Send a save the date after you have confirmed both the wedding date and the location. Guests can then keep the day free while you finish the ceremony schedule and invitation. Sending an uncertain date can leave friends with travel bookings for a celebration you later move.
Start with the guests who face the longest planning process. Someone flying from another country needs different notice from a friend who lives near the venue.
Check the commitments behind the date
Confirm your venue booking before announcing the date. If the ceremony takes place elsewhere, check that booking too. Keep a copy of both confirmations in your planning notes.
For a weekend celebration, decide whether you need guests on Friday or on Saturday. A save the date for Saturday alone gives them little reason to reserve Friday for welcome drinks.
Write the city and country alongside the date. You can add the full address when you send the invitation.
Make a guest list you can honour
Send save the dates to people you intend to invite. A guest may request leave or decline another celebration after receiving one. Build the list around venue capacity and your budget before asking them to reserve time.
Discuss plus-ones and children with your partner. Address the early message to the people you plan to invite so you avoid promising more places than you have.
Keep contact details with each household. You will need those details when the formal invitation goes out.
Allow more notice for travel
A holiday weekend, a remote venue, or an overseas trip can justify an earlier announcement. Ask guests about practical constraints rather than assuming they can book whenever you send the message.
Guests may need to wait for flight schedules or employer approval. Tell them which plans you have confirmed and which details you will send later. You can share accommodation information after checking the hotel’s dates and terms.
Keep the message short
Include your names, the date, the location, and a note that the invitation will follow. Our article on when to send wedding invitations covers the formal invitation that comes next. Avoid asking for a final RSVP before you can explain the event guests would commit to attending.
While the remaining plans take shape, you can draft the full invitation in Our Yes Day on the web or on your iPhone. View the invitation demo to check the schedule and RSVP experience. When you get to the wording, these digital wedding invitation examples can help.
