Sending Wedding Invitations early Verses Save the date cards

Save The date

There are several factors to consider when you decide to create Save the Date cards:

Cost: Essentially, when you send out cards to announce your wedding date to all of your guests, you have to pay not only for the cards themselves, but postage. Add to that the fact that you have to still send out your formal wedding invitations, which could require extra postage themselves, you’re looking at double or triple the original cost than just your formal invitations. This doesn’t even include a calligraphist if you intend to hire one.

Time: Unless you’ve distributed duties among your wedding party, you probably don’t have time to sit down and order the extra frill of a Save the Date card, wait for it to arrive, gather addresses, stuff envelopes, address and mail them. Your time is probably better spent on other things such as finding your dress, choosing your catering menu or ordering wedding bands.

Don’t let this mislead you, Save the Date cards aren’t a bad thing and do serve a purpose. For some engaged couples, this is the first exciting step to marriage. Some want to showcase their engagement photographs or give out-of-town guests a chance to mark their calendar and make travel arrangements.

So why not just mail your wedding invitation early? Again, there are a few things to consider.

Memory: If you send out invitations to your big day before the typical eight to twelve week timeframe, you risk people forgetting or losing your invitation. Some might RSVP affirmative, forget all about the wedding, and not show up. Yet you paid for them with the caterer and now you’re stuck with a big bill and extra food.

Change of Plans: Unforeseen circumstances might prohibit your guests from coming if they say too soon that they will be attending. Some people have last minute business trips to take or vacations without keeping your wedding date in mind. They will either let you know ahead of time, causing you to have to change your head count to your vendors, or not tell you at all.

Sending wedding invitations early versus Save the Date cards isn’t necessarily the answer, but only you know your friends and family. Save the Date cards will add postage but also serve the same benefit of informing your guests early with the wedding invitation as a follow up reminder. Either way, it’s your wedding!