Your wedding day is a special occasion that you’ll want to remember for the rest of your life. There’s no better way to capture the memories than with a unique and creative photo save the date. It will set the tone of your upcoming wedding and amp up the excitement for your guests!
Gone are the days of traditional wedding cards. Couples are seeking fun, personalized and creative ways to announce their big day. In this article, we’ll explore the etiquette of photo save the date cards and how to make yours stand out.
Let’s get started!
Why Choose Photo Save the Dates?
A Personal Touch
Photo save the dates add a personal touch to your wedding announcement. A standard card is nice, but one with your faces on it? Guests will love it! Save the dates with pictures on them showcase the personality of the couple, and when you include favorite locations, guests will get a sense of the two of you together.
Plus, many times guests know one partner of a couple better. Perhaps it’s a cousin or friend, but they aren’t as acquainted with your partner. They can put a photo to a face, making a nice warm introduction if they’re not as acquainted just yet!
Unique Stationery
As digital invitations become a popular trend, the art of receiving a physical save the date in the mail is a welcome memento. And what better way to make yours stand out than with a photo save the date? It’s a unique and creative way to announce your wedding and make an excellent first impression on guests.
A Fun Way to Involve Your Guests
Photo save the dates give you ample opportunity to involve your guests in your wedding preparations. You can use photos from your save the date to create a unique hashtag for your wedding or utilize larger versions of the picture at the entryway of your reception.
You’ll also find that adding photos to your wedding website that coordinate with the save the dates sets a nice cohesive tone to your overall wedding.
Now that you know why people choose photo save the dates, let’s talk about how to incorporate photos into yours.
Types of Photo Save the Dates
Here are some popular save the date picture ideas to inspire you.
Photo Strip Save the Dates
One of the big trends is photo strip save the dates, which are the most unique way to announce your wedding! It’s also one of the cards your guests are sure to talk about because they are a one-of-a-kind style.
These cards are made to look like a traditional photo booth strip, like you may have taken at the mall or at a special event. :) These types of strips feature multiple photos of the couple and include the wedding date, along with a custom message or quote to add a personalized touch. You can even integrate your wedding colors, the season, or other motif into its design to make it even more special.
Photo Booth Save the Dates
Photo booth save the dates are similar to photo strip save the dates, but with a twist. Instead of a traditional photo booth strip, the photos are arranged in a grid-like pattern, giving it a more modern and stylish look.
Polaroid Inspired Photos
One of my favorite trends is the retro throwback of instant photos, like the classic Polaroid! This example features a trio of pictures and a wide border with fun, witty wording.
Here’s another you’ll love, with typography that resembles a permanent marker and looks like it’s written by hand. What a unique look!
Single Photo Save the Dates
If you prefer a more classic and simple design, you can opt for a single photo save the date. This type of save the date features one photo of the couple, along with the wedding date and location. It’s a great option for couples who want to keep things minimal but still want to incorporate a photo into their save the date. The bow on the top of the example ties it all right up perfectly, IMO.
Tips for a Successful Photo Save the Date
Choose the Right Photographer
The key to a successful photo save the date is choosing the right photographer. Look for someone who specializes in wedding photography and has experience with save the date shoots. They will be able to capture your love and personality as a couple and provide you with high-quality photos for your save the date.
When you inquire, ask about save the date photography prices. Let them know you’d like to snap multiple photos to use for your save the date cards, wedding website, thank you cards, and maybe even the invitation itself.
As a bonus, when you work with the photographer on engagement pictures before the wedding, you’ll get to know them better. This helps ahead of the big day, as you’ll get a feel for their style and persona. This way, you’ll feel confident they’ll be a good match before you commit to a wedding photo package.
Pick a Meaningful Location
The best advice for your save the date shoot is location, location, location! Pick a place that is meaningful to you both, whether it’s your first date spot, where you got engaged, where you said I Love You, or something that you both love. It could even incorporate a hobby, like traveling or boating.
Save the date beach photos are always a top pick! Or consider something in the mountains, the woods, or wherever you like to travel together.
When you pick the perfect spot, it’ll add a personal touch to your photos and make them more special.
Coordinate Your Outfits
Spend a little time picking out what you’ll wear ahead of the photo shoot. To ensure your photos look cohesive, wear a similar outfit with your partner. You don’t have to match, but the style and tone should complement one another. Consider wearing interesting styles or pops of color to make your portraits stand out.
Have Fun and Be Yourselves
And last but not least, be yourself! Have fun with one another and don’t be afraid of candid shots, which are often the most memorable. You want your photos to look authentic, rather than posed.
Include Your Pet
Some of the most memorable cards are photo save the dates with your pets included. Who doesn’t love to see a cute pup?
It is especially impactful if you put the photo on a magnet, so guests can place it on their refrigerator. Then, the save the date is always in full view!
How to Incorporate Your Photo Save the Date into Your Wedding Theme
Your photo save the date can also serve as inspiration for your wedding theme. Here are some ideas on how to incorporate it into your special day:
Use the Same Photos for Your Wedding Invitations
You can use the same photos from your save the date shoot for your wedding invitations. This will create a cohesive look and tie in your wedding theme with your save the date. Don’t forget to utilize similar snapshots on your wedding website template, too.
Create a Photo Booth at Your Reception
As mentioned earlier, you can use your save the date photos as props for a photo booth at your reception. This will not only add a fun element to your wedding, but it will also give your guests a chance to take home a special memory from your big day.
• Have guests stand in front of a custom photo booth prop, like this by Magnolia Papers Co. So fun!
• Get large photo head props made from a picture so guests can snap as many photos with you (while you’re out on the dance floor!) Get them here.
Where to Get Your Photo Save the Dates
There are various options for getting your photo save the dates. You can either hire a professional designer or use a template from a stationery company. The best place to get them made with high-quality printing and paper options is Minted.
Minted is a popular online stationery company that offers a wide range of wedding stationery, including photo save the dates. They have a variety of designs to choose from, and you can even customize the colors and fonts to match your wedding theme. The examples in this blog post are all from their site with designs by independent designers (yay!)
There are many types of photo cards to choose from, whether you want to include a single snapshot, just a few, or multiple images in card or magnet format.
They offer different pricing for all kinds of budgets, whether you want a simple design or all the bells and whistles. Plus, you can save more money with Minted More, their unique membership program. With it, you get 20% off and free shipping all year long, plus 30% off save the dates and more.
► Browse the collection! Personalize your photo save the dates now: get started at Minted.
If you’re not sure what design to pick, they have a unique feature where you upload a photo and they show you examples of cards with your photo set inside it! Cool, huh? Plus, you can even get a FREE personalized sample (yep, with your photo printed on the card!) so you can see it in person before you commit to ordering them.
• Get your FREE sample here!
In Conclusion
Photo save the dates are a fun and creative way to announce your wedding and capture the memories of your special day. With the right photographer, location, and design, you can create a unique and personalized save the date that will make an impression on your guests. Don’t settle for a boring, traditional card if that’s not your style. Instead, go with a photo save the date that reflects your personality as a couple.
