Tips & Ideas For Creating Memorable Save The Date Cards

There are some things in life that we really want to share with family and friends, regardless of how far away they may live. Weddings are certainly one of those life-changing events. From the moment he pops the question, the planning begins. Ceremony, reception, rehearsal dinner, guest lists, registries, invitations, thank you cards, venues, menus -- the list just seems to get longer and longer! Luckily, there are many online resources to help in the planning process. Save the date cards can help ensure that long-distance guests, and others who require a little extra notice, will have plenty of time to make any necessary arrangements. Save the date cards and magnets are just one way to simplify your wedding preparations. Preprinted thank you cards, return address labels, and similar printed materials can each save a new bride precious time and reduce some of the inevitable stress associated with planning a wedding.  

Save the date cards provide a fun and simple way of notifying guests about your thrilling news long before the wedding invitations are ready to be sent out. Save the date cards are especially important for out of town guests who will need to make the necessary travel arrangements and accommodation reservations. They are also very helpful and thoughtful for those with medical conditions, that may require a little planning, as well as those with heavy work demands, pets, or other issues that, while they can be worked around, often require a little extra time and effort. Your thoughtfulness will be greatly appreciated by your guests and they will be far more likely to attend, given the time they need. Honestly, by the time you are done designing your unique save the date cards, all of your guests, both near and far, are going to want one for themselves to add to their collection of wedding mementos and memorabilia!

In addition to printed save the date cards, another entertaining way to spread the wedding news is through online videos. Many couples choose to create videos to announce their news and either post them to YouTube.com or send them to friends and family via email. Video announcements make a great complement to printed save the dates, as both serve as a fun and friendly reminder of the upcoming nuptials.

Very often, save the date cards are the first genuine notice that family and friends will receive telling them of the forthcoming nuptials. Instead of the formal and rather limited choices of yesteryear, todays save the date cards are a wonderful opportunity to be creative, playful, and to express you publicly as a soon-to-be-wedded couple. Save the date cards can be humorous or elegant, modern or old school, or anything in between. This is a perfect opportunity to bond with your betrothed and see what the two of you can come up with together. It is also an excellent chance to gather up some favorite photographs, some of the memories of how the two of you met, and recollections of your courtship to pull together a unique correspondence that tells family and friends to set aside your special day. Many couples use the theme of their wedding to create save the date cards that set the tone for the ceremony and reception. There are many other ideas for save the date cards that will make them treasured mementos of your first day as husband and wife.

Many couples are on limited wedding budgets and creating several of the items at home can be inexpensive and appealing. At the same time, homemade items often look exactly that - homemade. Money can be saved, but at what cost? Save the date cards will be part of your wedding memories for the rest of your life and they deserve to be printed by professionals. While new couples should certainly work and live within their financial means, they do not have to go to either extreme when creating a memorable wedding. There is no need to break the bank with gold-plated dandelions in crystal vases any more than guests should be invited to the wedding by phone. There are certain rules of etiquette that should be adhered to, out of courtesy. Doing much of the work yourself, however, can save money. The advantage of using a reputable online printing company is that you can design unique save the date cards, wedding invitations, matching thank you cards, and preprinted return address labels all from the comfort of home without spending more than you can afford.

There are as many wedding themes as there are couples. Seasonal themes are common, as are shared interests of the couple, such as sports, horseback riding, NASCAR, or wine tasting. There is no limit to what a couple can use as their wedding theme. Save the date cards, preprinted return address labels, thank you cards, and the like can carry the theme and color scheme throughout the event, creating a more polished look. When creating save the date cards, couples can use bright, bold colors, unexpected graphics, and personal photographs. Miniature calendars are also popular. 

Photo Booth Strip

Everyone has seen the carnival midway photo strips. This fun, casual photo style makes excellent pictures for wedding save the date cards.  Many video game arcades and malls provide these photo booths where couples can create playful photographs. You can also make own photo booth pictures on your computer. Make small signs to hold up in sequence with messages such as, 'We’re - getting - married!', or 'Save - the - date!', followed by a final sign with all the pertinent information. Not only will recipients have fun reading each of your signs, but the overall effect will make these save the date cards extra special mementos.

Since most save the date card recipients will be from out of town, using a 'tourist postcard' style save the date is one way to create a fun, memorable theme. Couples can take pictures together at popular attractions from the town where the wedding will take place and add personal notes and other special touches. By choosing a collage style save the date card, several photos can be included. The 'travel postcard' theme works nicely for distance weddings, as well. Tiny maps, family photographs, and other unique touches can combine to create a tourist postcard save the date card that guests will love talking about as they wait to see you walking down the aisle.

Tickets

There are many playful ways couples can use a 'Ticket' themed save the date card. Event tickets can be attached to printed save the date cards as an Admit One offer of welcome, or send extras if recipients are expected to bring guests. Tickets can also be used to make the reception more fun with special games or offers, such as who gets to take home floral centerpieces, who gets to help decorate the bride and groom's escape car, and so on.

Travel Documents

Destination weddings, or those for which many people will have to fly in, are perfectly suited to using travel documents as part of the save the date cards. Mock travel documents can provide helpful directions and maps for guests from out of town. Pretend passports can feature silly quotes and childhood photographs, or they can incorporate an activity that allows guests to earn passport stamps from different aspects of the wedding, such as the rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, groom's party, reception, and more.

Location souvenirs are another way to add fun and excitement to save the date cards. Consider the town where the wedding is being held and add a trinket along with the printed card. A Detroit wedding save the date card could come with its own Matchbox car. A wedding in Mexico may feature a small set of maracas, emblazoned with the bride and groom's names, or a tiny straw hat. A beach wedding can be highlighted with sunglasses or a small bottle of sunscreen adorned with a custom made label.

One of the most common mistakes made in wedding planning is to forget to enjoy it. With so many details to work out, this is no surprise, but making the conscious effort to enjoy the process will eliminate much of the stress. Just remember, worrying never fixed anything. Try to keep a good sense of humor and realize that it will all be over before you know it. The most important thing is getting the save the date cards out early. Travel  and hotel costs are significantly lower when booked long enough in advance. Be creative, but there are other, more important details to work out, such as cakes, gowns, and favors. Have fun creating unique save the date cards and then get them in the mail!

When designing save the date cards, it is traditional to include a line at the bottom which informs recipients that a formal wedding invitation and further details will follow. Save the date cards should never include gift registry information. Registry contact information should only be included in bridal shower invitations. Guests who want that information earlier will contact the bride or groom's parents or friends on their own. At the same time, it is perfectly acceptable to list your wedding website on save the date cards. Wedding websites are excellent ways of sharing information with guests. Also, time is too valuable to spend handwriting addresses when sending out save the date cards. Preprinted address labels are perfectly acceptable and they will save your hands for more important tasks.

When ordering your unique save the date cards, you can also save time and money by purchasing matching thank you cards, stationary, and return address labels. These personalized items will add a touch of flair and style to your wedding, pulling it all together into a grand performance that will culminate with the two of you standing side by side, being introduced as, 'Mr. And Mrs.'