Last Updated on June 26, 2025 by Joy Editors
Most couples don’t realize they should send their save-the-dates six to eight months before their wedding day. The content you include on a save the date plays a significant role because these cards set the tone for your whole celebration.
Your save the date cards represent the first tangible sign that your dream wedding is becoming real! These cards provide key details that help guests mark their calendars and make travel arrangements. Wedding planning experts suggest sending them up to a year or 14 months ahead for destination weddings.
This piece will walk you through everything you need to include on save the date cards. You’ll learn about optional elements to add personal touches, what to avoid, tips for addressing, and wording styles that announce your special day perfectly. These expert tips will help you create the right impression, whether you’re planning a small gathering or an extravagant celebration.
Essential Information to Include
Save the date cards need specific details that help guests prepare for your big day. You might want to share every wedding detail, but keeping things simple works better. Here are the must-have elements for your save the date card.
Full names of the couple
The save the date should make it clear who’s getting married. This might seem obvious, but full names serve a real purpose. “More distant relatives and friends may not know your partner’s name (or full name) and this information will be vital when it comes to filling out a wedding card, purchasing a monogrammed gift or simply updating an address book,” notes wedding experts.
The bride’s name usually appears first in traditional formats. Same-sex couples often use alphabetical order as a practical choice. Your wedding’s style can help you choose between:
- Formal style: “Leigh Grace Torwalt and Joshua Mason Young”
- Casual approach: “Benjamin + Sage” or “Kara & Jamie”
Wedding date and day of the week
The date stands out as the most important part of your save the date card—it’s in the name! Add the complete date with year to avoid confusion. The day of the week helps too, especially when you have weekday weddings. Guests might need to take time off work for Friday ceremonies, so writing “Friday, July 5, 2024” makes planning easier.
Your wedding style can guide the date format, from formal (“Saturday, the twenty-seventh of May”) to casual (“07.20.2026”).
City and state of the event
Keep location details simple but useful for planning. Right now, you just need the city and state or country where you’ll celebrate—not the exact venue address.
Wedding professional Julie Neubauer explains, “While the full venue details aren’t necessary at this stage, including the city and state (or destination) helps guests begin making travel arrangements.” This lets out-of-town guests start looking at hotels and travel options.
Destination wedding? You might want to add “Save the Weekend” with the date range so guests can plan for extended travel.
Wedding website URL
Your wedding website works as an information hub in today’s digital world. The website URL on save the dates gives guests access to:
- Detailed venue information as it becomes available
- Accommodation recommendations
- Travel guidance
- Your registry information
- Wedding updates and FAQs
Space issues? Put your website URL on the back of the card. A QR code linking to your website offers an easy way for guests to access information from their phones.
Line stating ‘Invitation to follow’
Adding a line about the formal invitation coming later prevents confusion. This simple note shows that the save the date isn’t the actual invitation and more details are on the way.
Some popular options include:
- “Formal invitation to follow”
- “Invitation to come”
- “Official invite to follow”
- “Invite coming soon”
This helps guests understand that your save the date isn’t the complete invitation, which cuts down on questions about details you’ll share later.
Save the date cards should stay simple and focus on these five key elements. Your formal invitation can handle the rest, like registry information, RSVP requests, and specific venue details.
Optional Additions to Personalize Your Card
Your save the date cards should go beyond basic details. You can make them a reflection of your style as a couple. A few special touches can turn a simple announcement into a cherished keepsake that hints at your upcoming celebration.
Engagement photo or favorite picture
A photo on your save the date card helps guests feel more connected to your celebration. Engagement photos work well for two reasons. You get to practice with your wedding photographer before the big day, and you’ll have perfect pictures for your announcements.
Most couples pick engagement photos because these capture genuine moments of their relationship. You might use props to highlight your wedding date or take pictures at places that matter to you. These professional shots can also work well with other wedding items like invitations and programs.
