
- Your Names
The bride’s name traditionally appears first. For same-sex couples, consider alphabetical order. - Wedding Date
Spell out the entire date if you prefer a formal tone. - Wedding Website
Keep guests informed, share photos and organize your wedding registry with a custom wedding website. - Wedding Location
List the city and state (you will share the venue details on the actual wedding invitation). - “Invitation to Follow”
This lets guests know they should expect a wedding invitation in the weeks/months to come.
Congratulations, you’re engaged! Once you’ve booked a wedding venue, it’s time to start thinking about save the dates. This little piece of wedding stationery serves as a heads-up to guests so they can mark their calendars and begin making travel plans to attend your celebration. The save the dates also lets them know there will be a formal wedding invitation on the way with all the details. This means you can keep your save the date wording short, simple, and to the point.
what to include (and not include)
What to include on your save the date
There's no need to have all your wedding details set in stone in order to send out save the dates. All the information you need to include on your save the date is listed below (along with a few things you can skip!).
Your names
The bride’s name traditionally appears first. For same-sex couples, consider alphabetical order.
Wedding date
Spell out the entire date if you prefer a formal tone.
Wedding location
List the city and state (you will share the venue details on your wedding invitation).
Wedding website URL
A wedding website is a great way to share all information concerning your wedding and is a great resource for guests.
“Invitation to follow” wording
This lets guests know they should expect a wedding invitation in the weeks/months to come.
What not to include on your save the date
Your venue
As long as you include the city and state, you're good! But you can certainly include your venue name, if you'd like. If you haven’t found one yet, here are 13 key questions to ask as you scout a venue.
Hotel/accommodations information
At this point, don’t bog guests down with too many details. Send hotel information with the official wedding invitation, instead.
Ceremony and reception start times
You’re early in the wedding planning so there’s no need to have specific start times in place yet. The purpose of the save the date is to inform guests of the wedding date and locale. However, if you need a guide for a wedding day timeline as you plan, we have one you can reference!
Dress code information
Again, it's too early to send this info just yet—save any details on wedding guest attire for the wedding invitation.
RSVP request
Save the date etiquette states that you don’t ask guests to RSVP upon receipt. It’s easy to get caught up in what to include or not include in your save the date, so be sure to review our complete article on save the date mistakes to avoid.
How to Word Your Save the Date
When it comes to save the date wording, this is a time to be celebratory, so feel free to get creative with your save-the-date text. Write in a way that is natural for you as a couple while still including all the details. If you’re a more traditional couple, go with some beautiful classic and formal text. If you tend to be briefer and to the point, try something modern and minimalist. And if you’re the couple that’s always cracking jokes, it’s the perfect time to be playful and funny. Some couples include a photo from the engagement shoot or a favorite quote or saying, if there’s room. Here are a few examples of how couples word their save the dates.

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wording examples
Need some help wording your save the dates? Follow our handy invitation wording guide below.
What tone would you like for your save the dates?
etiquette FAQ
You asked, we answered. We have the answers to the most frequently asked questions on save the dates, save the date etiquette, and how to word your save the dates.