Digital Save the Dates vs Paper Save the Dates: What’s Best and Why?

There is no real right or wrong way to send your guests their special invite to your big day, but this is still a crucial element of the wedding to consider. Whether you want luxury embossed paper save the dates or a handy digital version via your wedding website, we are here to share a few details about each option to help you make the right choice for your special day. So, digital save the dates vs paper save the saves: what’s best and why? Let’s begin…

Paper Save the Dates

The obvious place to start is with the traditional paper option that we all know and love. We’ve also probably all received one or two of these our own in the past. A bespoke physical invite that has been created especially for you and can also serve as a special keepsake for your guests. We can’t deny that everyone loves receiving a personalised save the date to such a magnificent life event (and party!). You can be as imaginative as you like when it comes to the design; choosing from a range of paper weights, designs and typography (including elegant calligraphy), or why not opt for a fun, retro vibe with a postcard? Whatever you can imagine, believe us, it can be made!

Not only can you flex your creativity with a paper save the date, you can also support local businesses and artists who you may have had your eye on for a while. Aside from the aesthetics, sending out invitations via mail also makes things a lot easier when it comes to sending thank you cards to guests for gifts or donations as you will already have a physical record of their addresses.

However, we are going to be very honest with you here…paper save the dates will ultimately cost you more money than digital save the dates, and potentially, a considerable amount more. The cost of the save the dates is one thing, but then you have the official invitations to follow and postage for both too!

Digital Save the Dates

So, let’s now discuss digital save the dates. One of the biggest advantages of going paperless and opting to send out digital save the dates is that it is the most eco-friendly option, saving many trees in the process! We are all becoming much more aware and conscious about the planet so going digital is always going to have a positive carbon impact on your wedding day.

Creating a wedding website can help your wedding planning in a number of ways, as well as helping you save a substantial amount of money. Getting started with Say I do for example is free, and as well as being able to build your own wedding website hub, you can send digital save the dates, e-vites and even gain access to your own personalised wedding planning checklist!

Going down the digital route right from the beginning can also be an effective way to manage your guest list and RSVPs. Your wedding website will promptly send any invite directly into your guests’ inboxes and hopefully, they can act promptly in response. This saves the hassle of chasing guests for their RSVPs and may save you some unwelcome stress too! Another handy reason for going digital is that your wedding website can include locations, maps, information about the day and FAQs; whereas paper save the dates generally only have space for the key information.

You might have already gathered that there is much less admin involved in sending out electronic save the dates too, and you can make as many edits as you like. However, choosing to send everything paperless could be seen as a little less personal. Don’t we all love receiving a beautiful handwritten wedding invitation in the mail?

Here are a few hints and tips when sending save-the-dates

Whether you're choosing to send your save-the-dates traditionally via the mail or electronically, you'll still need to adhere to a certain level of save-the-date etiquette, so we've listed a few simple suggested do's and don'ts when it comes to what to include and not include:

What to include: Your save the dates are purely to inform your guests of the date and location of your wedding so that they can book time off work and begin planning transport, childcare, and accommodation. Therefore, the following information should be included in your save the dates:

• The couple-to-be's names
• The wedding date
• The location of the wedding (town, city, region, or country)
• Inform guests that your invitations will follow
• Offer plus ones. This is the time when you can address if a guest has a plus one or not and can save any unnecessary awkwardness further down the line

What not to include: You don't want to give away too much detail at this point, and you may not have finalised the order of the day, suppliers and catering etc. just yet, so here are a few things you don't need to mention on your save the dates but that can wait for the official wedding invitations later on:

• Name of the venue(s)
• Ceremony or reception time
• Details on how to RSVP
• Registry information

It's your call

Primarily, the choice you make regarding your wedding stationery will likely come down to cost and what you prefer as a couple, whether that be the formal invitation route or something more modern in taste and convenience. You may want to follow all the wedding traditions out there when it comes to your wedding stationery suite and send out official wedding invitations via mail, or if you are working on a tight budget or have limited time, then go fully digital and streamline your wedding planning to perfection with everything you need!

Either way, there really is something for everyone, but weighing up the pros and cons beforehand will certainly help you make that all-important decision.