Here are some photo ideas that add a personal touch:
- A spontaneous moment from your engagement shoot
- A photo that shows who you are as a couple
- A shot with your pets or at your special place
Custom illustrations or motifs
Custom artwork can turn standard stationery into something special. Wedding professionals say that “Custom illustrations—such as a sketch of the wedding venue, a watercolor rendering of the destination or even a motif inspired by the couple’s love story—can add an artistic and bespoke element.” This choice gives your cards a personal feel without needing engagement photos.
These illustrations tell your story through art and tie your save the dates to your wedding theme. You can use these custom designs on invitations, programs, and reception details to create a unified look throughout your celebration.
QR code linking to your website
QR codes have become a popular addition to wedding stationery. The Knot’s 2023 Real Weddings Study shows that 38% of couples now use QR codes on their save-the-dates or invitations, up from 20% in 2022. These handy codes come with several benefits:
- Quick access to your wedding website details
- Cleaner card designs with less text
- Easy digital updates without new cards
- Less paper waste
Almost everyone can scan these codes with their phone’s camera, which makes this tech available to all your guests. The codes work as long as your wedding website stays up.
Design elements like wax seals or overlays
Physical details add a special touch to your save the dates and create an exciting moment when guests open them. Wax seals bring classic elegance that works with any style. Modern sticky wax seals are easy to use but look like traditional hand-stamped ones—and they’re tough enough for mailing.
You might also want to try vellum overlays, pressed flowers, die-cut shapes, or raised foil details. Wedding stationer Julie Neubauer explains that these elements “can be thoughtfully added to boost the tactile experience and turn the save-the-date from a simple announcement into an exciting first glimpse of the wedding to come”.
These personal touches should match your wedding style and tell your story. Each detail builds excitement for your big day and gives guests something special to keep.
What Not to Put on Save-the-Dates
Knowing what to put on save the date cards matters, but understanding what to leave off is just as significant. These pre-invitation announcements need to stay focused and efficient. Let me show you which elements don’t belong on your save-the-dates.
RSVP requests
Save-the-dates should never include RSVP cards or requests. Guests don’t need to respond at this early stage. Asking for replies too far ahead creates unnecessary complications. Wedding planners tell us that plans often change between save-the-dates and the actual event date, which makes early RSVPs unreliable. Early response requests might also make guests wonder if this is the actual invitation.
The right time to collect responses comes with your formal invitations, which you’ll send 6-8 weeks before the wedding. Hold off on that headcount for now.
Registry information
Registry information needs to stay completely off your save-the-dates. Etiquette experts say putting registry details on these early announcements isn’t appropriate. Here are better ways to share this information:
- Post registry information on your wedding website (which you can link on the save-the-date)
- Ask parents or wedding party members to spread the word when asked
- Include registry details with the formal invitation (though some etiquette experts don’t recommend this either)
Detailed schedule or timeline
Your save-the-date should focus on the date itself—not every minute of the day. Specific timing details like ceremony start time, cocktail hour, or reception information belong in the formal invitation. These plans often change during planning, and sharing them too early might confuse your guests if things shift around.
Many couples who think they’ve locked down their timeline end up making adjustments as the wedding gets closer. Early schedule details could mislead guests.
Venue address or dress code
You might have your perfect venue picked out, but save-the-dates don’t need the specific address. The city and state give enough location information right now. Wedding planners suggest leaving out venue details unless you’ve signed a contract and paid a deposit. This helps avoid issues if plans change.
Dress code information belongs on formal invitations, not save-the-dates. Black-tie or white-tie events are exceptions to this rule. The same goes for venues with specific requirements, like jackets for men or covered shoulders for women.
How to Address and Send Save-the-Dates
The way you address save the date envelopes matters just as much as what’s inside them. You need to pay attention to details because the envelope tells guests who’s invited to your celebration.
Include all guest names on the envelope
List every invited guest’s full name on the envelope. This approach prevents any confusion about who can come to your celebration. “By including the actual names of every intended guest on the envelope, you’re less likely to have any assumed invitees (like your cousin’s new boyfriend) or general confusion (is your seven-year-old niece invited?),” explains Julie Neubauer. Married couples can be addressed as “Mr. and Mrs. Roberts” or “George and Elham Awad.” Families with children can be written as “The Awad Family,” or you can list parents with children’s names on a second line.
