On the fourth day of planning, my planners found for me…
For our fourth day of planning, let’s talk graphic design! Now, you might be wondering…why is this so necessary for my event? We’ll tell you why! Have you ever been a guest at a wedding? Maybe a family reunion? How about a retirement party? Prior to the occasion, you may have received an invitation in the mail, notifying you of this event and when and where it would take place. Invitations are just one of MANY projects that graphic designers are capable of creating and customizing, based on your unique needs. Whether it’s koozies for a wedding, shirts for a fundraiser, or a logo for a new business, your graphic designer can create it!
With that being said, let’s talk more about the fundamentals of save-the-dates and invitations. Why are they important? When should I send them out? Who should I send them to? And, what information should I include on them? We are here to answer your burning questions!
Save-The-Dates
- Why are save-the-dates important? Save-The-Dates are important as they act as an initial reminder, informing guests of the type of event, as well when and where it will take place. This allows for guests to mark it on their calendars, months ahead of time.
- When should I send my save-the-dates out? This really depends on the type of event and location. Typically, we recommend sending your save-the-dates out about 6 months prior to the event. However, if you are planning to host your event at a destination location, we suggest sending them out about 9 months ahead of time, allowing guests to book any travel and hotel accommodations.
- Who should I send my save-the-dates to? We encourage you to send your save-the-dates to everyone included on your guest list. With that being said, one per household will suffice.
- What information should I include on my save-the-dates? As a general rule of thumb, we recommend including the following information in your save-the-dates: The name(s) of those hosting the event; a description of the event; the specific date and location of the event (city and state are only necessary at this time). Depending on the type of occasion that it is, you might also include a link to your event website, allowing guests to retrieve further details about the event.
Invitations
- Why are invitations important? Invitations are critical, as they serve as a final reminder of your event. In addition, guests are typically prompted to RSVP to the event, informing you of whether or not they will be attending. With that being said, invitations are extremely important, as they aid in determining your final head count.
- When should I send my invitations out? Similar to save-the-dates, it really depends on the event type and location. Typically, we recommend sending your invitations out about 7 weeks ahead of time. However, if planning your event at a destination location, we advise sending them out approximately 3 months prior to the event date, allowing all guests an ample amount of time to make any final decisions and adjustments, related to the event.
- When should my RSVP deadline end? With any event, we recommend your RSVP deadline close about 3 weeks prior to the occasion. This should allow guests anywhere between four and nine weeks to make a final decision of whether or not they will be attending your event.
- Who should I send my invitations to? Similar to save-the-dates, we encourage you to send your invitations to everyone included on your guest list. If you happen to have some last-minute names pop up on your list, we advise you to send invitations to them, as well. Once again, one invitation per household will suffice.
- What information should I include on my invitations? We recommend including the following information in your invitations: The name(s) of those hosting the event; a description of the event; the specific date and address of the event; directions to the event, as well as any necessary parking information; required dress code (if any); information on how to RSVP; deadline to RSVP.
We hope these tips will serve you well for your unique occasion!
