{"id":61135,"date":"2019-09-12T17:09:13","date_gmt":"2019-09-12T17:09:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/withjoy.com\/blog\/?p=61135"},"modified":"2019-12-04T01:56:47","modified_gmt":"2019-12-04T01:56:47","slug":"how-to-address-save-the-dates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/withjoy.com\/blog\/how-to-address-save-the-dates\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Address Save the Dates: Our Sweet and Simple Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Save the dates are often the first wedding-related cards you\u2019ll send. It seems simple enough, but you might be wondering how to address the save the dates. While 6 to 8 months before your wedding is the perfect time to send your save the dates<\/a>, if you’re planning a destination wedding, you might send them slightly earlier. This gives everyone ample time to make arrangements to join your celebration.<\/p>\n

You enthusiastically told everyone about your upcoming celebration. You decided on a wedding date, location, and planned out your save the date cards. Now, it\u2019s time to write and send them.<\/p>\n

How to Address Save the Dates<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Many couples feel stuck when it comes to addressing save the dates<\/a>. Most of us don\u2019t send many letters by postal mail any more, so questions about etiquette and wording often spring up.<\/p>\n

The good news is save the dates are simple to address. They\u2019re often more casual than wedding invitations, so you don\u2019t need to worry about rules and etiquette. The main concern is being clear about who is invited and correctly spelling names.<\/p>\n

Think of writing your save the dates as a helpful practice run for your wedding invitations. You\u2019ll be familiar with wording everything, and you can make mistakes without using up all your wedding stationery.<\/p>\n

So, how should you address your save the dates? To help you get started, here are some of our recommendations and tips.<\/p>\n

Be Consistent About Titles<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There\u2019s no rule that says you need to use titles (Mr., Ms., and Mrs.) when addressing your save the dates \u2014 the level of formality is up to you. If you forego titles here, you can still use them on invitations. For formal save the dates, you\u2019ll want to reference any f<\/a>ormal titles of address<\/a> of your guests.<\/p>\n

If you choose to use titles, keep this consistent for all adult guests throughout your save the dates and wedding invitations. You could also think about whether you want to use titles for children (more on this later).<\/p>\n

Spell Your Guests\u2019 Full Names<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Although save the dates aren’t formal invitations, it\u2019s still customary to use full names. You don\u2019t need to include initials or middle names, but many couples avoid nicknames or shortened versions of names.<\/p>\n

However, there are no hard rules. If your friend Steve has always been known by his middle name, use that instead. The goal here is to make your guests feel welcome, so use whichever name they prefer.<\/p>\n

State Who is Invited <\/strong><\/h3>\n

You\u2019ve built your guest list around your loved ones, friends, and how many people you can welcome at your reception. That\u2019s why it\u2019s essential to clarify who is invited on your save the dates. It saves people from wondering whether they have a plus one, and it means you won\u2019t have any unexpected guests.<\/p>\n

Include the Names of Invited Children<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s especially helpful to be clear about who is invited in a family with children. Parents need to know whether to find childcare for their kids or if they\u2019re welcome to bring the little ones.<\/p>\n

Some couples like to address save the dates to the whole family. Others like to list the names of everyone in the family \u2014 only do this if you remember the spellings of everyone\u2019s names. If you list all guest names, include the children\u2019s names on the line underneath the adults\u2019 names. This also makes practical sense \u2014 it\u2019s hard to fit many names on one line.<\/p>\n

Write the Full Address<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Though save the dates are less formal than invitations, it\u2019s still widely accepted to feature the full address on envelopes.<\/p>\n

Use the full versions of street names, towns, and cities \u2014 you can abbreviate the state. Make sure you include the right zip code. For international guests, check their country\u2019s address format in advance.<\/p>\n

Include a Return Address <\/strong><\/h3>\n

There\u2019s one last thing to feature on the envelopes for your save the dates \u2014 your return address. While this isn\u2019t essential, it helps prevent stray invitations from getting lost in the post. It\u2019s also a sneak peek at who the correspondence is from, which is exciting.<\/p>\n

If you add a return address to your save the date envelopes, write it on the front left corner of your envelope. Or, you can add it to the back of your envelope instead.<\/p>\n

Examples of How to Address Save the Dates<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Learn<\/p>\n

It\u2019s your wedding, so it\u2019s up to you how to address save the dates. The guidelines and tips above can guide you, but as always, feel free to add your personality into your wedding planning.<\/p>\n

To further simplify things, here are different ways to address save the dates to guests and families.<\/p>\n

How to Address Save the Dates to a Single Guest<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You could address people by their full names with or without formal titles (Mr. for adult males and Ms. for adult females). For female guests under the age of 18, Miss is the standard title.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re inviting a guest and they can bring a plus one, make this clear on the envelope and invitation. If you know a significant other\u2019s name, it\u2019s lovely to include it. Otherwise, you could add \u201cand guest\u201d so it\u2019s clear that your invitee is welcome to bring a date.<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/p>\n