Your wedding is officially in the works, and it’s time to let your guests in on the celebration. Enter the save the date — your guests’ first glimpse into your wedding style and a gentle nudge to block off the big day. Whether you're sending classic or photo save the dates, this small card carries more weight than it seems.

If you’re wondering what to include on your save the dates, you’re not alone. With a little guidance (and a few expert tips from our designers), you’ll know exactly what to include — and what to leave out.

Save the Date Wording Essentials

When it comes to what details to include on your save the dates, simplicity is key. Your goal is to give guests just enough information to mark their calendars, without diving into the full itinerary (that comes later with your formal invitations).

Here’s what to include on your save the dates:

1. Your Names

List both full names, especially if you’re sending them to friends or extended family who may not know your partner well yet.

Example:

Jessica Morgan and Tyler Bennett
or
Jessica Marie Morgan and Tyler James Bennett

2. The Wedding Date

Your wedding date is the one detail guests need most — make sure it’s accurate, confirmed, and final.

Designer Tip: We recommend ordering your save the dates 9–12 months before your wedding to give you time to finalize your design and make edits. Most couples send them around the 6-8 month mark, but if you're planning a destination wedding or your date falls on a holiday weekend, aim to send closer to 10 months out so guests have plenty of time to plan.

3. The Location (City + State)

You don’t need to include your venue here — just the general location is perfect.

Example:

Charleston, South Carolina
or
Newport, Rhode Island

4. “Formal Invitation to Follow”

While save the dates have been around for a long time, they can sometimes be mistaken for the actual invitation — especially by guests who are less familiar with wedding stationery.

Including a simple line like “Formal invitation to follow” helps clarify that this isn’t the full invite, and that more details will be shared in the coming months.

Optional: Add Your Wedding Website

If you’ve already created a wedding website, this is a great place to share it. It's especially helpful if you’ve booked hotel blocks or have additional travel tips you’d like guests to access early on.

Keep the URL short and simple if possible. You can list it on a separate line or tuck it beneath your location.

Keep It Flexible

It might be tempting to share every exciting detail, but our best advice? Keep it minimal.

Your save the date does not need to include:

• Ceremony or reception times
• Specific venues
• RSVP info
• Dress codes
• Registry details

This gives you space to adjust any details before formal invitations go out — and helps maintain a sense of elegance and clarity.

Classic vs. Photo Save the Dates: Which Should You Choose?

There’s no wrong answer — both options are beautiful! It really depends on the mood you want to set.

Classic save the dates are traditional and timeless. They often feature minimalist text layouts and let the design shine.

Photo save the dates are a more personal touch. They’re a lovely way to show off engagement photos and connect with guests visually.

Designer Tip: If you're expecting a lot of guests you haven’t seen in a while, a photo save the date can be a meaningful way to reconnect and introduce your partner to loved ones before the big day.

A Note on Reception-Only Invitations

If you're only inviting certain guests to the reception (not the ceremony), you can still send a save the date — just make sure the wording is either specific to the reception or is a bit more generic.

Example:

Please save the date for the wedding reception of
Jessica Morgan and Tyler Bennett
or
Please save the date for a celebration honoring
Jessica Morgan and Tyler Bennett

This wording gently sets expectations for your guests, while the invitation to follow will share everything they need to know.

Save the Date FAQs

When should I send my save the dates — and who should receive them?

We recommend ordering your save the dates 9–12 months before your wedding and sending them out around 8–10 months in advance. For destination weddings or holiday weekends, aim closer to 12 months to give guests extra time to plan.

Save the dates should be sent to everyone you’re planning to invite — including both out-of-town and local guests. While it might seem helpful to only notify those who’ll be traveling, even those nearby will need to know the date in advance so they can mark their calendars and avoid making other plans.

Can I send save the dates for a reception-only invite?

Yes! Just be intentional with your wording. Opt for something more specific to the reception — like “please save the date for the wedding reception of…” — or keep it general with “please save the date for a celebration honoring…” Your formal invitation will share all the final details and confirm what guests are invited to.

Do I need to include my wedding website?

It’s totally optional. If you have one ready, feel free to include it — especially if there’s useful travel info or hotel recommendations. If not, no worries. You can add it to your invitations later.

Can I send digital save the dates instead of printed ones?

Digital save the dates are becoming more common, especially for casual or smaller weddings. While we don't offer them directly on our website, we're happy to provide a digital file of any of our save the date designs, perfectly formatted for email or social media. That way, you can still enjoy a professionally designed save the date, created one-on-one with your designer. Just contact our team — we’re always here to help create something that fits your celebration beautifully.

What if my wedding date or venue isn’t fully confirmed yet?

It’s best to wait until you’ve finalized at least your wedding date and general location (city and state) before sending save the dates. If those are set, but your venue is still being booked, no worries — you don’t need to include that specific detail just yet. Keep the wording simple, and let guests know a formal invitation will follow with additional information.

Your First Step Toward the Big Day

Your save the dates should feel effortless, and not stressful to plan. Stick to the must-haves, keep the tone true to your style, and don’t worry about making everything perfect. There’s still time to finalize most of the details before your invitations go out.

If you’re not sure where to start, we recommend browsing our curated collection of save the dates and photo save the dates — or take our Styling Quiz to discover which suite fits your wedding vision best.