Clarify plus-ones and family invites
Be clear about plus-ones right away. Address the envelope as “Ms. Brittany Washington and Guest” or “John Parker + Guest” if someone can bring a companion. Use your guest’s partner’s actual name instead of “and Guest” if possible. Make it clear which children are included by listing each child’s name or using “The Smith Family” to save space. Parents with uninvited children will appreciate having enough time to find childcare.
Tips for addressing formal vs. casual
Your addressing style should match your wedding’s formality. Formal weddings call for proper titles (Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr.) with full names. Casual celebrations work well with first names or full names without titles. Show extra respect to older relatives by using titles, whatever your overall style. Note that save-the-dates don’t need the same formality as wedding invitations—you can skip titles if that fits your wedding’s style better.
Save-the-Date Wording and Style Tips
Your save the date wording sets the mood and gives guests a sneak peek into your celebration style. These first wedding announcements help guests understand what to expect from your special day.
Formal vs. casual tone examples
A formal tone uses full names, spelled-out dates and traditional language that works well with black-tie events and classic celebrations:
“Please save the date for the wedding of Everly Nicolette Beaumont and Marcus Trevor Davenport September 18, 2025 Marietta, Georgia Invitation to follow“
The casual tone creates a more relaxed feel and lets the couple’s personality shine through:
“Save the Date! Michelle and Mickey are getting married! January 19, 2026 St. Louis, Missouri Look out for our wedding invitation soon!“
Creative phrases to match your theme
Let your wedding theme come alive through creative save the date messages. Destination wedding couples can build excitement with phrases like “Pack your bags!” or “Join Us In Puerto Rico“. Religious ceremonies often include meaningful phrases such as “Two hearts, one faith” or biblical verses.
Couples with a fun side can add their personal touch with humor:
“Food, drinks, music. Need we say more? Save the Date – Isobel + Roger – New York“
“Now you can stop asking us when we’re going to get married – Elizabeth + Nicole – Save the Date – 08.19.25 – Santa Fe“
Minimalist vs. detailed wording
The minimalist style keeps text clean and simple with just the key details:
“Save Our Date – Adam + Nathan – July 17, 2025 | Denver, CO“
Detailed wording tells more of your story:
“Boy meets girl. Boy asks girl. Girl says yes. Save the Date – Isla and Blake – 02.24.2027 – Los Angeles, California – Wedding invitation will follow soon“
Your choice between minimalist or detailed text should match your overall style. Modern celebrations work well with crisp, concise phrases. Romantic or storytelling approaches pair well with more detailed wording.
The save the date wording should reflect your personality as a couple and give guests their first glimpse of your wedding day.
Conclusion
Save the date cards set the tone for your special day and give your guests the information they need. This piece covers everything about creating the perfect announcement that combines practicality with your personal style.
The timing of sending these cards matters by a lot. You should target the 6-8 month window before your wedding day. Destination weddings need earlier notice – about 10-14 months ahead. This early heads-up lets guests, especially those traveling from far away, plan their arrangements.
Five essential elements are the foundations of every save the date: your full names, wedding date with day of week, location (city/state), wedding website URL, and a note about the formal invitation. These details give guests exactly what they need without overwhelming them with early information that might change.
You can improve your save the dates through thoughtful personalization. Engagement photos, custom illustrations, QR codes, or elegant physical touches like wax seals can turn a simple card into a meaningful keepsake that shows off your unique relationship.
Registry information, RSVP requests, detailed schedules, and specific venue addresses belong on your formal invitations. This approach prevents confusion and keeps your save the dates focused on their main goal.
The way you address your envelopes shows guests who’s invited to your celebration. Clear naming prevents any confusion about plus-ones and children’s inclusion, which gives everyone enough time to plan.
Save the date cards are vital to your wedding planning experience. These first physical announcements help guests prepare and build excitement for the celebration ahead. The right combination of elements will set the perfect stage for your special day and give your loved ones something to anticipate.
