Save-the-dates.......or not??

As we inch toward the wedding season, I often get asked whether or not save-the-dates are necessary. I say yes if.....

• Your wedding is more than 4 months away. Keep in mind that your actual wedding invitations should go out eight weeks prior to the date. If you know the date and the city, why not let people know so they can start their planning too.
• You have a lot of out-of-town guest. In my opinion, eight weeks just is not long enough to plan a trip. Your guests have to get hotel reservations, plane tickets, request off work etc. etc. Throw a couple of kiddos in there and your really talking work (trust me..I know).

Furthermore, a "save the date" is just that. You are asking your guest to please save this date because it is one of the most important events in your life and you want the recipient to share it with you. It is a nice and courteous gesture and your guest will be grateful that you thought enough of them to make sure they put it on their calender.

Also, the great thing about the save-the-date is that it is usually a more casual and fun mailing. It does not have to reflect the design, colors or theme of your wedding. It is your chance to do something totally different. Save-the-dates do not have to be expensive either. A simple design on a single card stock will look great!

I would suggest that you do not have to have a save-the-date, if your wedding is more intimate and approaching quickly. If most of the guest are local and already know about the wedding by word of mouth, it is fine to skip the save-the-date.

Happy Planning!!