Save the Wedding Date!

Save the Date cards are announcements that inform your guests of your future wedding in order to keep your special day free. They are essential when planning a destination wedding.

Save the Dates are generally sent to guests approximately 12 months in advance. This allows your guests to make the necessary plans to attend your wedding. Flights can be booked 330 days prior to travel. Rooms at the resort can be booked much earlier than that. Guests will probably need time budget and save vacation days at work. You may be surprised by how many guests will turn your destination wedding into an entire family vacation. All of this takes time and planning, so let your guests know as early as possible.

Use your imagination! Save the Date are not meant to be formal. There are many design options available. A lot of couples design magnets, brochures, post cards, multiple layers, or booklets. You can add photos or embellishments for a personal touch. There are very creative "passport" and "boarding pass" Save the Date cards. The magnets are popular, too. We have a huge collection of great ideas on our Pinterest page:

Your Save The Dates must include your names, your wedding date, your destination and most importantly, your website address! We set up your website to include all of the details your guests need to know about your wedding. The website is where they will go to get a quote, or to book their room.

Skip the RSVP's! As your guests book, we keep a list of everyone including who they are traveling with and when. This list serves as your RSVP list. We have found that doing a traditional RSVP for a destination wedding results in too many "false positives, " or guests who want to attend, but just can't. Letting us keep track for you is the most accurate way to generate a confirmed guest list. We like to use this wording:

"To RSVP, please visit our wedding website and make your room deposit by October 1."

**TIP! On average, we see about 40% of invited guests actually travel. This means that if you invite 100 people, you can expect 40 to show up. Don't be shy with your invite list! Here's a good example of wording for your Save the Dates:

We’re having a Destination Wedding!

We would love to share this special occasion in paradise with the people who mean so much to us. We hope that you will “Save the Date” and prepare for a wonderful vacation!

We will be married at the luxurious El Dorado Royale, located in the Mayan Riviera, on December 31, 2017.

To RSVP, please visit our wedding website (www....) and book your room by October 1. See you in Mexico!


Here's an example of wording for your invitation:

It is with great joy that we, 
 
Jessica and Justin
 
invite you to share 
in the celebration of our love 
as we exchange our marriage vows on 
Saturday, the 20th of February, 2017
at the Secrets Palm Beach Resort.
 
What could be more romantic 
than a wedding in beautiful 
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
surrounded by family and friends 
as we say our vows and celebrate 
this most joyous occasion. 
We hope that you will be among those 
who share in this very special event.
 
For those who will not be able to attend, 
we completely understand and know your love 
and support will be felt across the miles.
 
Love,
Jessica and Justin