Save the dates are a newer idea, and after hearing about them, sometimes couples will get confused, and then try to blur the lines between save the dates and invitations.
Save the dates should be completely separate from invitations; You can do without an save the date altogether, but mixing a save the date and an invitation is no good.
Wedding invitations are the formal, official invitation that lays out the event in detail, and asks the guest to respond with whether or not they will attend. Wedding invitations should be sent out 2-3 months in advance.
Save the dates are an informal note that should, for the most part, stick to just the names and date of the couple. Save the dates should be sent out 5-10 months in advance.
On the invitation side:
Even if your wedding invitations will also be informal feel, this doesn't mean that you should send them out without asking for guests to respond in some way, or that you should send them out too far in advance.
Trying to throw a large event without a guest count is likely to lead to trouble with excess guests, or waste, if you prepare for far more than arrive. Make your life easier by getting a rough guest count. You may want to skip response card, but could still easily ask guests to respond via telephone.
Sending your invitations too far in advance has it's own pitfalls. You may think that all of the details are nailed down, but if you haven't signed all of your important contracts (venue!) and hired an officiant, it is not time to send out the invitations.
On the save the date side:
No response should be requested. Asking guests to respond so far in advance, without all of the details of the event, is jumping the gun! Keep these simple- don't include the venue location, or the time of the wedding. For the most part, save the dates are just supposed to be a fun extra.
Naturally, not every wedding and situation is the same, and their will be exceptions.
If your event will be in the middle of a major holiday or local festival, it is a good idea to include this on the save the date- save the dates actually are at their most useful in such cases. And if your save the date is for a destination wedding, it is actually a good to pack in a bit more information about where & when the event will be, and how to get there.
No comments:
Post a Comment