Save-the-Dates from Real Weddings

August 07, 2012

1 of 29

Laser-Cut Details

See More of this Real Wedding in Wiltshire, England

This save-the-date featured a whimsical hot-air balloon illustration and was outlined in a decorative laser-cut border.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 29

Illustrated Save-the-Date

StudioAustin Weddings
See More of this Real Wedding in La Jolla, California

This save-the-date suite was a small square card designed to look like an old bookplate. A double-sided letterpressed card boasted an illustration of the bride and groom by the water and the story of how they met on the back.

3 of 29

Picture Perfect

Jade + Matthew Take Pictures
See More of this Real Wedding in Savannah, Georgia

This couple's postcard save-the-dates featured their engagement photo, printed on heavy stock.

Advertisement

4 of 29

Sweet Treat

See More from This Wedding

This ice-cream-loving couple sent a "pint" which held saltwater taffy to get guests in the mood for the oceanside affair. Each was embellished with an illustration of Long Beach Island's famed lighthouse and featured witty text descriptions of the couple. The "LBI Seaside Sundae" was made with "Blondie Bar and 6ft. 6in. of Brit-tle," which hinted at Katie's hair color and Colman's height and English background. A letterpressed disk with a magnet on the back popped out of the lid.

5 of 29

Orange Type

See More from This Wedding

For this California wedding, bride Alison worked with a photographer friend to create an image for this save-the-date, then added text and printed postcard-style cards.

6 of 29

Seeing Stars

See More from This Wedding

A simple, thick cotton paper card featured the words "Save the Date" over and over again in a blind impression, except for one line, where it was pressed with orange ink. The date and the couple's wedding website were also printed in the same citrus hue.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 29

City View

Charlotte Jenks Lewis Photography
See More from This Wedding

Stars from Etsy shop The Starcraft marked the location of the wedding on an outline of Lake Sebago in Maine in this clever announcement.

8 of 29

Graphic Postcard

Corbin Gurkin
See More from This Wedding

For their New York City-inspired wedding, Cari and Jason chose chic black and save-the-dates embellished with skyscrapers.

9 of 29

Creative Booklets

Jose Villa
See More from This Wedding

In preparation for this Hawaiian destination wedding, the bride designed the graphic save-the-date postcard using an illustration from sheet music to "Honolulu Moon."

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 29

Album-Inspired

Kella MacPhee
See More from This Wedding

Booklets with letterpressed wood-grain paper covers were mailed to loved ones to spread the news of this California wedding.

11 of 29

Subtle Save-the-Date

See More from This Wedding

After spotting a similar save-the-date in an issue of Martha Stewart Weddings, Erica and Rob decided to customize and send record cards made by Ello There.

12 of 29

Shout It From the Mountaintop

Bryan Gardner
See More from This Wedding

Bold patterns in subtle hues were used on many of the wedding's details. The caning pattern and soft yellow, grey, and white palette first appears here on the save-the-date.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 29

Cheery Cards

See More from This Wedding

To announce their wedding date, the bride took an image from an old Work Projects Administration poster she found at the Grand Teton National Park visitors' center, shrunk it down digitally, customized the type, and added a tiny couple vowing "I do!" on one of the peaks.

14 of 29

Retro Announcement

See More from This Wedding

These bright and festive save-the-dates, which the bride hand-drew, hinted at the wedding's let's-have-a-great-big-party feel.

15 of 29

Custom Creation

See More from This Wedding

These save-the-date postcards were inspired by old romance comic books from the 1960s. Retired comic book artist Scott Rosema drew a custom cartoon of Sam and Ian. Working closely together on the design, he added personal touches that friends and family would recognize. The setting of the postcard is the spot of the proposal (and the ceremony) at Sam's family vacation home on Shelter Island.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 29

San Francisco Stationery

Elizabeth Messina Photography
See More from This Wedding

For their wedding stationery, Tereasa and David took the custom route with Hatch Show Print. The Nashville-based retro-poster designers created silk-screen postcards for the RSVP card and save-the-date.

17 of 29

Old School Airmail

See More from This Wedding

To set the mood for this San Francisco wedding, a postcard of the Golden Gate Bridge was reworked into a save-the-date.

18 of 29

Winter Wonderland

See More from This Wedding

For this Chicago wedding, bride Kori collaborated with a former coworker on all the wedding stationery, including the save-the-dates, which looked like a more subdued piece of airmail.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 29

Once Upon a Time

Patricia Lyons Photography
See More from This Wedding

For this winter wedding, a mountain scene was hand-drawn and then screen-printed onto cotton paper to inform guests of the upcoming date.

20 of 29

Clever Cards

See More from This Wedding

A square mini book set the tone for the fairy-tale wedding. Disclosing the story of how the couple met in a whimsical manner, it begins with "Once upon a time." (The "Happily Ever After" comes with the wedding program.)

21 of 29

A Day in May

Orchard Cove Photography
See More from This Wedding

In a nod to the wedding location (an alpaca farm) yellow and white wool twine wraps around the save-the-date. Packaged in pillow envelopes with custom llama postage from Zazzle, the small spool-style card lists the basic details of the wedding and the couple's wedding website.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 29

Color Introduction

For this May Day themed wedding, Cheree Berry designed a letterpressed card, complete with a maypole icon and a calligraphed envelope. Atop the maypole was a tiny flag with the couple's initials.

23 of 29

Handwritten Note

See More from This Wedding

For this destination wedding, orange and white were the main colors. Folded cards were tied with baker's twine and stamped with the date.

24 of 29

Poster Print

Thayer Allyson Gowdy
See More from This Wedding

This announcement featured an illustration by the bride of a shark, to hint at the couple’s soon-to-be-shared last name, Sharkey, and was printed in a font that looked handwritten.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 29

Playful Palette

Emily K Reomer
See More from This Wedding

Simple letterpressed patterns and the couple’s first names decorated the front of the folded cards. Inside, a poster-style design announced the pair’s upcoming nuptials (and hinted at the reception’s art museum location).

26 of 29

Sketch Design

See More from This Wedding

For this quirky, fun wedding, bride Vanessa designed all the punchy elements in the invitation suite. The save-the-date postcard featured one of the couple’s engagement photos and bold graphic typography.

27 of 29

A Bitty Bird

See More from This Wedding

Corinne sketched the Empire State Building, scanned it, and printed it on gray card stock for their save-the-dates. Then she and Eoin filled in the clouds with colored pencils and added a heart to the windows. Folded in thirds and sealed with a clear sticker, it gave guests a preview of the iconic structure they would see from the wedding venue.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 29

Setting the Scene

See More from This Wedding

An avian theme was introduced on Carter and Fred's first piece of stationery and carried through their entire event.

29 of 29

Picture Perfect

Sabine Scherer Photography
See More from This Wedding

The Bridgehampton location of Rebecca and Todd's destination nuptials took center stage on their letterpressed, double-sided cards.

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next