When wedding invitations aren't enough, save the dates save the day
When wedding invitations aren't enough, save the dates save the day
(ARA) - Long gone are the days when an invitation sent just a few weeks before your wedding date was all you needed to ensure the attendance of the invitees. In today's busy society, it's not only rude to give short notice of an important event, it's risky.
Wait until the last minute to notify potential guests of your wedding date and you may find yourself walking down the aisle among just a handful of family and friends. The official invitation, sent just four to six weeks before the wedding date, is no longer the first notice brides should give guests of their special day.
Wedding planning pros recommend you send out a "save the date" announcement at least nine months to a year before the wedding date. Longer notice is especially important if you have a lot of out-of-town or international guests on your invitation list, or are planning a destination wedding.
Here are five creative ways to remind guests to save the date for your wedding:
Photo announcements
Adding a photo of the happy couple is a great way to personalize a classic save-the-date announcement. Send the announcement as a postcard, with your photo on it, and guests will be more likely to notice the announcement - and make a note of the date on their calendars.
Save the date magnets
Another great way to keep the date front-of-mind for guests is to imprint your save the date on a magnet. Save the date magnets are more likely to end up dwelling in one of the highest traffic areas of the home -- on the door of the refrigerator -- where guests will see your date and information on a daily basis. You can also customize them with your photo.
Calendar save the dates
Cleverly designed to look like a page from a calendar, these save the date items can help guests visualize -- and so better recall -- your wedding date. Encourage guests to clip the card to their home or office calendars by including a colorful paper clip in the envelope.
Scratch off save the dates
You can infuse some fun and suspense into your announcement with a save the date that features a scratch-off section. Your wedding date is hidden beneath a silver block that guests scratch off with a coin -- as fun as a scratch off lottery ticket, but with a definite payout for you and your guests!
Save the date stickers
One sure way to make your wedding date sticks in guests' minds, is to announce it on a save the date sticker that they can mount somewhere that they'll see it regularly - like on a family bulletin board or on the appropriate page of their home calendar.
With busy schedules and loved ones living far away, it's more important than ever for brides to ensure guests have ample notice of their wedding date. Fortunately, save the dates can be a fun, effective way to clue guests in about the timing and important details of your wedding.
Courtesy of ARAcontent