I am reading Brides magazine and it said that you should do them if your wedding is in a far away place or on a holiday weekend. So I called FI and asked his opinion and he said that instead of doing save the dates and invitations, we should just send the invites out a little earlier than usual. What do you think? And is 3 1/2 months prior to the wedding enough time? TIA
nylisa
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Re: Save the dates- are they necessary?
It is up to you. I did not do them.
CaCRmr
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Re: Save the dates- are they necessary?
We didn't do STD cards only because we are having a smaller sized wedding and everyone coming knows about the date. If you're getting married on a holiday weekend then I would recommend it only because some people might have plans. It's up to you. GL
Summer05
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Re: Save the dates- are they necessary?
We are going to send them to some of my family members because they live far away and will need to arrange vacation time. We are not going to send them to the people who live locally.
Lorena
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Re: Save the dates- are they necessary?
I don't think they are necessary except for the reasons you mentioned. However, if someone was concerned about not making their minimum number of people at the catering hall, I would also recommend doing them in that case.
kazee525
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Re: Save the dates- are they necessary?
i always thought save-the-dates were unnecessary...but my fiance is from OOT, so half the wedding will be coming from OOT, so we needed hotels. instead of formal STD's, we sent cute letters, printed right off the computer, with hotel info. they came out really cute and we have gotten a lot of compliments on them. FM me if you want a copy.
Stacey04
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Re: Save the dates- are they necessary?
Not Necessary, but again good if you are getting married on a holiday weekend or have a lot of OOT's. Mailing them out 3/12 months in advance is ok, but don't give them to long to rsvp b/c people will forget.
BTW-I'm getting married on a holiday weekend and I sent out STD only to family and our friends, and I'm sending out the invited 2 1/2 months before
BCTM33
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Re: Save the dates- are they necessary?
We sent out STD's b/c my FH's family is from OOT. We didn't go crazy or anything though. We ordered paper from Paperdirect.com and printed them on our computer with all the hotel info.
jvs77
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Re: Save the dates- are they necessary?
I agree - they are not necessary, but are helpful if your wedding is on a holiday weekend or if you have a lot of OOT guests. (Or, if your wedding is on an uncommon day of the week - like ours is, which is why we sent save the dates out almost a year in advance.)
Corduroy94
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Re: Save the dates- are they necessary?
IMO, I don't think you'll need them. I actually got something really cool as an alternative this week! The bride & groom wrote a small newsletter & it was in liu (sp?) of a STD. She said she sent out 15 to her OOT guests & to those who she knows are always busy. It was awesome, a little update on the couple, the where & when on the event & all the travel & hotel info. It was such a neat idea that I didn't even realize it was on plain white paper until just now!
The whole thing probly, cost about $7 with postage & I got a nice update. It was SO personal & time saving for both parties!
May2704bride
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Re: Save the dates- are they necessary?
I sent STD's out because my wedding falls on a Thursday and a holiday weekend. IMO sending invites too early isn't really a good thing. Some people misplace them or put them on the side and forget about it.
no stress bride
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Re: Save the dates- are they necessary?
I agree with your FI I would send them out a little earlier I did send out save the dates was it necessary NO!! The reason we did was trying to get a feel from some people weather or not they would come or not!!
tina_cuse01
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Re: Save the dates- are they necessary?
I wanted them, my fiance' didn't. But his mom agreed - since all of his family is in Boston. Plus we have a lot of friends out of town. We are only sending them to the out of towners.
LadyPrincess
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Re: Save the dates- are they necessary?
Posted by diamondgrlie
I am reading Brides magazine and it said that you should do them if your wedding is in a far away place or on a holiday weekend. So I called FI and asked his opinion and he said that instead of doing save the dates and invitations, we should just send the invites out a little earlier than usual. What do you think? And is 3 1/2 months prior to the wedding enough time? TIA
I did them as favors that i will give at my e-party next weekend
I had fun designing them also
So,its up to you
FLaCaTaCa
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Re: Save the dates- are they necessary?
I have never received one for any wedding to be honest. I am doing them because I thought they were a good idea for a favor for the engagement party but otherwise I wouldn't be doing them. Postage is KILLER!!!!!!
BlondeJD
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Re: Save the dates- are they necessary?
We're going to do them for 2 reasons: 1) over 1/2 our guests are OOT and it's cheaper for them to arrange travel ahead of time; 2) our wedding is during a summer weekend (but not a holiday) and it seems like a lot of people go on vacation then. This way, they have advance notice.
divabride
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Re: Save the dates- are they necessary?
I have a lot of OOT guests that Im not sure will make it or not. Sending out the STD's will give them the opportunity to make arrangements to fly in, or to give me a heads up if they plan to attend or not, well in advance. My wedding is on a holiday weekend so I wanted to let them know before they make plans. Im sending them out a year prior to the wedding. I had planned on making magnets so they dont get misplaced. If it werent for all my OOT guests, I wouldnt be sending them out.
brooklynbridezilla
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Re: Save the dates- are they necessary?
We have some OOT's that need extra time if they plan on coming, to arrange for time off, travel arrangements, etc. The STD's are being sent out a year ahead.
If you dont have too many of OOT's (or just need to cut out an extra expense) maybe you could just give them a call?
rebecca
engd4evr
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Re: Save the dates- are they necessary?
We did STDs because almost all of our friends and Fi's entire guest list is out of town and most need to make flight arrangements so they needed the extra time, plus it just seems like so many things end up getting planned for weekends, we wanted that extra reminder for everyone to put it on the calendar, then when the invites come everyone is already expecting them.
I would have been wary of sending out the invitations really early (more than 2 months)though with our crowd, since sometimes people procrastinate, etc and then there wouldn't be another reminder closer to the actual date. It could be more work for you to have to start calling people who forgot to respond.....
Bottom line is that you know your individual situation and that of your guests. IF you think it will help you and your guests with planning, then by all means send them out, if not, don't fuss with the extra expense.
eogara
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Re: Save the dates- are they necessary?
I'm doing them but because I think they're cute and a nice thing for the guests so everyone knows whose invited and the info early, not because they're absolutely necessary. If you don't want to do them, save the $ and put it toward something else!
