Everything You Need To Know About Save-The-Date Cards (Plus A Vistaprint Review)
This article includes Save-The-Date Cards I designed with credit on Vistaprint, which was given to me to review and share with you. All opinions are my own.
Wedding planning often feels like a full-time job, between choosing a venue and coordinating flowers and dresses there is so much to think about and admin to do. One of the decisions you will face is the stationery. Before you even think about the official invitations, many people send the save-the-date cards.
You might be wondering if they are actually necessary. Do you really need to spend money just to tell people you are going to invite them to something later? It is a fair question. The wedding industry loves to invent new things for you to buy. But save-the-date cards actually serve a very practical purpose. They stop your aunt from booking a holiday to Benidorm on your big day. They give your friends plenty of time to save money for travel.
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know about these little cards. I will look at when to send them, who gets one, and what you actually need to write on them. I will also share my thoughts on Vistaprint UK save-the-date cards. They are a popular choice for couples on a budget, but are they any good? I have dug into the details to help you decide.
What actually are save-the-date cards?
Think of a save-the-date as a pre-invitation. It is a heads-up to your guests. It tells them that you have picked a date and a venue, and they are on the guest list.
The key difference between this and a formal invitation is the level of detail. An invitation has everything. It has the ceremony time, the menu choices, the RSVP card, and directions to the venue. A save-the-date card is much simpler. It just screams “Mark your calendars!”
They usually come in the form of a postcard, a magnet, or a small card with an envelope. The vibe is often a bit more relaxed than the formal invitation so don’t worry if you don’t have a colour scheme yet!
Do you really need save-the-date cards?
Technically, no. You could skip them and just send invitations closer to the time. However, skipping them can be risky in modern life. People are busy. Calendars fill up fast.
You definitely need them if:
- You are getting married abroad and want guests to come. Guests need months to book flights, renew passports, and save up.
- It is a holiday weekend. If you are getting married on a bank holiday or near Christmas, people make plans way in advance. You want to claim that weekend before their family barbecue does.
- It is peak wedding season. Summer weekends get booked up quickly. If your friends are at the age where everyone is getting married, you want to get your date in first.
If you are having a short engagement (less than six months) or a very small local wedding, you might be able to get away with just sending invitations straight away and not bothering with save-the-date cards.
Save-the-date cards etiquette
It is easy to make mistakes with stationery. Here are the main rules to keep you safe from awkward conversations.
When to send save-the-date cards
Timing is everything. Send them too late, and people might already have plans. Send them too early, and people might lose them or forget.
The perfect time for a UK wedding is 6 to 12 months before the big day. If you are having a destination wedding, lean towards the 12 month mark. Vistaprint suggests 6 to 12 months is the standard guideline, which makes sense. It gives people enough notice without being ridiculous.
Who receives one?
This is the most important rule. Only send save-the-date cards to people you are 100% sure you want to invite.
Once you send that card, there is no taking it back. You cannot “unsave” the date. If you have a B-list of guests you might invite if others drop out, do not send them save-the-date cards. It will only lead to hurt feelings later.
Also, be careful with evening guests. Usually, save-the-date cards are for day guests only. If you send one to an evening guest, they might assume they are invited to the whole day. It is safer to send formal invitations to evening guests later.
We recently sent our save-the-date cards even though we are not getting married until June 2027, because we were excited, but also, most people will be travelling, and it is the peak holiday season. We will be sending the formal invites a little earlier than usual, too, because we need to know who needs accommodation at the hotel where our reception is, and who needs to book somewhere else, giving them plenty of time to arrange this.
What to write on save-the-date cards
Keep it simple. You do not need to clutter the card with too much info; you only need the essentials:
- Your names: So they know who is getting married.
- The date: The most important part.
- The location: Town or city is fine. You do not need to specify the venue yet if you do not want to share it.
- “Formal invitation to follow”: This lets them know they do not need to RSVP yet.
You can also add your wedding website URL if you have one. This is a great place to add extra details, such as hotel recommendations. We are not going to have a wedding website as we don’t feel it is necessary but some people like it so this is a good time to add it.
Review: Vistaprint UK save-the-date cards
If you have ever printed business cards, you probably know Vistaprint. But can they handle wedding stationery? I took a look at their selection and tried them out to see what we thought. I ordered them in plenty of time, so I didn’t need to worry if I wasn’t happy with them, as I could order more. That said, I loved them and so did Stuart, so we excitedly sent them out!
The variety and design
The first thing you notice on the Vistaprint save-the-date cards page is the sheer volume of options. They have thousands of templates. This is great if you want choices, but it can be a bit overwhelming.
You can filter by style, such as “floral,” “modern,” or “rustic.” You can also filter by colour to match your wedding theme. I really like that you can upload your own photos. A picture of the two of you is a very popular choice for these cards.
They offer a few different formats:
- Standard Cards: These come in sizes like A6 (13.9 x 10.7 cm) or a slightly larger A5-ish size (18.2 x 11.7 cm).
- Magnets: These are brilliant because they stick right on the fridge. Your guests literally cannot lose them unless they lose their fridge.
- Postcards: These save you money on envelopes and stamps.
