save the date, are they that important?

[firstbase32]

I was just looking at the STD''s that I have designed and was contemplating ordering. I have been thinking if we''re setting such a strict budget do you think the STD''s are a good first thing to cut? I mean they''ll be getting their invites in like 2-3 months anyway so why spend $50 on the magnets and then another $30 for postage and stuff. I mean that''s $80 that could go towards her dress or towards decorations. What do you guys think? I was going to order them a couple of weeks ago but something was telling me I should just wait and see what happens.

 

[jcrow]

i''d say nix them, but that''s me.
i designed some but decided not to do them in the end. we opted instead to put hotel info in the actual invite since all guests were basically OOTers. I fuigured the 6 that aren''t won''t mind.

 

[SoonIHope]

I think they are definitely NOT necessary for most weddings. However, if your wedding is going to be in a place many people have to travel to, or if you know you''re looking at a busy wedding season, I think it''s a good idea to send them (but still not necessary - if you can get the word out to most of your guests early-ish some other way). We are doing them mainly because (a) EVERYONE has to travel to our wedding, (b) we know a lot of people who are engaged now and planning to get married next summer, we want them (and mutual friends) to know THIS is when OUR wedding is

, and (c) because our engagement is one and a half years long and it''s just tooooo long for me not to send concrete PROOF that we''re getting married out to people! So basically (b) and (c) are just selfish reasons for me, but I do think it''s good for people to have a heads up on the date if it will require travel or have possible conflicts. That said - I think everyone enjoys getting save the dates, but I don''t think you NEED to send them at all! If you''re concerned her dress or decorations are getting the short end of the budget-stick, I might just hold off, buuuuut it would be sad to see those magnets you designed go to waste!

 

[Tybee]

Hmmm,

This is an interesting question. We definitely needed to send out save-the-dates because ours was a destination wedding, and people needed to look into airfare. If you have people traveling to your wedding, a save-the-date gives them a heads up so that they can start making plans. It''s sort of a kind thing to do.

We sort of "bent the rules," though, and sent our save-the-dates as an e-mail. It included lots of links to ferry schedules and places to stay. For our wedding it seemed like the right way to go.

 

[jcrow]

you both bring up good points. i''d like to add that i guess my case is different as far as travel. they all can get here by car. maybe 3 will fly. everyone also has had plenty of heads up- they''ve all been notified and can''t wait to join us for the celebration.

so, i guess it depends on your situation?

 

[firstbase32]

i''d say most of the people are within driving distance but a few people who are flying distance would more than likely simply send a gift instead of coming. We''re in Indiana and she has some relatives in Florida and I have an Uncle in AZ.
Maybe instead of sending the "magnet design" in to the company and spending that much money on having a magnet, I could take it and have it printed on a thicker paper and send it out to the people who would need more of a heads up. that would probably save quite a bit of money instead of sending out 100 STD''s just sending out 30-40

 

[flopkins]

they aren''t essential. I ended up just emailing mine out so they could link to our wedding website that has all the travel info - that''s pretty much the most impt part about the STD, really, the travel info in case anyone is OOT.

 

[SoonIHope]

Date: 7/25/2006 1:00:10 PM
Author: firstbase32
i''d say most of the people are within driving distance but a few people who are flying distance would more than likely simply send a gift instead of coming. We''re in Indiana and she has some relatives in Florida and I have an Uncle in AZ.

Maybe instead of sending the ''magnet design'' in to the company and spending that much money on having a magnet, I could take it and have it printed on a thicker paper and send it out to the people who would need more of a heads up. that would probably save quite a bit of money instead of sending out 100 STD''s just sending out 30-40

That sounds like a perfect solution! Your design isn''t wasted and everyone who needs a heads up gets one!

 

[larussel03]

If you''re not planning the wedding during a busy season, or it''s not a DW, then I saw forgo them. I''m having some made up, but that''s b/c we''re getting married the Sat after Thanksgiving in 2007, so I''ll likely send them along in Feb or March, to give people a heads up before they make any kind of travel plans for turkey day.

 

[Fancy605]

I think I''ve seen maybe one save the date card in person. Usually, like everyone has mentioned, I hear about weddings through word of mouth or e-mail because it is either for family or close friends or people within driving distance. I think that the magnets are precious--especially for people not w/i driving distance or for weddings that are going to be a year or more off (because people forget and do things like plan their wedding for the same day--eek), but really---what do people do with save the date magnets you recieve once the wedding is over? They probably just toss them--either in the junk drawer or the trash (unless it''s like your mom or grandparents or something).

