By Mustafa Bilgic · Last updated 23 June 2026
Save the Date Wording
A save-the-date has one job: tell guests the date and city so they can plan. Here's exactly what to include, what to leave off, and copy-ready wording for formal, casual and destination weddings.
What to put on a save-the-date
| Include | Leave off (save for the invitation) |
|---|---|
| Couple's names | Exact ceremony time |
| "Save the Date" | Full venue address |
| Wedding date | RSVP details |
| City / region (and country if abroad) | Dress code |
| "Formal invitation to follow" | Registry or gift info |
Adding a wedding-website link is the one nice-to-have — it lets eager guests start planning travel.
Formal save-the-date wording
Save the Date
for the wedding of
Emily Anderson & James Whitfield
Saturday, the twelfth of September, 2026
Boston, Massachusetts
A formal invitation to follow
Casual save-the-date wording
We're getting married!
Emily & James
Save our date — September 12, 2026
Asheville, North Carolina
Invite to follow · emilyandjames.com
Destination save-the-date wording
For a destination wedding, send save-the-dates earlier (8–12 months out) and make travel obvious so guests can book:
Pack your bags — we're getting married abroad!
Emily & James
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Amalfi Coast, Italy
Travel details & invitation to follow
Fun and informal options
- "He asked, she said yes — save the date!"
- "It's official! Emily & James · 09.12.2026"
- "Mark your calendars — the wedding of Emily & James."
- "Save the date… the rest is a surprise. (Not really. Invite to follow.)"
When to send save-the-dates
Send them 6–8 months before a local wedding and 8–12 months before a destination wedding. Finalise your guest list first — anyone who gets a save-the-date must get an invitation. For the full schedule, see our when to mail save-the-dates guide and the invitation timeline.
One golden rule
Only send save-the-dates to people you are certain to invite. There's no graceful way to un-invite a guest after they've held your date, so confirm your list before these go out.
Word it, then make it beautiful
Pick a template, type your wording straight onto it, and download a print-ready invitation in minutes. Free, no account, no watermark.
Open the free editor →Frequently asked questions
What do you write on a save the date?
Put the couple's names, the words "Save the Date," the wedding date and the city or region, and add "formal invitation to follow." Leave the time, venue address, dress code and RSVP for the actual invitation.
When should you send save the dates?
Send save-the-dates 6–8 months before a local wedding and 8–12 months before a destination wedding so guests can arrange travel. Always finalise your guest list before sending them.
Do you put the venue on a save the date?
Only the city or region, not the full address. Guests need to know roughly where to travel; the exact venue and address belong on the formal invitation that follows.
Does everyone who gets a save the date get an invitation?
Yes. A save-the-date is a promise of an invitation, so only send them to guests you are certain to invite. There's no polite way to withdraw an invitation once someone has held the date.
Do you need both a save the date and an invitation?
Save-the-dates are optional but recommended for destination weddings, holiday-season dates, or guests who need to travel. They never replace the formal invitation, which carries the time, venue and RSVP.
Related: the free editor · When to mail save-the-dates · Save-the-date vs invitation · Invitation timeline · Destination invitations · Wording guide · When to send