6 examples of what to write on wedding Save the Dates & why you’ll want to send them out early! 

 

 

If you’ve chosen a wedding date and booked your dream wedding venue*, it’s time to send out your wedding ‘Save the Date’ announcements and share the exciting news… You’re getting married and they're invited!

 

Below, we answer some common questions about wedding Save the Date cards and emails, include when to send them, what info goes on them, and what makes them different that wedding invitations. 

 

We've also included 6 Save the Date examples to inspire you, each with unique wording and fun designs to match your personal style, wedding theme, ceremony location, and event duration! 

 

So let's dive in! 

 

*We recommend that you also choose a wedding officiant early, around the same time as booking your venue and sending your save-the-dates.

 

If you want a relative or friend to officiate your wedding, ask them to get ordained online with AMM and make sure they’re available on your chosen wedding date. And remember that professional officiants often book out many months in advance; contact your dream officiant early to secure them for your preferred date! Trying to find a wedding officiant at the last minute is stressful, and you might end up with an officiant who’s not a great match.

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What is a Save the Date Card or Email?

 

Save the Dates give your friends and family a heads-up that your wedding is on the way. They let loved ones know what day your wedding is scheduled for and where it will take place so that they can plan ahead to attend. 

 

Save the Date vs Invitation

 

Save the Dates are not the same as a wedding invitations: Save the Dates are shorter and include fewer details than invitations, and are sent a few months earlier than wedding invites.

 

Save the Dates provide advanced notice so that guests can request time off work and make travel arrangements, while wedding invitations provide additional details like dress code and ask guests to RSVP.

 

Wedding Save the Dates can also serve as an engagement announcement for loved ones who haven’t heard the big news yet.

 

 

Photo: Photo by Bảo Phúc / Pexels

Save the Date wedding cards or emails are the best way to let friends and family members know about your upcoming wedding, so they can ask for time off work, save money to attend, or make travel arrangements. 

 

When to send wedding Save the Dates? 

 

Plan to send your wedding Save the Date cards or emails 6 to 8 months before your wedding date, or a bit earlier if you’re planning a destination wedding in another state or country. You should email Save the Dates within this same time frame.

 

In general, the farther guests will need to travel to attend (or the more money they'll need to save to attend), the earlier your Save the Date announcement should go out – but don’t send them too early. Wedding Save the Dates should not be sent more than a year in advance. 

 

Save the Date cards or emails sent more than a year before your wedding date can be easily misplaced. If you can’t wait to shout your love from the rooftops, consider sending engagement announcement cards instead! 

 

 

What Goes on a Save the Date card for a wedding?
Choosing the perfect Save the Date wording and design...

 

Now for the fun part – choosing a creative design and the perfect wording to let loved ones know about your upcoming wedding! 

 

If you plan to mail printed Save the Dates, custom postcards are usually the most affordable option. Postcards are less expensive to print than greeting cards, you won't need to buy matching envelopes, and postcards require less postage than other types of mail. 

 

If you’re sending a Save the Date email, you can use the same wording that you would on a printed card, with the added benefit of being able to include an embedded link to your wedding website (if you have one).

 

The Save the Date examples below will work for postcards, greeting cards, and email templates! 

 

What to Write on Save the Dates:

 

• The wedding date
• The general location of the wedding (city / state / country)
• Your wedding website or social media (if you have one)
• ‘Invitation to Follow’ wording (This lets guests know that more info and specific details will be sent out closer to the wedding date.)

 

Keep it simple! Don’t include details about dress code or dinner, your venue’s address or phone number, a request to RSVP, registry information, or too much writing. Your save-the-dates should be short and sweet! 

 

With that in mind, let the options below inspire you! 

 

 

6 Wedding Save the Date Examples: Sample Wording & Designs

 

 

Example 1: Themed Save the Dates / Gothic Save the Dates

 

This Save the Date example was made using an Adobe Express save-the-date card template that matched the couple's gothic wedding theme. An illustration with pink roses and skulls against a black background hints at the witchy theme of the couple’s upcoming Halloween wedding in Salem, Massachusetts. The card reads:

Save the Date!
Kellie and Damon 
Are Getting Married
October 31, 2024
in Salem, MA
Invitation to Follow

 

 

Sample Save the Date postcard design for a witchy goth wedding on Halloween in 'Witch City,' Salem, Massachusetts. Your Save the Dates can match your wedding theme but they don't have to: Many couples don't decide on their wedding colors or theme until after the save the dates have been sent. 

 

 

Example 2: Funny Save the Date Idea With Your Pet

 

This casual Save the Date example was made using a Canva save-the-date card template. It includes a photo of the couple pausing for a kiss while hiking in the forest, with a cute shout-out to the couple’s dog Tater. The couple shows their sense of humor by saying they're 'finally' getting hitched, suggesting that their wedding has been a long time coming! The card reads: 

 

Mark Your Calendar! 
We’re (finally) getting hitched! 
Minneapolis
May 22, 2025
Invitation to Follow
Tater’s coming too!

