Last year was unlike any we’ve ever had before, and so many big things were cancelled – weddings among the most frequent. A huge number of couples who had planned 2020 weddings had to make the decision to postpone their parties, others still went through with their nuptials, just in nano capacities, and some either put a pin in a much-anticipated proposal or put a ring on it and then pressed pause on any of the planning thereafter. So, it makes sense that in 2021, lots of would-be or soon-to-be brides and grooms might hesitate to put anything too ‘concrete’ into a universe still impacted by COVID-19. We empathize with everyone who has needed to alter ‘I Do’ direction throughout all of this, and appreciate the allure of wanting to hold your planning cards close to the vest – but at the same time, we say don’t be shy about saving your date. Create that special card, sign, seal, and deliver it to your closest friends and family (if sending to everyone still feels risky), because it means a whole lot and shouldn’t be forgotten.
Especially if you’ve been feeling discouraged. We’re all still navigating this new world and some days are definitely easier than others, but when something like a wedding date is decided, it’s a certain cause for celebration and acknowledgement of the momentous move forward for you and your fiancé/fiancée. It can help turn the page on your wedding planning journey and kickstart your excitement – you’re getting married, you have full permission to experience ALL the feels.
A save the date doesn’t have to say much, but it can still make a bold statement: that at this time, your wedding is planned for X.Y.Z. and you’re looking forward to it! It’s not out of the realm of possibility for your VIPs to question when or if your wedding will be happening, confusion is understandable, but a save the date will provide some clarity and also quell any questions as you start to deal with all of the details of the day.
In so many ways, we love what 2020 did to the ‘rules’ of weddings – there really aren’t any anymore – and you can truly have your day, the way you want it, without feeling beholden to any marital mainstays or ‘must haves.’ That being said, save the dates are traditional and there’s something so special about sending them out and having your date locked in on the social calendars of everyone you hold close to your heart.
As we mentioned before, you don’t need to have every part of the wedding planning puzzle pieced together before you can send out save the dates (which is particularly helpful nowadays, when things can change at the drop of a hat). You will; however, need to have these items ironed out – definitively – to address the fine points of your big day.
The only caveat to why you wouldn’t send a save the date is if you’ve decided on a short engagement. Typically, this type of correspondence goes out 6-12 months prior to the wedding, so if you’ll be getting married with a much tighter turnaround time, then you’ll probably only need to get official wedding invitations prepped – along with some immediately orienting context shared in an email or phone call with the closest members of your crew.
On our Style Me Pretty shop, you can find dozens of stunning invitation suites to match your own signature brand of occasion, but first, let your guests know that you’ve saved the date and you can’t wait to see them there! So many of our designs are photo cards, too, which actually syncs back to our point about “bringing you out of the darkness.” It’s been a year of uncertainty and very little calm, but happy moments precipitated by an engagement and more promising months of pre-wedding planning can lead to sunnier skies and clear days ahead. And why shouldn’t it start with an engagement photo session that says “Lett’s do this! It’s our year!”