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Save-the-date cards are an important step in the wedding planning process, alerting guests that you will be getting married as well as telling them the time and place the wedding will take place. Of course, this means that you have to have a wedding date chosen before you can send out the cards.
Issuing save-the-date cards without having a definite date in mind is a major faux-pas that can lead to massive headaches. Guests rely on this information so that they can clear their schedules, make travel arrangements, and plan to attend. If the information on your save-the-date card is wrong, then you can have a major logistical snafu on your hands.
The solution, of course, is having a solid date picked out and firmly decided upon. Generally, a save-the-date card should be sent six to eight months before the wedding, but after you have conclusively determined when it will be held. If you’re still struggling to pick a day to get married, then here are a few tips to help you cement a date.
Seasonal Issues
First of all, pick your season. This will partially depend on the mood that you want to set; a fall wedding will feel very different from a spring one. Winter weddings are rare but very unique, and evoke opulent settings and holiday warmth. Summer is the prime time for weddings, and allows for outdoors events and sun-dappled celebrations.
The season will dictate the weather at your wedding, too. Depending on where you live, mid-July might be too hot for your wedding and February might be too cold. If you want to be married indoors then you have a bit more flexibility, but if you’re getting married outdoors then you should try to pick a time of year that isn’t too rainy, windy, or chilly.
Budgeting
Another important consideration, though, is your budget. Due to the high demand for venues, photography, catering and other wedding services, a wedding during the prime season of June to September is likely to be more expensive. If you choose to marry in November, January, or March, though, you are much more likely to save on various wedding costs.
Special Days
Are you looking for a specific date? If there is a day that has special meaning to you, such as the anniversary of the first time you met or the birthday of a loved one, then you may be able to get married then. You can mention the significance of the timing to guests in your wedding program, or keep it between you and your fiancée.
If you’ve always wanted to get married on a particular holiday, such as Valentine’s Day or Easter, you can also choose to get married that day, although it’s important to remember that some guests may feel it’s an inconvenience to join you for your wedding on their holiday. If you can’t get the exact day that you want, then you might still be able to get close without losing too much of the atmosphere you’re looking for.
Days to Avoid
Equally important, however, is determining if there are any days when you can’t get married. Would you really want your anniversary to be on September 11th? You might also have to deal with graduation days or family vacations that can make it a bad time to get married. The weekend before tax day isn’t good for anybody, especially not if you or your partner is an accountant. Every career has a particular crunch time, whether it’s an annual inventory in July or the beginning of the fiscal year in September. Some religions and cultures might even have dates or days of the week in which a wedding is ill-advised.
Schedule Conflicts
Also consider whether there are any wedding guests that you refuse to get married without, such as your parents or a best friend. If so, you may want to ask them whether there are any days where they aren’t available to attend. Be sure that you only ask people in your inner circle, though, because this can be a slippery slope. You can’t possibly accommodate every single guest.
Days of the Week
You should also consider what day of the week you’d like to be married. Saturdays are by far the most popular day to get married, since they leave the whole day open for celebrations. Sundays are also popular for similar reasons, although Sunday weddings are much less traditional. Fridays are another common day to get married, especially if the ceremony and reception are restricted to the afternoon and evening. Weddings are very rare on other days of the week, with the exception of holidays and three-day weekends. Bear in mind that it might be more difficult to find wedding services for nontraditional days of the week, although you are likely to get steep discounts on them.
Saving the Date
Choosing a wedding date can be a difficult process, but it’s a very important one. Knowing when you will get married several months in advance helps to make the planning process much easier, and lets you alert your guests well ahead of time. Make sure that you have your date picked before sending off your save-the-date cards; this will save you time, effort, and trouble
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