WHEN SHOULD WE SEND them?

It's customary for couples to send out a wedding save the date at least 4 to 6 months ahead of the wedding. As soon as you've found (and booked) your dream venue and officially set your date, you should be getting ready to send the cards. Of course, it isn't required that you send save the dates, but they're a perfect opportunity to show off your gorgeous engagement photos and make sure your friends and family know to mark your wedding date on their calendars long before the official wedding invitations arrive. Save the dates are more informal than invitations, so have some fun! Pro Tip: Basic Invite lets you choose from over 900 wedding invitation sets and almost unlimited colors, so your cards can be exactly like you want.

WHAT INFORMATION SHOULD WE INCLUDE?

When it comes to save the dates, it's best to keep it simple. All of the big details will be in your official invitations. Skip the registry for now and focus on the most important details. The three save the date necessities are your names, the wedding date, and a cute photo of you and your fiance.

After the basics are taken care of, you can use your save the date to help your guests plan for your wedding. This may mean including what city you're getting married in so they have a general idea of travel needs, or giving them an idea of who all is invited: can they bring the kids? A plus one? It can be helpful for your friends with kids to know in advance that they'll need to arrange child care. You can also use your save the date to direct guests to your wedding website, where they'll be able to find more information about your big day. Pro Tip: You can create a wedding website through Basic Invite that matches your invitation suite. #Branding.

WHAT IF OUR WEDDING DATE CHANGES?

I know that committing to a wedding date right now can be incredibly stressful and might even feel risky. I’ve spoken with a lot of couples who are hesitant to commit to making wedding plans because, well, no-one knows what will happen during a pandemic. One of the most useful things that have come along for couples in the last few months are postponement cards. If you wind up having to push your wedding back, you can let everyone know with a re-save the date.