He asked, you said yes now the fun part starts. You are planning your big day and all your dreams about your wedding day are within your grasp. There are lots of traditions observed during a wedding but there are also some newer trends that you might not be aware of. Save the date cards are one of those newer trends and they can be pretty important in some situations.

What Are They For?

As the name implies, save the date cards let guests know two things: when the big day or weekend is and that they are definitely being invited.

Why Are They Important?

Today’s couples are looking to stand out from what’s been done in the past. The need to make one’s wedding day unique and memorable has led to an upswing in weekend long celebrations and destination weddings. Guests need time to make their own plans in these situations. A Save the date card gives them a heads up.

Who Should Get Them?

There are always people who are invited to a wedding out of some sort of sense of obligation. Deep down we may not have a strong feeling about whether or not they attend. There are also guests we really want to be at the wedding. These are the people you should send the save the date cards to. This should include family, wedding party members and anyone else you would be heartbroken over if they missed your wedding.

When Should I Send Them?

The sooner you can send your guests notice about your ate, the better. Ideally this should be six months prior to the date. If you are planning a destination wedding where people will have to take time off from work, find child care and make travel arrangements, then eight months is more appropriate.

Let Your Creativity Show Through

Now that you know why and you should send save the cards, it’s time to have a little fun with them. Like an invitation, these can be as formal or as casual as you want. They can be printed to match your wedding colors or they can be totally opposite and random if you haven’t picked those things yet. The key information that should be included is who exactly is being invited, the date and in the case of a destination wedding or weekend celebration, that information should be included too.

In addition to colors, you might want to personalize the cards with a photo of the happy couple. This might be a formal engagement photo you’ve had taken at a photographer’s studio or a casual photo that shows the personality of you both as a couple.

Cards come in an array of styles and sizes from postcards to traditional greeting card designs. Some are business card sized and if you really want to get creative, you can have your save the date information printed on magnets. With magnets, your guests can put the magnet in a visible place like the refrigerator door and see it often. What a great way to remind them of your important day.