Save the dates for DW?

[Tybee]

We set our date and are super excited, so are many of our friends. One friend in particular is deep into looking into cottage/house rentals on the island of St. John where we are to be married.
That's great and exciting, and I'm so happy that she's excited, but then my FI started wondering if we should also fill in our other guests so that they can begin searching for fequent flyer tickets and houses etc.
We weren't planning on sending out our save-the-date cards until December, but now we feel bad because here is this one group of friends readily making plans, and we haven't let our other guests know yet.
My question: Is it too early to send out save-the-date cards for a destination wedding in July?
Any thoughts or opinions are welcome.

 

[abradabra]

Never too early to send out a save the date, but if you don''t want to go to the trouble of taking care of it immediately, why don''t you email or call your other guests under the guise of collecting addresses for the save the dates. That way you can give them all the info and don''t have to send anything out right away....

 

[Tybee]

good idea,
right now we''re trying to put together our knot page...they have a save-the-date email deal, right?
FI is on the other computer right now messing with our webpage.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I just sent out mine and my wedding isn''t until 8.12.05. (you can read all the dirty details in my save the date frustration thread). I wanted to give people PLENTY of time to make plans. I made them myself and they turned out awesome. On the front I wrote the traditional, our names, date, save the date, and location of the wedding. I also glued (w/ removable glue) a magnet I made with our picture on it. On the back I put hotel information (which I will include again with the formal invite). They were a lot of work but worth it. If you want any tips PM me and I''ll be happy to share. I was thinking about taking a photo of them to post but I don''t have the nerve yet...

 

[onedrop]

Hi Tybee: I have read and heard from brides who had Destination Weddings that it''s best to send save-the-dates way in advance. I remember reading something like sending them 8 months out. Like you said, people need time to make plans and get their travelling expenses together. I don''t think anyone would mind if you are a little early.

 

[FireGoddess]

Hey Tybee,

I definitely don't think it's too early - I sent my Save the Date cards 6 months ahead of the wedding, and mine was not a destination wedding. A good deal of my side had to travel, so I wanted people to have plenty of time to scout out deals. I also printed and made my own out of cardstock.

 

[Tybee]

Thanks all for your help. We''ll try to get them off ASAP. whew, now I''m all nervous all over again.
Tacori, you simply must post pictures!
Tybee

 

[VuittonGal]

I don''t think it''s too early. Especially since it''s a DW, you''ll want to get the word out as soon as possible.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 9/21/2005 9:08:37 AM
Author: Tybee
Thanks all for your help. We''ll try to get them off ASAP. whew, now I''m all nervous all over again.

Tacori, you simply must post pictures!

Tybee

Fi has camera so I will have to post them tonight or tomorrow. I just have never posted my picture on the internet so that makes me nervous (even though I know I am just being silly)

 

[BrightSpot]

I don''t think it''s too early either. (Though you''re making me a little panicky to get mine out as my wedding is in April!!) From what I''ve read they should go out a minimum of 6 months before the date if you''re having a DW, but the more time to prepare, the better!

Let us know what you decide on your save-the-dates! Tacoriering, I''d love to see yours too!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Okay, here are my STDs. It is printed double sides with the hotel information on the back. I did blur our last names so it looks better in real life (obviously). I used a gold pen for the addresses. The best part it was only 37 cents to send. I was surprised because the magnets I used were very thick and heavy. The paper I used has a light gold pearl over it. It is very thick (110 Ibs). I am using the "M" as our logo which will be on everything, invites, programs, menus....My colors are black, white, and shades of purple.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

The magnet (the part with our picture on it) comes off. I used removable glue.

 

[BrightSpot]

Wow--those look great! Did you design them yourself? Looks pretty professional...

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 9/21/2005 4:14:12 PM
Author: BrightSpot
Wow--those look great! Did you design them yourself? Looks pretty professional...

Thanks brightspot. well, I guess they are professional (I am a graphic designer) but I have never done anything wedding related until now. I kind of want to expand my business to include wedding invites and STDs. I''d be happy to explain exactly how to print your own magnets or STDs if any wants to give it a try. I am really happy how they turned out and I am very critical on my own work.

 

[Tybee]

OH Tacori, you should be really happy with how they came out, they look fantastic!
I''m super impressed (thanks so much for sharing them!)

Brightspot, I feel a bit in a panic--we were going to wait until January, so I thought I had plenty of time, but because we have
some friends who are already planning their vacation around it, and looking into cottage rentals, we realized that we needed''
to get the word out, so that people could rent houses together, or whatever.

