Save-the-Dates from Real Weddings

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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."

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.)

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.

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.

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

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.

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).

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.

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.

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

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