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I sent STD a year before the wedding since we already had a date and 80% of people were coming from out of town. If you are sending out the invites in a few months anyways I wouldn''t bother.

 

[FireGoddess]

My entire side of the wedding guests had to fly in from out of town, so the STDs were vital for me. However, I made them myself to save $.

 

[ladykemma]

Ah, marketing. creating a need where there isn''t one.

i''ve never heard of these magnets, are they a new trend? i can tell you that I throw such things in the trash if i receive them, to sway your decision towards not ordering them.

wouldn''t an email, a postcard or a phone call do the same thing?

 

[firstbase32]

i thnk we''re going to take teh design and just make it in to a 3x5 size photo from wal-mart....they''er like $.19 a peice and put a magnet on the back.......cheap and easy

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 7/25/2006 5:09:05 PM
Author: ladykemma
Ah, marketing. creating a need where there isn''t one.


i''ve never heard of these magnets, are they a new trend? i can tell you that I throw such things in the trash if i receive them, to sway your decision towards not ordering them.


wouldn''t an email, a postcard or a phone call do the same thing?

Really? I have been to at least 8 different houses of people we sent them to and we are on their fridge. I think it is really cute.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 7/25/2006 5:15:28 PM
Author: firstbase32
i thnk we''re going to take teh design and just make it in to a 3x5 size photo from wal-mart....they''er like $.19 a peice and put a magnet on the back.......cheap and easy

I have a STD thread on here somewhere that detailed how I made mine. They were pretty easy and cheap. I still think if you have only a few months it is kind of strange to get a STD IMHO.

 

[KimberlyH]

I wouldn''t have done STDs but my mom wanted to, so I delegated the whole task to her. She only sent them to OOT guests, everyone locally just got invites. She just wrote a nice letter from her and my dad. They were sweet but if she weren''t so intent on them, I''d have skipped it.

 

[ladykemma]

Date: 7/25/2006 8:41:58 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring

Date: 7/25/2006 5:09:05 PM
Author: ladykemma
Ah, marketing. creating a need where there isn''t one.


i''ve never heard of these magnets, are they a new trend? i can tell you that I throw such things in the trash if i receive them, to sway your decision towards not ordering them.


wouldn''t an email, a postcard or a phone call do the same thing?

Really? I have been to at least 8 different houses of people we sent them to and we are on their fridge. I think it is really cute.

I would think it would be a waste of money and time.. but i''m not saving your date either. (grin) (or paying the bill. )

wouldn''t you rather have that money for spending money on your honeymoon? (big grin)

I put the date/info on the calendar and throw the (whatever) away.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 7/25/2006 10:16:37 PM
Author: ladykemma

Date: 7/25/2006 8:41:58 PM

Author: Tacori E-ring

Date: 7/25/2006 5:09:05 PM

Author: ladykemma

Ah, marketing. creating a need where there isn''t one.



i''ve never heard of these magnets, are they a new trend? i can tell you that I throw such things in the trash if i receive them, to sway your decision towards not ordering them.



wouldn''t an email, a postcard or a phone call do the same thing?

Really? I have been to at least 8 different houses of people we sent them to and we are on their fridge. I think it is really cute.

I would think it would be a waste of money and time.. but i''m not saving your date either. (grin) (or paying the bill. )


wouldn''t you rather have that money for spending money on your honeymoon? (big grin)


I put the date/info on the calendar and throw the (whatever) away.

Well, since I am a graphic designer I don''t find them a waste (either time or money). Then again I made and printed them myself and sent them out a year before the wedding. I think in firstbase''s case it is a waste since he said they are sending out their formal invites in a few months. I am a detail person and I think they are nice. They "match" my invites, programs....they all go together

 

[ChargerGrrl]

I sent an STD email that just featured our monogram (which has our names & wedding date) in the body of the email. Just underneath it said "click me". It took you to our website on theknot.com

It was easy and FREE. Our guests loved it ("oh WOW, you guys have a logo!")

 

[firstbase32]

Here''s the design i made...I think we''re just going to send them to the people out of town and to the people who are on the "A" list...which is pretty much just family and everyone in the wedding party. If I were having it my way it would only be to the people who are out of town which is only a few people. The wedding is May 12, so we would probably send the invites out in January/February....is that about the right time? I mean we still have 6 or 7 months until we send the invites out so it''ll probably aight with time wise in between them. Thanks for the help guys!

Also the caricature picture on the right in the STD will most definately be our little "logo"

How exciting is that...my fiance and i have a logo...haha