Save the Date Cards - 5 Things to Avoid

He just proposed and you just said "Yes!" and now you need to get the Save the Dates out immediately! Not so fast. A little bit of planning and preparation needs to take place before sending out your Save the Date cards and potentially overextending your resources.

Sharon Naylor, author of The Essential Guide to Wedding Etiquette gives 5 things to avoid when sending save the dates:

1. Sending out Save the Dates the minute you get engaged.

Naylor says that this is the #1 mistake couples make with regards to save the dates because they may send out too many and later realize that they cannot afford to invite all of the people that they told to save their special date. Be sure to nail down the guest list (and other costs such as location, videographer, photographer, etc) first before sending out notifications of your wedding day. Once you send someone a save the date, you must invite them to the wedding.

2. Sending a save the date that doesn't match the rest of your wedding stationery.

You may think that polka dots or funky typography looks great, but if it doesn't match your wedding invitations, RSVP cards, menu cards, thank you cards and programs, then it will be a disconnect for your guests. Remember, all your wedding stationery communicates the formality of the event as well as the colors of the event, so be sure that your save the date conveys the type of event you would like to have and gives guests proper expectations of how formal (or informal) the event is to which they are invited.

3. Not Notifying Guests that the Save the Date is a Magnet

If you choose to send a save the date that is a magnet, Naylor says to write "magnet enclosed" on the outside of the envelope, so your guests don't mistakenly place the envelope on top of a computer disk and erase the disk's contents.

4. Not Including Enough Information

As Naylor suggests, just including the date is not enough. Be sure to include (at a minimum) the city and state where the wedding will take place, the date, and each of your full names. You can also include a photograph, your wedding website where guests can learn more and potentially some fun facts about your location. For example, Urbanitystudios created a save the date card for a customer and we suggested she put average temperatures for the time of year she was getting married, the elevation of the location (she was getting married in Jackson Hole, Wyoming) and nearby attractions that guests could enjoy. These fun facts were printed on the back of the card, as to not detract from the design and the prominent information on the front.

5. Enclosing Confetti

I know it seems like a fun touch, but when guests open the envelope and stuff comes spilling out onto the floor, it us anything but exciting or fun. It just means your guests need to go grab a vacuum. Just pick a beautifully designed card and you won't feel the need to add in any extra items.

Learn more about Save the Date card etiquette and, if you follow the advice, your guests will be ready to celebrate your special day with you and you will be even more confident moving forward with planning your wedding.

Let the celebration begin!