, a milestone birthday, or major wedding anniversary.  School reunions & family reunions are also common events that people will send out save the dates for.

For weddings, there is a fairly clear timeline on when to send out save the dates:

But for these other events, sending out a save the date a year in advance might be considered over-doing it.

The timeline is a little shorter for these other events.  You usually send out an invitation for a wedding 2-3 months in advance.  But for other events, you might only send out the invitation 1-1.5 months in advance.

You wouldn't really send out save the dates for a wedding 3 months in advance.  But it does make more sense to send out save the dates 3 months in advance for one of these other events.

In conclusion: It depends a little on when you are sending out the actual invitation, whether the event is going to require hotel bookings for a number of guests, and whether it's on a major holiday.  What I can say is that if you are thinking about sending a save the date for something like a big 60th birthday bash, 3-6 months in advance is a good timeline.

For a big family reunion in the summer, sending out save the dates with holiday cards tends to work well.