Save the Dates question

[jfoofj]

How far out from a wedding should someone send out Save the Dates? The wedding is on a Friday night, so peope may have to adjust work schedules.

TIA

 

[Kirby]

The one I received last year was a couple of months out.

 

[klj27]

I would say six months unless there are a lot of guests who will be travelling a large distance or you are planning your wedding for a time of year when people may have other plans (ie vacation, holidays, etc.)

 

[malibuconlee]

IME - Save the Dates for weddings that aren't destination go out 6 months in advance for those guests that are out of town and will need to arrange travel. My girlfriend also sent them out to everyone in the wedding party, hosts, etc.

Invitations to the wedding itself usually go out 6-8 weeks before the wedding.

I've never been to a Friday evening wedding tho. Interested in seeing the responses. Lots of people don't seem to know what they are or how to use them. My SIL saw one on my fridge for a wedding I was in. She made a comment about not getting one which surprised me because when she got married it was like pulling teeth to get her to tell us when it was and we lived 12 hours away at the time.

 

[janets]

My niece is being married on August 21, 2010 and we got her "Save the Date" about a week ago. DH's cousin is getting married about 3 weeks before that and we got the "Save the Date" about 2-3 weeks ago. So it appears that some people send them out as much as a year in advance. These dates are not holiday weekends so not sure why so early, but we have them.

 

[sunnyday123]

I'm going to be showing my age here, but what is a "save the date"???? Is it a pre-invitation? Honestly, it sounds like something the card companies made up to soak people for more money. Are they really beneficial?

 

[BelleWDW]

How far out from a wedding should someone send out Save the Dates? The wedding is on a Friday night, so peope may have to adjust work schedules.

TIA

I see why you are asking-I'd do before the first of 2010-if the wedding is in 2010-lots of companies have to select their vacations at that time


Save the Date are usually magnets with the date of the wedding so relatives dont schedule something else on that date-i thing its a little silly

 

[malibuconlee]

I'm going to be showing my age here, but what is a "save the date"???? Is it a pre-invitation? Honestly, it sounds like something the card companies made up to soak people for more money. Are they really beneficial?

Absolutely!! They can give out of state/town family and friends information ahead of time so they can make travel arrangements/ plan out vacation time.

One friend of mine sent hotel info out for all out of town guests so they could make arrangements.

They don't have to be anything elaborate anything that can let people know in advance helps. I've had friends that lived in Dallas get married in Iowa where the bride's family is and the grooms family was in Chicago and Atlanta. Really can help to have something in writing sent out to keep people in the loop. Many have to schedule vacation time at work and keep a lookout for decently priced airfares.

ETA: A "Save the Date" is simply that. An announcement sent to out of town friends and family that you intend on inviting to the wedding. It is to give people time to plan and make arrangements so they may be at the wedding. The standard 6-8 weeks prior to the wedding that a regular invitation is sent out just isn't enough time for many people to be able to arrange to make it to a wedding that is some distance away from where they live. Hope that helps.

 

[disney1990]

I think the last one I received was about 9 months away from the wedding date.

 

[Pomlover2586]

I sent ours out 9 months before the wedding. We had some family coming in from out of town but the main reason we sent them out so early was because our wedding was on a Tuesday at 1pm- people needed the advance notice to get the time off work.

 

[M5ward]

Save the Dates should go out four to six months prior to the wedding. However, if you're planning a destination wedding or a wedding around a holiday or heavily travelled time, they should be sent nine to twelve months in advance.

 

[NeedaVacation03]

As money is tight with us, I have appreciated the "save the date" about 9 mths. in advance. We have received them any where from 6 to 12 mths ahead of time. One was for a Sunday and required additional days off, so we appreciated the 10 mth advance notice. I think special circumstances require additional time.

 

[clgwli]

I've gotten them anywhere between 6 and 12 months in advance with most around 9 months out. They are only important to me if it is a destination or out of town wedding for me.

I got one not too many years ago that told me information would follow with the exact location etc. It was sent out about 9 months in advance. Sadly none of the information was sent out more than about 2-3 months prior. By the time I found out the exact location, the hotels left were out of my price range. Since I was from out of town I wish they had included more information earlier. So I do think they can really be very helpful!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm going to be showing my age here, but what is a "save the date"???? Is it a pre-invitation? Honestly, it sounds like something the card companies made up to soak people for more money. Are they really beneficial?

The only cards I have seen are made on a computer by the bride/groom themselves.

I would send them as soon as you know a date for the "important" guests--parents/siblings of bride/groom--wedding attendants (probably AFTER you've asked them) and anyone of uber importance you want to attend and need ample notice.

They do not replace the invite--but often--2 months out isn't adequate planning time for lots of people in today's society.

As to the OP--send them out ASAP especially if folks require time to budget to attend the event. Include the town at the very least.

My SIL included the location of the reception (it's at an Aquarium). Made for cute save the date cards since they were a fish/water theme.

 

[aprilgail2]

I'm going to be showing my age here, but what is a "save the date"???? Is it a pre-invitation? Honestly, it sounds like something the card companies made up to soak people for more money. Are they really beneficial?

Its a way of making sure you have no excuses like "sorry I have something else that day" for their wedding day!

I see why you are asking-I'd do before the first of 2010-if the wedding is in 2010-lots of companies have to select their vacations at that time

Boy I wish that was the truth- we pick vacation for 2010 in OCTOBER of this year so unless you let me know well in advance there is no way to get a vacation from work-

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I'm going to be showing my age here, but what is a "save the date"???? Is it a pre-invitation? Honestly, it sounds like something the card companies made up to soak people for more money. Are they really beneficial?

If you are coming from out of town they are important. Air travel is too expensive too close to the actual date and this gives you the option to save money.

So for those of us that need to save $, important.

 

[DisneyMom81]

SIL is getting married in 1 year, and we've already gotten the save the dates. Personally, I thing 1 year in advance is way to early.