The customisation process
I found the online design tool pretty easy to use. You do not need to be a graphic designer. You just click on the text boxes and type your names and dates. You can change fonts and colours on most templates too.
One nice feature is the ability to upgrade your paper. They have standard matte, but you can pay extra for linen finish or pearl finish if you want it to feel a bit fancier. They also have a “premium printing process”, which suggests the quality should be sharp.
Pricing and value
This is where Vistaprint is usually preferred to bespoke stationers. I found prices as low as £0.48 per card (including VAT) during sales. Even without a sale or large quantity order, you are often looking at under £1 per card.
We ordered 30 save-the-date cards with envelopes and wax-seal-style stickers for around £70. They were in premium matte with colour and foil print on both sides. Our choice was 18.2 x 11.7cm in size too. Our save-the-date cards cost a total of £26.75, the silver coloured envelopes we added were £14.90, and the wax seal style stickers were £29.97. All prices include VAT. If you wanted to reduce the cost, you could avoid the stickers, print on one side only, or choose smaller cards.
Delivery and speed
If you are running late, Vistaprint is a lifesaver. Their turnaround time is fast. Most orders print and ship within a week. Some reviews on Trustpilot even mention orders arriving earlier than expected. Ours took 9 days to arrive.
They offer free delivery on orders over £40, which you will likely hit if you are buying for a whole wedding.
What do other customers think?
I looked at their Trustpilot score to see what other customers are saying. Vistaprint UK has a score of 4.4 out of 5 based on nearly 30,000 reviews. That is a solid “Great” rating.
The Good:
- Speed: Lots of people mention how fast the delivery is.
- Customer Service: This is a big one. If something goes wrong, like a spelling mistake or a printing error, their support team seems very quick to fix it or send a reprint.
- Value: Customers generally feel they got good quality for the low price.
The Bad:
- Cutting issues: A few reviews mentioned edges not being cut perfectly straight or looking a bit “sloppy.”
- Envelopes: One user noted that the envelopes provided were a bit too large for the cards, which looked a bit odd.
- Print quality: Occasionally, photos can appear a bit darker or duller than they did on the screen.
My verdict on Vistaprint
If you want handmade save-the-date cards that are ultra-luxury, thick cotton paper with hand-pressed gold foil, Vistaprint might not be the right choice.
However, for save-the-date cards, I think they are an excellent option. Remember, this card is likely going to end up in the recycling bin eventually. Vistaprint allows you to create something that looks professional and beautiful without blowing your budget. The money you save here can be put towards the actual wedding invitations or, let’s be honest, more wine for the reception.
Excluding stamps (which are extortionately priced nowadays, aren’t they), ours worked out at just over £2 each, which, given how lovely they look, I was happy with.
Common mistakes to avoid
Even with the best intentions, things can go wrong. Here are a few traps to watch out for.
1. Sending them electronically only
Email is free, but it often goes to spam. A physical card is a tangible reminder. It sits on the mantelpiece or the fridge. An email gets buried under newsletters and work updates. If you do send digital ones, make sure you follow up to check that people received them and put the date in their diary.
2. Putting the gift list info on the card
It is considered a bit rude to ask for gifts this early. Save the gift list information for the formal invitation or your wedding website. The save-the-date card is just about the date, not the toaster you want.
3. Not checking the spelling
Please, remember to check the spelling of your own names and the venue. Then get your partner to check it. Then get your mum to check it. When you have been staring at a design for hours, your brain stops seeing typos. You do not want to reprint 100 cards because you spelt “August” wrong.
4. Overthinking the design
It does not have to match your wedding theme perfectly. You might not even have a theme yet. That is fine. The save-the-date cards can stand alone. Do not stress if you use blue here and then decide on pink for the wedding later. No one will notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I send save the dates to evening guests?
A: It is generally best not to. It can be confusing. If they receive a save-the-date card, they usually assume they are invited to the whole day. If you later send them an “evening only” invite, they might feel downgraded. Save-the-date cards are typically reserved for day guests in the UK.
Q: Do I need to add “Plus One” on the save the date?
A: Yes, if you are certain about it. If you address the envelope to “Mr Smith and Guest,” he knows he can bring a date and plan travel for two. If you are not sure yet, just address it to him. You can add the plus-one to the formal invite later, if your budget allows.
Q: What if I change my mind about a guest after sending one?
A: This is the tricky part. Etiquette says you really must invite them if you sent a save-the-date card. Uninviting someone is very hurtful and can end friendships. The only exception is if you have to drastically downscale the wedding due to a venue issue or a budget crisis. In that case, you should contact them personally and explain.
Q: Do I need to include an RSVP card?
A: No. You do not need a reply yet. The save-the-date card is just an announcement. You will ask for RSVPs when you send the main invitation closer to the time.
My Overall Thoughts
Save-the-date cards are the first exciting step in letting the world know you are getting married. They make it real. While they are another thing on the to-do list, they save you stress in the long run by ensuring your favourite people keep that date free.
If you are looking for a balance between quality and cost, Vistaprint UK is a good choice. They offer a reliable service that lets you tick this job off the list quickly. Just remember the golden rule. Only send them to the people you definitely, absolutely, 100% want to see on your wedding day.
