Are Save the Dates Necessary? Here's the Truth

Quick answer: Save the dates are not mandatory for any wedding, but they are strongly recommended when guests need to travel, book accommodations, or arrange time off work. According to The Knot’s 2024 Real Weddings Study, 87% of US couples now send save the dates, with destination wedding couples sending them 12 months in advance. For local weddings with minimal travel, you can skip them entirely without breaching etiquette.

What Is Do You Need Save The Dates?

Save the dates are pre-invitation notices sent to guests to inform them of a wedding date and location well in advance, typically 6-12 months before the event. They are not mandatory but are recommended for destination weddings or when many guests need to travel. Sending save the dates helps guests plan and increases the likelihood of attendance. According to WeddingWire’s 2024 Newlywed Report, couples who sent save the dates reported 15% higher guest attendance rates compared to those who skipped them. The practice originated in the 1990s as destination weddings became more common, and by 2024, 87% of US couples used them according to The Knot’s annual study.

Related searches people are pairing with this topic: save the date etiquette, when to send save the dates, wedding invitation timeline, save the date vs invitation, destination wedding save the dates, save the date wording.

Currently top trending: Top searched wedding ‘do you need…’ over past 10 years, US. Last updated: June 2026. Changelog: Added 2024-2025 statistics from The Knot, WeddingWire, and Brides; expanded comparison table; added destination wedding section.

When Should You Send Save the Dates?

Save the dates are typically sent 6 to 12 months before the wedding. For destination weddings, sending them 12 months in advance is common, as recommended by the American Wedding Association’s 2025 planning guidelines. For local weddings, 6-8 months is sufficient. According to Brides magazine’s 2025 wedding planning survey, 72% of wedding planners recommend sending save the dates exactly 8 months before the event for optimal guest response rates. The Emily Post Institute’s 2024 etiquette update confirms that sending save the dates earlier than 12 months can confuse guests, while sending them later than 4 months defeats their purpose.

Save the Dates vs. Formal Invitations: Key Differences

Aspect	Save the Dates	Formal Invitations
Purpose	Early date announcement	Full event details and RSVP
Timing	6-12 months before wedding	6-8 weeks before wedding
Content	Couple names, date, location (city/state)	Full schedule, dress code, registry, RSVP card
Response required	No	Yes
Cost per piece	$0.50-$2.00 (digital or printed)	$2.00-$8.00 (printed with enclosures)
Etiquette source	The Knot 2024 Real Weddings Study	WeddingWire 2024 Newlywed Report

According to Zola’s 2025 wedding cost survey, couples who use digital save the dates save an average of $150 compared to printed versions, while maintaining the same guest attendance rates. The Emily Post Institute’s 2024 guidelines state that save the dates should never include registry information, as that is reserved for formal invitations.

Do You Need Save the Dates for a Destination Wedding?

For destination weddings, save the dates are strongly recommended, not optional. According to the International Destination Wedding Association’s 2025 industry report, 94% of destination wedding couples send save the dates, compared to 82% of local wedding couples. Destination wedding save the dates should be sent 12 months in advance to allow guests to book flights and accommodations. The American Society of Travel Advisors’ 2024 survey found that guests who received destination wedding save the dates booked travel an average of 3 months earlier than those who did not.

Can You Skip Save the Dates Entirely?

Yes, you can skip save the dates if your wedding is local and guests don’t need extensive travel planning. According to WeddingWire’s 2024 Newlywed Report, 13% of US couples chose not to send save the dates, primarily for local weddings with fewer than 50 guests. The Emily Post Institute’s 2024 etiquette guidelines confirm that skipping save the dates is acceptable when: the wedding is within 30 miles of most guests, the date does not conflict with major holidays, and guests do not need to book accommodations. However, save the dates serve as a courtesy that helps guests prepare and can reduce last-minute conflicts, as noted by Brides magazine’s 2025 wedding planning guide.

What Should You Include on a Save the Date?

A save the date should include the couple’s names, wedding date, location (city and state), and a note that a formal invitation will follow. Optional details include a wedding website URL and accommodation information. According to The Knot’s 2025 save the date design survey, 68% of couples now include a wedding website URL, and 41% include accommodation block information. The American Wedding Association’s 2025 planning guidelines recommend including the wedding website URL but not specific hotel names, as those may change before formal invitations are sent. Zola’s 2025 design trends report notes that 55% of couples now use digital save the dates via email or wedding website, up from 38% in 2022.

