Everything You need to Know About Sending Electronic Save the Dates! You’ve just gotten engaged and you’re ready to start planning your wedding. Congratulations! The next step is to send out your save-the-dates. But wait, what exactly is a save-the-date? Is it the same thing as an invitation? Do you have to send one? And what’s the deal with electronic save-the-dates? Here’s everything you need to know about sending electronic save-the-dates.

First things first, let’s answer the question: what is a save-the-date? A save-the-date is a way of letting your guests know that your wedding is happening and when. Traditionally, they are sent out six to eight months before the big day. However, if you’re planning a destination wedding or getting married during peak season (like summer), you’ll want to send them out even sooner.

Now that we know what they are, do you have to send one? No, you don’t have to send a save-the-date, but it’s a nice courtesy. If your guest list is small and everyone lives close by, you may not need to send one. But if you’re planning a destination wedding or expect a lot of out-of-town guests, it’s a good idea to give people as much notice as possible so they can make travel plans.

So, what about electronic save-the-dates? Can you just email them out? Yes, you can! In fact, electronic save-the-dates are becoming increasingly popular. They’re convenient, easy to send out, and most importantly, they’re eco-friendly. If you decide to go the electronic route, there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Always check with your venue before sending out e-save-the-dates. Some venues have rules about notifying them ahead of time for events, and you don’t want your invitees to inadvertently break any rules. Plus, it’s always courteous to give them a heads-up that there will be a bunch of people descending on their property in the near future. Some venues may require you to use their own save-the-date template or forbid the use of certain fonts or colors. Once you’ve got the green light from your venue, it’s time to start crafting your e-STD.
2. Make sure you have everyone’s correct email address before you hit send. Nothing is worse than realizing you made a typo in someone’s address after all the save-the-dates have been sent out. Trust us, your invitees will not be happy if they don’t receive their e-save-the-date because of a simple mistake that could have easily been avoided.
3. Keep in mind that not everyone checks their email regularly, so try to send out your e-save-the-dates at least a few weeks in advance. This will give people enough time to add the event to their calendars and start making travel plans (if necessary). And if you’re really worried about people missing your e-save-the-date, you can always follow up with a traditional paper save-the-date a few weeks after sending the electronic version.
4. Finally, keep in mind that not everyone is comfortable with reading e-save-the-dates. If you have guests who are not tech-savvy, you may want to consider sending traditional save-the-dates as well. keep in mind that not everyone checks their email with religious fervor as you do. So try to give your guests a few week’s notices – just to be on the safe side. All in all, sending e-save the dates is a great way to limit your environmental impact and save a little money in the process. Just make sure you do it right! This way, nobody will feel left out or alienated.

Sending electronic save-the-dates is a great way to get the wedding planning process started on the right foot. Just be sure to do your homework first and proofread carefully before hitting send!