What You Need to Know About Save the Date Wedding Cards

Announcing your wedding day is one of the first—and most exciting—steps in your planning journey. Save the date cards are the perfect way to let your guests know that your big day is coming, while giving them plenty of time to plan ahead. They set the tone for your celebration, introduce your theme, and build anticipation for what’s to come.

At Dotty about Paper, we believe your save the date cards should be both beautiful and practical. Here’s everything you need to know before sending them out—from etiquette and timing to design ideas and what to include.

While some couples choose to jump straight to wedding invitations, save the dates have become a wedding essential. They give guests advance notice so they can book time off work, arrange travel and accommodation, and make sure your wedding day is firmly in their diary.

This is especially important if:

• You’re getting married during a busy season, such as summer or Christmas.

• You have guests travelling from abroad.

• You’re planning a destination wedding or a multi-day event.

A save the date gives your guests the chance to prepare—and it also makes your wedding feel more official! Many couples treasure this first piece of stationery as a keepsake.

Your save the date doesn’t need to contain every wedding detail—that’s what your invitation is for. Instead, it should include the essentials:

Traditional save the date cards are timeless and elegant, but save the date magnets are an increasingly popular choice. Magnets make it easy for guests to display the reminder on their fridge, ensuring your wedding date won’t be forgotten in a drawer or lost in a pile of post.

They’re practical, durable, and a fun twist on tradition. Magnets also make a wonderful keepsake—something guests can hold onto long after your wedding day. At Dotty about Paper, our magnetic designs range from classic florals to modern minimalism and rustic charm, so you can match them perfectly to your theme.

Save the dates are less formal than wedding invitations, which means you can have more fun with your design and wording. They’re a lovely opportunity to show off your personalities and give guests a first glimpse of your wedding theme.

Here are a few etiquette tips to keep in mind:

• Send to confirmed guests only. Once a save the date is sent, it’s considered a firm invitation to your wedding. Make sure your guest list is final before you post them out.

• Don’t send save the dates to evening-only guests unless you clearly state it’s for the evening reception.

• Keep wording simple and friendly. For example:
  “Save the Date!
  Sarah & James are getting married
  15th August 2026
  Formal invitation to follow.”

• Be consistent with names on the envelopes. This helps avoid confusion over who’s invited.

Addressing can get tricky, especially when deciding whether to include partners, children, or plus ones. Here’s a quick guide to help:

• Single Guest: Miss Nicola Goddard

• Guest with Plus One: Miss Nicola Goddard and Guest

• Unmarried Couple: Mr James Owen and Ms Nicola Goddard

• Married Couple: Mr and Mrs James Owen

• Same-Sex Married Couple: Mrs Lucy and Mrs Nicola Owen

• Family: The Owen Family

Clear addressing helps avoid awkward misunderstandings later, ensuring everyone knows exactly who’s invited.

To stay organised, we recommend ordering your save the dates at least a few weeks before you plan to send them. This gives you time to check proofs, confirm spellings, and make any adjustments before printing.

Once printed, post them around 6–9 months before your wedding, or earlier if it’s a peak season or destination event. If you’re planning to include engagement photos or custom artwork, leave extra time for design and production.

Your save the dates are the first glimpse of your wedding style, so why not carry the same design through to your invitations and on-the-day stationery? At Dotty about Paper, most of our collections include matching wedding invitations, RSVP cards, menus, table plans, and thank you cards, so your entire stationery suite feels beautifully cohesive.

Whether you love elegant florals, rustic charm, or a modern minimalist aesthetic, your stationery can tie everything together perfectly.

Before you hit ‘order’, take a moment to proofread everything. Double-check the spelling of names, the date, and any location details. Ask a friend or family member to look over the design too—a fresh pair of eyes often spots small mistakes.

Once they arrive, enjoy the moment! Sending out your save the dates makes everything feel real, marking the beginning of your wedding countdown.