Discussions

They seem redundant to me! If you send your invitations out with enough notice you don't need them in my opinion! Probably created by stationery companies to sell more stationery! Lol!

The only time I liked the save the date is when my sister verbally gave me over a years notice on their date as it was a destination wedding so I could save. Otherwise I have buddies who gave out their invitations just under a year which was more than enough time to book time off if needed. I wouldn't bother mailing anything out. With cost of mail it is a few bucks per invitation/rsvp card, and thank you card you will be spending on everyone. That adds up very fast.

If it's a destination wedding I would definitely send out save the dates. Do you have a lot of people that have to travel a fair distance to get there? I think it's nice to give them a formal heads up. But again it's totally up to you and your budget!

And made my own-biggest expense was postage and really not that big a cost, either

Save the dates are a nice heads up, especially if your wedding is a year or more away. If you send out invitation too early, guests can lose them, reply then have to change which defeats the purpose of them. Save the dates allow your guest to keep that date in mind and put it their calendar. Invitations are better left for a few months prior to your wedding to get the best estimate of how many people you will have.

Vista print and shutter fly have seem to be great websites for wedding stuff.

Thank you all for the information!!!!!!

Usually close friends and family will know the date, so don't normally think they are necessary.  
 
But have received one (it was a magnet with a picture of the couple) of cousin a few provinces away. This one I appreciated. It was sent instead of a Christmas card which I though was a good idea.

Save the Dates are not always necessary but I do recommend them for people who have very busy friends & family and also if they have a lot of guests coming from out of town. This allows for guests to book the needed time off from work and / or make travel arrangements. Save the Dates go out 1 year to 8 months before the wedding so this is really helpful for people who need that extra notice since invitations only go out 8 to 10 weeks before the wedding.  
 
Save the Dates are also often used as an Engagement announcement. Couples will often get Engagement photos done and feature them on the save the date cards. Many wedding photo packages photographers offer i:nclude an engagement session so Save The Dates can be a nice way of showcasing those photos too.  
 
If you are looking for a local company to do custom stationery, I do just that.  
My company is called Enchanted Moments Couture  
http://www.enchanted-moments.com  
 
Edited by divinebabymine, 2016-10-01 19:59:26