Before the invitation
Digital save the date: what it is, when to send it and what to include
A save the date does not invite: it reserves the slot in the diary. It is the message that stops your guests booking something else that weekend — and the one that decides whether people abroad can come at all.
What a save the date is (and how it differs from the invitation)
A save the date is an advance notice: it communicates the date and rough location so guests can block the day. No timings, no dress code, no RSVP form. Its only job is to get into the calendar.
The invitation comes later, with all the detail and the RSVP. Confusing the two is the most common mistake: sending the full invitation too early means people read it, close it and forget it — and when the day approaches nobody remembers what time the ceremony starts.
In digital form the save the date works especially well because it can be added to a phone calendar in one tap, and because it can already link to the wedding website even if that is half-finished.
When to send it
The rule depends on how far your guests have to travel:
- Local wedding, guests from the same city: 4–6 months ahead
- Guests from other regions of the country: 6–8 months ahead
- Destination wedding or international guests: 8–12 months ahead
- Peak season (June, July, September) or a bank holiday: as early as you can
What goes in it (and what does not)
Less is more. A save the date should be readable in ten seconds:
- Your names
- The full date, including the year
- City or area (no need for the exact address yet)
- 'Formal invitation to follow' or similar
- A link to the website if you already have something published
How it connects to the invitation
Our usual approach: we publish the wedding website early, with the save the date as its cover and one or two basic sections (date, area, rough accommodation). Guests save that link.
Months later, once timings and logistics are settled, the same address expands with all the sections and the RSVP. No new link to send: whoever saved it has the updated version. And for you it is one project, not two.
Frequently asked questions
Do we need a save the date if we send the invitation early?
If the wedding is local and you send the invitation 5 or 6 months ahead, you can skip it. With guests who need to fly or book time off, an earlier heads-up is worth it.
Can it just be a WhatsApp message?
It can, but it disappears into the chat within two days. A link to a page with your names and the date gets saved, forwarded to family and added to calendars — which is exactly what you want.
How much does a digital save the date cost?
If it goes with the invitation it is part of the same project, from €290: we publish the cover first and expand the website later. We never charge twice for the same wedding.
What if the exact venue is not confirmed?
That is fine: the city or island is enough. The save the date reserves the date, and the exact venue is added to the website once you confirm it.
Other guides
Shall we start with the save the date?
We publish the cover with your date first and expand the website once the logistics are settled. One project, one link.