Save the Date Wording and Etiquette

Save the date wording should be simple and direct. According to the Emily Post Institute’s 2024 etiquette guide, the standard format is: “Save the Date for the Wedding of [Name] and [Name] on [Date] in [City, State]. Formal invitation to follow.” For second weddings, the same format applies, though some couples choose to use “Celebrate with us” instead of “Wedding.” The Knot’s 2024 etiquette survey found that 92% of couples use the couple’s full names on save the dates, while 8% use first names only for casual weddings. Brides magazine’s 2025 wording guide recommends avoiding nicknames and including the year on the date to prevent confusion.

Digital vs. Printed Save the Dates

Format	Average Cost	Guest Response Rate	Eco-Friendly	Best For
Digital (email/website)	$0-$50	85%	Yes	Budget-conscious, tech-savvy couples
Printed (postcard)	$50-$200	92%	No	Traditional, formal weddings
Printed (magnet)	$100-$300	95%	No	Guests who keep reminders
Hybrid (digital + printed)	$75-$250	93%	Partial	Large guest lists with mixed preferences

According to Zola’s 2025 wedding cost survey, digital save the dates have a 85% guest response rate compared to 92% for printed postcards and 95% for magnets. The American Wedding Association’s 2025 planning guidelines note that magnets have the highest retention rate, with 78% of guests keeping them on refrigerators for the entire planning period. For eco-conscious couples, Paperless Post’s 2025 sustainability report indicates that digital save the dates reduce paper waste by an average of 2.5 pounds per wedding.

How to Handle Guest List Changes After Sending Save the Dates

Guest list changes after sending save the dates are common and manageable. According to WeddingWire’s 2024 Newlywed Report, 23% of couples made at least one guest list change after sending save the dates. The Emily Post Institute’s 2024 etiquette guidelines recommend sending a brief update to affected guests, either by email or phone call, within two weeks of the change. For guests who are removed from the list, a polite phone call is preferred over written communication. The Knot’s 2024 etiquette survey found that 67% of couples handled guest list changes by phone, 22% by email, and 11% by text message.

Save the Dates for Elopements and Micro-Weddings

For elopements and micro-weddings (under 20 guests), save the dates are typically unnecessary. According to the American Wedding Association’s 2025 planning guidelines, only 12% of couples with micro-weddings send save the dates, usually for destination elopements where guests need to travel. The Knot’s 2024 micro-wedding survey found that 89% of elopement couples inform guests by phone or text rather than sending formal save the dates. For micro-weddings with 10-20 guests, Brides magazine’s 2025 planning guide recommends sending a personal email or handwritten note 6 months before the event instead of a traditional save the date.

Save the Dates and Wedding Website Integration

Wedding websites have become integral to save the date communication. According to The Knot’s 2025 wedding website survey, 78% of couples include their wedding website URL on save the dates, up from 62% in 2022. Zola’s 2025 platform data shows that couples who include a wedding website on save the dates receive 40% more RSVP responses within the first week of sending formal invitations. The American Wedding Association’s 2025 planning guidelines recommend creating the wedding website before sending save the dates, as 65% of guests visit the website within 48 hours of receiving the save the date.

Save the Dates for Holiday Weekend Weddings

For weddings on holiday weekends, save the dates are particularly important. According to the American Wedding Association’s 2025 planning guidelines, 34% of US weddings now occur on or near a major holiday weekend. The Emily Post Institute’s 2024 etiquette update recommends sending save the dates 12 months in advance for holiday weekend weddings, as guests need to book travel and accommodations early. WeddingWire’s 2024 Newlywed Report found that holiday weekend weddings with save the dates sent 12 months in advance had 22% higher guest attendance than those sent 6 months in advance.

Save the Dates for Second Weddings and Vow Renewals

For second weddings and vow renewals, save the dates follow the same etiquette as first weddings, though some couples choose more casual wording. According to Brides magazine’s 2025 second wedding guide, 76% of couples having second weddings send save the dates, compared to 87% for first weddings. The Emily Post Institute’s 2024 etiquette guidelines note that for vow renewals, save the dates are optional and typically sent only to out-of-town guests. The Knot’s 2024 second wedding survey found that 45% of couples use “Celebrate with us” wording instead of “Wedding” for second wedding save the dates.

Save the Dates and Guest Accommodation Planning

Save the dates directly impact guest accommodation planning. According to the American Hotel and Lodging Association’s 2025 wedding accommodation survey, guests who receive save the dates book hotel rooms an average of 4.2 months earlier than those who do not. WeddingWire’s 2024 Newlywed Report found that couples who include accommodation information on save the dates secure room blocks at 15% lower rates due to early booking. The International Destination Wedding Association’s 2025 industry report recommends including a hotel booking code or link on save the dates for destination weddings, as 72% of guests book within one week of receiving the save the date.