Date Details

Get your guests revved up with an eye-catching card

By Danielle Robinson
CTW Features

Image courtesy A Printable Press

If you walked through the homes of stationers Kimi Weart and Paul Galloway’s friends, you’d likely see the same photograph on many of their walls: a black-and-white image of a heart painted on a tree trunk. What is this ubiquitous piece of art? None other than the save-the-date card from their wedding in 2008.

A memorable save-the-date is the best way spread your joy and excitement about upcoming nuptials, and when it comes to choosing a design, today’s couples have nearly limitless options, with very few rules to abide by.

“When you’re sending out a save-the-date, you might not know what your wedding colors are or your theme,” says Erika Firm, president of Delphine Press, Rancho Sante Fe, Calif. “But it’s perfectly fine to have something different. [It’s] generally a lot more informal, so you can have a lot more fun on the design and the wording than you would on a traditional invite.”

Essential Info

Save-the-dates typically are sent out shortly after the engagement, as soon as the couple decides when and where their wedding will take place. The card should include the couple’s names, the date and city of the ceremony and a note that a formal invitation will follow. “Don't worry about the actual ceremony location or time,” says Weart, who co-owns A Printable Press with Galloway. “You wouldn't believe how often a location and time has to change.”

If a guest list is extensive, consider including a photo on the card. “[It will be] a gentle reminder of who you are or what you look like now that you're all grown up,” Weart says.

Let Creativity Guide You

Once those bases are covered, however, let your creativity run wild. Remember: You want the card to stand out so that guests will eagerly anticipate the big day right from the start. Consider using a bright pop of color as a simple way to get noticed.

“These days the oddest of color combinations can be so gorgeous,” Weart says. “Avocado green and hot pink, lime green and charcoal – anything goes.” Firm, whose company offers 2,000 colorful paper options, recommends subdued citrus shades for this spring and summer, like pink grapefruit or muted lemon and lime tones.

For a truly unforgettable save-the-date, think beyond paper. Electronic cards are a great way to save trees, while also allowing for a fun animation or video. Or use an unconventional material, like wood, fabric or cardboard.

Firm recalls one couple who printed their save-the-dates on coasters. “They were having the wedding by the beach and it seemed really fun and casual,” she says. “I think all their guests knew they were going to have a great weekend.” Another couple got inspired by their overseas ceremony in France, creating a card that looked like a luggage tag. “It was made to look like air mail, and it was in French and in English,” Firm says.

Both experts agree that a save-the-date should be a fun expression of who you are as a couple. “It's only when you do invitations later that things get more serious because you are approaching a truly significant and life-changing event,” Weart says. “But in the beginning, have fun with it. Do anything you like, whether it's traditionally luxurious or off-the-wall loopy.”

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