I actually wish that we could wait until January, I''m afraid that we''re going to send out something stupid and rushed.

We''re thinking about a save-the-date e-mail, but after seeing Tacori''s beautiful cards, I think an e-mail might be a little crappy...what do you all think? Has anyone sent or recieved a save-the-date e-mail?

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Do you have any design programs (Adobe Illustrator or Indesign)? You could design something really cute and send it as a PDF attachment. Something with sand, waves, ocean, to reflect your wedding. Do you have a picture of you and your Fi at the beach? You could e-mail that with your STD. I know they sell "message in the bottle" STD which I think would be SO adorable for a DW. They actually send out bottles with sand and a message about your wedding inside. I don''t know what your budget is but I do think getting something in the mail is really nice.

 

[BrightSpot]

Date: 9/21/2005 4:24:41 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring

Date: 9/21/2005 4:14:12 PM
Author: BrightSpot
Wow--those look great! Did you design them yourself? Looks pretty professional...

Thanks brightspot. well, I guess they are professional (I am a graphic designer) but I have never done anything wedding related until now. I kind of want to expand my business to include wedding invites and STDs. I''d be happy to explain exactly how to print your own magnets or STDs if any wants to give it a try. I am really happy how they turned out and I am very critical on my own work.

Heh--I know you''re a graphic designer--hence my silly comment.

But they do look great! I''m glad you''re happy w/ them--I know we''re usually the most critical of our own work!

I''m actually in the process of trying to design my STD--it''s not exactly a magnet, though. (It''s very, very silly...

)

Tybee, don''t panic! You still have plenty of time. I think an email wouldn''t be bad. Or if you want to do a magnet, check out Vista Print. They might be able to do something pretty quickly for you. They also do postcards.

Tacori, good ideas on the STDs. I''ve actually received a message in a bottle (not as a STD) & it was really cute.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 9/21/2005 4:56:02 PM
Author: BrightSpot

Date: 9/21/2005 4:24:41 PM

Author: Tacori E-ring

Date: 9/21/2005 4:14:12 PM

Author: BrightSpot

Heh--I know you''re a graphic designer--hence my silly comment.

But they do look great! I''m glad you''re happy w/ them--I know we''re usually the most critical of our own work!


I''m actually in the process of trying to design my STD--it''s not exactly a magnet, though. (It''s very, very silly...

)

Tacori, good ideas on the STDs. I''ve actually received a message in a bottle (not as a STD) & it was really cute.

OH!!!! I didn''t know you knew, oh nevermind. Now I feel silly. I think (I am sure you will agree) designing anything for myself is SO much harder than designing for someone else. Be sure to post yours (if you want) when you are finished.

Tybee you have PLENTY of time. I am just crazy and wanted mine out 10-11 months BEFORE my wedding. Don''t ask me why. I think the postcard is a great idea. You can get pre-cut postcard paper and print them at home/work to save money. PLUS cheaper postage. If money is not a problem they have some great printing companies out there that make awesome STDs...let us know what you decide.

 

[BrightSpot]

Date: 9/22/2005 12:23:19 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring

Date: 9/21/2005 4:56:02 PM
Author: BrightSpot

OH!!!! I didn''t know you knew, oh nevermind. Now I feel silly. I think (I am sure you will agree) designing anything for myself is SO much harder than designing for someone else. Be sure to post yours (if you want) when you are finished.

Tybee you have PLENTY of time. I am just crazy and wanted mine out 10-11 months BEFORE my wedding. Don''t ask me why. I think the postcard is a great idea. You can get pre-cut postcard paper and print them at home/work to save money. PLUS cheaper postage. If money is not a problem they have some great printing companies out there that make awesome STDs...let us know what you decide.

Heh--don''t feel silly at all--I was just trying to be silly in my compliment.

I am nowhere near a professional at anything artistic, so I don''t know how I''d do on DIY STDs, but I''m probably not nearly as self-critical either!

I agree that you have time, Tybee. If you want to have something printed quickly, this is a cute postcard w/ a beachy theme. It''s very inexpensive too. Let us know what you decide! (You guys have thrown me into a bit of a panic on my STDs as my wedding is a mere 7 months away!)

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Well if anyone needs any help I''d be happy to help. I was at office depot and they sell pre-cut postcards 100 was around $12.00 (can''t remember exactly) so that would be very inexpensive to do on your own.
Mine were a little under $2.00 a piece only because I used expensive paper. (50 cents per page, 50 cents per envelope) The magnets are 100 for $18 and the business card paper was 200 for $17.00 (27 cents per magnet!)