 

 

This funny Save the Date card highlights the couple's casual style and lighthearted approach to wedding planning. Their furry companion Tater included too, to let guests know they plan to include their cute dog in the wedding ceremony. They mention the wedding will be in Minneapolis, so that out-of-town guests can plan ahead. No specific venue is named; venue information will be included on the wedding invitation, which gives the couple more time to choose a venue or work out final details.

 

 

Example 3: How to Include Wedding Website on Save the Date Cards

 

This sample Save the Date was made using a free Canva save-the-date card template. It includes the couple’s wedding website address and their custom social media handle / username, which they created so that friends and relatives can watch along online as they plan for the big day. They’ve already booked a well-known local landmark as their wedding venue, so they included it on the card. If you are sending Save the Date emails, you can embed the links to your wedding website and social media page. The card reads: 

 

Save the Date
Ken and Jenifer
Wedding at Winston Hall
11.24.24
Formal Invitation to Follow
www.kenandjen.com
@kenandjengetmarried

 

 

This simple and modern Save the Date card includes a wedding website address and a custom social media handle so that friends and family can watch the couple plan their wedding on Instagram. 

 
Example 4: Save Our Date! Alternative Wording for Save the Date

 

This sample Save the Date card was made using an Adobe Express save-the-date card template and includes alternative wording, changing ‘save the date’ to ‘save our date.' This simple change makes the card feel even more personal and sweet. The reason for the card (the couple's wedding) is implied. 

 

Save Our Date! 
Noble & Ty
April 15 2025
The Palace 
Richmond

 

This casual Save the Date card includes a sweet photo of the couple, with the words 'Save Our Date!' This implies the purpose of the card, which is to announce the couple's upcoming wedding. 

 

 

Example 5: Destination Wedding Save the Date Wording

 

This sample design was made using one of the free Save the Date templates for Word, customized in Microsoft Designer. It was designed for a destination wedding in Toronto, and is written in the style of a friendly note to the recipient. The card reads: 

 

Save The Date
David & Kim
We’re getting married in Toronto on March 3rd, 2025 and we want our favorite people there. 
That means you. 
(Invitation to Follow)

 

This Save the Date for a destination wedding in Toronto uses a unique Save the Date Word template with modern colors and conversational wording to make friends and family feel welcome and excited about the upcoming event. Because this is a destination wedding, the couple should send this Save the Date a little early, between 8 and 9 months before the ceremony - but not more than a year in advance.

 

 

Example 6: Multi-day Wedding Save the Date Wording

 

This unique Save the Date design was created using a free Adobe Express save-the-date card template. It's for a multi-day wedding, a three-day wedding with the formal ceremony taking place on the third day. Indian weddings and other multicultural marriage celebrations commonly last more than one day (typically 3 to 5 days), multi-day weddings are becoming more popular. Save the Dates can help guests plan ahead for longer celebrations. 

 

This card also lets guests know that the formal ceremony on the third day; this is helpful for guests who can only attend for part of the festivities and don't want to miss the ceremony. The card reads: 

 

We kindly ask that you save the dates for our upcoming wedding extravaganza! 

Aditi Singh and Eric Williams

January 3 - 5, 2025

Formal ceremony held on Jan 5th

All festivities in Washington, DC

 

 

This unique Save the Date example is perfect for a wedding celebration held over multiple days, in this case a three day wedding extravaganza taking place in Washington, DC. The formal ceremony is on the last day, which is noted for guests who may only be able to attend for part of the event and don't want to miss the couple's formal walk down the aisle.

...

Need a wedding officiant? Ask a friend or relative to get ordained online free with AMM to officiate! 

 

Online ordination is free, easy, and fast with American Marriage Ministries. AMM ordains people from all backgrounds and faiths, and our ordinations are recognized in every state. 

 

• Get ordained online free with AMM
• Weddings by State: Minister Registration Requirements

 

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You’ve just proposed to your partner, why not propose to your wedding officiant too? 

American Marriage Ministries offers a unique ‘Will You Marry Us?’ Gift Box to make it easy and fun to ask someone to officiate your wedding! 

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Above: Everything included in the Will You Marry Us? gift box. Order today and propose to your wedding officiant! 
 

This officiant proposal gift box includes everything your friend needs to prepare for your ceremony: 

 

Wedding Ceremony Materials

 

• 1 Embroidered AMM Satin Wedding Officiant Stole
• 1 "Will You Marry Us?" greeting card + navy envelope
• 1 Copy of Asked to Officiate, a Ceremony Writing and Delivery Guide
• 1 Copy of our AMM Minister’s Manual
• 1 Screen Printed Canvas AMM Minister’s Tote Bag
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Credentials and Officiant Licensing Materials

 

• 1 Ordination Certificate (sent to your designated officiant)
• 1 Letter of Good Standing (sent to your designated officiant)
• 1 Certificate Holder (sent to your designated officiant)
• Minister Licensing Instructions (sent to your designated officiant, where applicable)
• Minister Licensing Application Materials (sent to your designated officiant, where applicable)

 

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You might also like: 

 

• 7 Ultimate Engagement Gifts To Make a Couple’s Wedding Planning a Breeze
   
• 5 Great Reasons to Ask a Friend to Officiate Your Wedding
   
• How Much Does the Average Wedding Cost?
   

 

Average Wedding Cost: How to Budget for Your Big Day. Read the full article here. 

 

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