When should you send save the dates?

Send save the dates 6 to 8 months before the wedding date for local weddings. For destination weddings, send save the dates 9 to 12 months in advance so guests have enough time to book flights, hotels, and time off work. For weddings during peak travel seasons (summer Saturdays, holiday weekends), send 8 to 10 months in advance. The save the date should always go out before the formal invitation, which is sent 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding.

What should a save the date say?

A save the date should include the names of the couple, the wedding date, the city and state (or country) where the wedding will take place, the words "save the date" or "save our date," a note that a formal invitation will follow, and your wedding website URL if you have one. You do not need to include the venue address, ceremony time, or RSVP information. Those go on the formal invitation that follows. Keep save the date wording short. The job is to give guests the date so they can hold it, not to share full details.

What size are save the dates?

The two standard save the date sizes are 5x7 inches (a card that mails in an A7 envelope) and 4x6 inches (a postcard that mails without an envelope). The 5x7 size feels more substantial and matches your formal invitation. The 4x6 postcard saves on postage (postcard rates are 30 to 50 percent lower than standard letter rates) and is faster to mail since it does not need an envelope. Both sizes are available for every template in this collection.

Do I need to send save the dates?

Save the dates are not strictly required, but they are highly recommended for any wedding with out-of-town guests, destination weddings, weddings during peak travel seasons, and weddings booked more than 9 months out. If your guest list is local and the wedding is less than 6 months away, you can skip the save the date and go straight to the formal invitation. For everyone else, save the dates make a real difference in attendance rates.

Should save the dates match the wedding invitation?

Save the dates do not need to match the wedding invitation perfectly, but they should preview your wedding aesthetic. The simplest approach is to pick save the date and invitation templates from the same style family (Minimalist, Floral, Boho, Classic, or Rustic) and use the same color palette across both. Buying a wedding invitation set guarantees the save the date and invitation match exactly since they are designed as one coordinated package.

Can I print save the dates at home?

Yes. Every template downloads as a print-ready PDF sized for standard home printers and any local or online print shop. We recommend 100lb or 110lb cardstock for 5x7 cards and 100lb postcard stock for 4x6 postcards. Both standard letter-size paper (8.5x11 inches) and tabloid (11x17 inches) work for home printing, depending on how many cards you want to fit per sheet.

Wedding Templates

Browse our complete collection of wedding stationery templates, organized into three categories: Invitations & Stationery (wedding invitations, save the dates, RSVP cards, thank-you cards, bridal shower and bachelorette invitations), Ceremony & Reception Essentials (programs, seating charts, place cards, table numbers, menus, signs), and Online Wedding Invitations (digital invitations, save the dates, and RSVP cards for sharing by text or email). Every template is fully editable in our free browser-based editor with no Canva account, no Photoshop, and no software to install. Print at home or share digitally.