Do you wish you had sent save the dates to your wedding guests, but you didn’t? If you regret not sending save the date cards to family and friends, there’s still time! Find out what to do and how to send save the dates late in this blog post! But first, subscribe for fun updates to your inbox! It’s free.
Planning your wedding can be an overwhelming task with to-do’s and dates to remember. It’s a lot to handle and you don’t want to make any major mistakes. One important task to remember is sending out save the dates.
Save the date cards are an announcement sent to your guests in the mail. The purpose of a save the date card is to give guests ample notice to make arrangements, i.e. travel, childcare, work, life commitments, etc. Most of all, it tells them to add your wedding date to the calendar so they can attend the celebration! As an added benefit, you are likely to have more guests in attendance, and allows you to plan logistics accordingly. Sending save the dates is a win-win for everyone involved.
So, what happens if you decide to NOT send save the dates… and now you’re regretting it?
Whether you’ve waited too long to send them out or you worry it’s too late to send save the dates at all, you’ve come to the right place.
When it is too late to send save the dates?
Let’s tackle this tricky etiquette question together thanks to a similar inbox question we received by bride-to-be, Andrea.
“I Wish I Sent Save the Dates”: Is It OK to Send Save the Dates Late?
“I’m so sorry I didn’t send save the date cards,” writes Andrea, a soon-to-be bride, months before her big day.
She continues, “My wedding is less than 5 months away, and I’m worried that more people won’t show up because they didn’t get a heads up. The wedding will be held during the summer in the local area, so I’m hoping that most of our guests will be able to make it. But is it too late to send Save-the-Date cards now?”
Hi Andrea! Great question. First of all, don’t worry! Your wedding is still months away, so you’re certainly not too late to send save the dates. To understand why sending them sooner than later, and now better than never at all, let’s talk about the importance of save-the-date cards and ideal timing for sending them out. Then we’ll tackle the big elephant in the room: did you miss the window? Is it too late to send save the dates?
The Importance of Save the Dates + Ideal Timing
While save the date cards are a great idea, they are not mandatory for a local wedding (they’re highly encouraged for a destination wedding). According to wedding etiquette, the ideal timeline for sending out save-the-dates is 6 to 9 months for a local wedding and 9 to 12 months for a destination wedding.
Save the dates are not just another task to check off of your list; they plan a vital role in the wedding planning process. This is because the cards will give guests advance notice to plan ahead, while ensuring as many guests can be in attendance on your big day.
So, while they’re valuable and important, don’t feel badly about it; if you never sent them at all, that’s perfectly A-OK. You didn’t drop the ball or anything. :) But it sounds like you wish you did send them, so let’s talk about what you can do now. And how late is TOO late to send save the dates?
Is It Too Late to Send Save the Dates?
Although it is best to adhere to the above timeline, 4 to 6 months of notice in your case is still plenty of time for a local wedding. In other words, it is never too late to send save the dates if your wedding date is approaching quickly.
► Here’s how to send save the dates even if they’re late.
Sending Out Save The Dates Late
There are two fantastic options:
1.) Send Save the Date Cards in the Mail
Order the save the date cards right away to get them in the mail faster.
Here are some places to get save the dates with quick delivery:
Fast Delivery
These four retailers have stellar printing and delivery times:
• Zola
• Minted
• Zazzle
• Basic Invite
Printable
As an alternate, you can get printable save the dates, another swift option. A printable template is one where you purchase the design, then edit to your liking. You can print as many copies as you need, whenever you want, and at your own print shop locally. Two of the best places to get printable files are:
Here are two examples:
Simply purchase the file, edit it, and print it at a local print shop or with your own printer. Place them in standard envelopes like these and mail them out. Done!
2.) Send FREE Digital Save the Dates via Email
You can send FREE digital save the dates instantly from Zola. You can even upload your own design or edit an existing template design.
Simply add your details, upload a photo (optional), and email them to your guests.
It’s free, it’s easy, and it’s the fastest option when you want to send save the dates late. :)
And they look amazing! They “open up” in guests’ email just like in person.
Here are three examples:
Are Email Save the Dates Tacky?
Digital invitations and save the dates have become quite popular for various reasons. So before you worry sending save the dates via email is tacky… no, it is not.
There are many reasons why couples send digital save the date cards. Some do it to save paper, others do it to save money on postage; many do it simply because you can send them absolutely free. Talk about a bonus to your budget! :)
Moreover, couples love the convenience of sending digital save the dates because they are transmitted via email instantly and don’t require print time, addressing, and mailing delays.
Now that you know how to fix your save-the-date dilemma, there are some surprising benefits of sending save the dates later. Let’s discuss it.
The Surprising Benefits of Sending Save the Dates Later
So while sooner is certainly better than later, a major benefit of mailing out save the dates a bit later is giving guests time to prepare even sooner to the big day. This is always a good thing!
If the wedding is a few months away, your guests will still benefit from a mini heads up on the date and location so they can make hotel accommodations, plan ahead for travel arrangements, child care, work commitments, etc.
In conclusion, while it’s best to send save the dates according to the recommended timeline, it’s never too late to send them out if your wedding is coming up and you wish you sent them sooner. Save the date cards are a fantastic resource to all guests by providing them with advance notice, and you’ll most likely reap the benefits of more guests in attendance, even if they are sent later. If you missed the window and wish you sent them out, now’s the time to do it.
Take action and send your save the dates now! After all, it’s better late than never. :)
Of course, there’s one caveat: don’t send them too close to the wedding, where they’ll interfere with the mailing of your invitations. That may be confusing for your guests. :) And by then, it’s OK to hold off on sending them.
Thanks so much for writing and I hope it helps!
xo
Emma
