From classic rock to bumpin' new pop songs, here's a curated list of crowd-pleasers.
Updated May 15, 202413 Save-the-Date Ideas to Inspire Your Wedding Stationery Suite
These save-the-dates ideas are totally fridge-worthy!
Photo: The Knot Invitations,Graphic: Natalie Romine for The Knot
When you're engaged, you'll hear people say that your wedding invitations make the ultimate first impression on your guests. Well, that's only partially true. Before invites, you can tease details of your big day with a unique wedding save-the-date—and we've rounded up a host of save-the-date ideas to help generate excitement for your nuptials. According to save-the-date etiquette, as long as the stationery includes your wedding date and location, the rest of the design is up to you and your fiancé. You can basically opt for anything, from simple and traditional calligraphy to a fun and modern photo-driven design. You can even ditch paper cards altogether for magnetic or wooden ones. Feeling inspired? Browse the best save-the-date ideas below—some are even available to buy online today from our very own The Knot Invitations store. And if you can't find what you're looking for there, you can search stationery designers using The Knot Vendor Marketplace. Looks like you'll be crossing off save-the-dates from your planning to-do list in no time!
1. Photo Save-the-Dates
You took beautiful engagement photos and now you want to show them off—as you should! A photo save-the-date card from The Knot Invitations is a great way to do exactly that. If you can choose just one, pick a full-bleed design so it's really the star of the stationery. Of course, if you can't decide on a favorite, there are also multi-photo designs. Your guests will be gushing over what a cute couple you are.
2. Save-the-Date Magnets
Have you ever considered save-the-date card ideas that aren't made from paper? A magnetic announcement is a convenient option since guests won't forget about your upcoming nuptials when the date's stuck on their fridge—or any magnetic surface. Shop 150 magnetic save-the-date ideas with rounded edges on The Knot Invitations in all kinds of designs—including photos.
3. Save-the-Date Postcards
If you're planning a destination wedding, we recommend sending guests postcard save-the-dates for a thematic introduction to your celebration plans. This one from The Knot Invitations overlays a full-bleed photo with palm leaves while the back puts your event details in a bright orange and pink for a tropical vibe that'll have them planning their vacation wardrobe already. Of course, there are hundreds of other designs to shop and customize to your liking.
FEATURED VIDEO FROM THE KNOT
4. Petite Save-the-Dates
They say good things come in small packages, and that couldn't be more accurate with this wedding save-the-date idea. Petite save-the-date cards are perfect for the couple looking for traditional stationery in a slightly smaller size (4.25 by 5.5 inches instead of 5 by 7 inches). The best part of these save-the-date cards from The Knot Invitations is that they're extra budget-friendly. You can expect to pay between $0.79 and $1.19 each depending on how many you order.
5. Custom Illustration Save-the-Date
You can still show off you and your fiancé, even if you didn't have an engagement shoot. Instead, consider commissioning a custom illustration of each of you for a cute save-the-date idea that shows off your artsy side. You could also create a custom illustration of your wedding venue, pets or soon-to-be shared family crest. (More below!)
6. Pet Portrait Save-the-Dates
This oh-so-fun save-the-date idea is for party animals—literally! One side of this stationery displays a photo of you, your fiance and your furry friend(s) while the other shows custom-drawn pet images alongside your wedding day details. We especially love its cute save-the-date wording "Our humans are engaged." To order, leave a design note while editing so The Knot Invitation team knows to reach out to you so they can help add the custom illustration after you've completed the checkout of your order.
FOR YOU
Wedding Invitations Details Card 101
Here's the deal with this small, but mighty part of the invitation suite.
A Guide to Wedding Details Card Wording With Examples
Let your guests know what to wear and where they'll dance the night away.
The Best Guide to Wedding Plus-Ones for To-Be-Weds
This is who should make the cut.
7. Custom Crest Save-the-Dates
Photo: Danielle Harris Photography
A cute way to personalize all your wedding details is with your couple's monogram. Start with your save-the-dates, then copy the design for the rest of your paper suite, your reception decor (like cocktail napkins or coasters) and your guestbook. The possibilities are endless! We love this watercolor custom crest that adds additional details about the couple and their wedding, like the seaside location and their soon-to-be wedding party member, their cat.
8. Foil Save-the-Date Cards
The Knot Invitations can make the whole place shimmer! If you're looking for foil save-the-date inspiration, you're in the right place. Choose between a gold, silver or rose gold foil and over 100 designs that glisten, sparkle and twinkle. You're sure to find a card that shows off your luxurious wedding aesthetic.
9. Floral Save-the-Dates
You can't have a garden wedding without over-the-top bouquets, a flowery wedding arbor and, of course, floral wedding stationery. This save-the-date idea from The Knot Invitations frames a photo in leafy greens, blooming flowers and even a butterfly. If you already know exactly what flowers and greenery you'll have on the big day, you could feature them on your save-the-dates.
10. Boarding Pass Save-the-Dates
Here's more save-the-date inspiration for couples planning a destination wedding: a boarding pass! It's a clever way to get guests excited about a lil' trip to celebrate your love. This one features a stamp with your names, location and the year of your wedding, while your specific wedding date is spelled out under the thematic phrase "departure date." It even includes an engagement photo for a truly personalized touch. You can buy it as a standard or petite save-the-date on high-quality cardstock or as a magnet.
11. Calendar Save-the-Dates
The purpose of a save-the-date is to let your guests know when your wedding is. So, why not make it look just like a calendar so the day of your nuptials is super obvious? This couple leaned into their rustic theme and had a calendar—which actually doubles as a magnet—made out of wood and put on paper adorned with mountains.
12. Library Card Save-the-Date Card
This cool save-the-date idea turns you and your partner's love of reading into wedding stationery. It's designed to look like a library card so the "title" and "author" are the event (aka your wedding) and your names while the "check-out date" is your wedding day. Under "borrowed by" this couple put "Please save the date" and their nuptial location.
13. Party Favor Save-The-Dates
Photo: Larissa Cleveland Photography
The minimum amount of what to put on save-the-dates is the who, what, when and where, which actually isn't much text when you think about it. The perk? Save-the-dates leave room for a few fun extra elements. This couple was able to fit it all on a fun party favor—a toy airplane—and you can too! A favor that hints at your wedding theme, location or a small token of your interests as a couple will get people really excited for the big day to come, especially since they likely haven't seen such an out-of-the-box save-the-date before. Think also: a handkerchief or a coaster.
