THE DATE IS SET, your venue is booked, and the guest list is complete. Do you need to send guests a save-the-date for your wedding? The answer depends on a few factors, says Tifany Wunschl, owner and lead designer of Gourmet Invitations.
“I think that many clients feel save-the-dates are a necessity,” Wunschl says. “They are absolutely an option, but most people don’t need to send out save-the-dates.”
In general, couples should send save-the-dates if they are having a destination wedding or if their wedding day falls on a holiday weekend — in these situations, guests need advance notice to plan accordingly. However, with creative designs including a city map, coasters, and even luggage tags, it’s no surprise many of Wunschl’s clients decide to send the cards “just because.”
Whatever your reason, Wunschl recommends mailing save-the-dates six to eight months before the wedding day. For destination weddings, send them closer to the eight month mark, especially if your guests will need a passport, she says. For holiday weddings and those sending “just because” save-the-dates, mail them six months before the wedding.