When do I send out save the dates for my wedding?

One of the most common questions I get during the wedding planning process is, “When do I send out save the dates for my wedding?”

Depending on how long your engagement/planning process is, the rule of thumb is that save the dates should go out 6-8 months prior. Save the dates are super important for guest planning purposes if they’re traveling in, and even more important if you’re having a destination wedding. Then invitations should be sent out 4-5 months before your wedding.

The next question I get is, “Where do we order them from?” As a photographer, I feel passionate about this for a few reasons. Print quality can make or break a beautiful image if you’re including your engagement pictures. Low-quality printing can make a picture look completely different than it does on your screen. In addition, I’m passionate about making sure you can use the exact color palette you worked so hard to create on all of your invites.

This is why I send my couples to Basic Invite. Not only do they have over 180 custom colors (for every element of your card), but they offer high-quality printing and allow you to order a printed sample of YOUR invitation. Many invite companies send you generic example invites, but don’t you want to see exactly how your paper will feel and how your color and image quality will appear before you print tens, if not hundreds, of save the dates and invites? Invitations set the tone for your day, and with Basic Invite, you can get as creative and custom as your heart desires.

Another one of my favorite features is their address capturing service that allows you to share a link on Facebook, Instagram, or any other social media platform to request family and friends’ addresses. THENNNN, the addresses are stored in your account, and Basic Invite offers recipient address printing at no additional cost. This is a huge and helpful tool, as collecting addresses and writing or typing out each address can be a huge barrier in the planning process. Ask any married couple who had a large wedding, and they will tell you how much of a headache it is to collect addresses and then navigate multiple platforms to get them all in one place and finally on the cards themselves.

Basic Invite is a one stop shop for all your paper needs, as they offer unique wedding name place cards and wedding reception programs when you need them farther down the road. If there’s anything I preach to my engaged couples, it’s to make the planning process as simple as possible, whenever you can. Condensing the number of platforms and sites, you’re utilizing and ordering from is a big help when juggling a million different details.

And even better news, right now, Basic Invite is offering 15% off with coupon code: 15FF51

For all of my families, Basic Invite also has invites for every other event you could imagine! Baby showers, birth announcements, birthdays, baptisms, housewarming parties, retirements, and holiday cards! And for the soon-to-be grads, this is a wonderful place to find all kinds of creative graduation announcements.

Their address capturing service is super helpful for families as well. Since family and friends’ addresses are saved to your account, you have them stored for all your upcoming milestones.