A save the date is one of those elements that many brides I know go without. Save the dates have only recently started to take off  here, but I still get many people asking me what they are, and how they differ from an invite. Well, the save the date is a little notice sent to your wedding guests announcing the date of your wedding. In short, it is merely a form of early notification. They are especially useful if you’re having a destination wedding, or if you have many guests from abroad coming to your wedding or if you’re getting married slap bang in the middle of wedding season.

Designer Henriette from Event and Design says, “ If you’re having a destination wedding, eight months before the date is considered polite. This will give your guests enough time to make travel and accommodation arrangements, save up for the event and also give them enough time in advance for them to know not to accept invitations to events coincide with the wedding date.”

Sending out save the dates can also help you finalise the number of guests as soon as possible as you can ask guests to RSVP so long. Yes, stationery is expensive. And sending out two “invites” can seem a bit over the top and not very green, but you can also opt for an electronic save the date. It will save you both of time and money. You can even add a little RSVP option to the electronic save the dates which makes the RSVP super easy for guests.

Of course you can also have lots of fun with save the dates. They can take any form from the traditional printed version to a fridge magnet or event a video. Here are a few of our favourite save the dates from some of our favourite stationers

  Bicycle save the date  and Oystercatcher save the date both from Susan Brand Design

   Calender save the date and yellow lasercut save the date both from Doodles Laser Forest save the date by Elephantshoe. Wes-Kaap save the date by Pink Pigeon    Destination save the date Seven Swans  Typewriter save the date by Event & Design   Chalkboard save the date from Minted  He she in one package save the date from Minted  Little wine charmers save the date from Minted   Tying the knot save the date from Minted 

   Tiptoe kiss save the date from Minted  Stache and Kiss save the date from Minted   Vintage beach save the date from Minted  Vintage floral save the date card from Minted   Airmail save the date from Toast