Save-The-Date Cards, like wedding invitations, announce the date of an upcoming event. Unlike wedding invitations, they’re less elegant, pricey, and beautiful. They are purely functional items that can take the form of cards, magnets, post-it notes, or other mediums that are common to reminders. Most often, they take the form of cards. These cards are sent several months in advance of the wedding invitations. They go out prior so that people can reserve the date ahead of time and keep it clear. This is especially important with weddings because sometimes the date can be during a vacation time for one of the guests. Getting a save the date card with the time several months ahead of the date can prepare the guest to alter or change his plans. Weddings are that important that they need two kinds of invitations – one to clear the schedule and another to announce the specifics of the event. Some people prefer them to take the form refrigerator magnets because they’re easier to keep track of.

There is some vague or broad rules and etiquette when it comes to Save-The-Date Cards. Most of it is hooey though because most people hardly ever receive them. It’s up to you how you want to present them to your guests. You know your friends best.

Even though these fabulous cards started out with weddings, eventually individuals, businesses, and organizations adapted them to announce their formal events from birthday parties to grand openings to special parades and so on. It is an old wives tale that you can’t put these up in the home where they originated from. It’s apparently a strange custom that many people follow, even though there’s no sound reasoning behind it.

Save-The-Date Cards often feature clocks, calendars, or circled dates to help re-enforce the concept, the singular bold idea, of a certain date. These cards are short on frills and abundant on information. Sometimes, a photograph of the couple is present, but some people consider this tacky or out of place. It’s usually just a date and the title of the event. It’s considered poor taste to not send one because it makes it seem like you don’t care that much about your guests’ time. Of course, you should care a lot about your guests’ time. Friends and relatives will feel especially miffed if they don’t get some kind of heads up about the event vis-a-vis a Save-The-Date Card.