how to // handle save the dates

Perfect Circle design by nccreative on Etsy

Save the dates. They're the opening bell to your wedding season. They're the reason for engagement photos. They say "hi, we're cute and we're going to get married, wanna come?" Yes, I would love to. Save the dates are a major milestone of wedding planning. I jokingly tell some clients, "they're being printed, now you HAVE to get married." (I'm a fun girl.) But really, they're your first major announcement to the world that this wedding is going down, and so that makes them a pretty big deal, right? 

As with most "big deals" save the dates are the source of some questions. I do a lot of save the dates, and I get a lot of questions. Mostly about logistics, so I thought I'd simplify a bit and answer the most common ones. Here we go:

When should I mail my save the dates?
The general rule is six months in advance. However, for shorter engagements, three to four months is plenty of notice for guests to pencil in your big day.

To whom should I mail save the dates?
Everyone on your final guest list. This, of course, means that before you can send them, you have to finalize your guest list. Make sure you get your guest count right where you want it, and make all your cuts prior to sending any mail. There’s nothing more awkward than receiving a save the date, and then not receiving a formal invite because you were cut from the guest list. (Ouch.)

What information should I include on my save the date?
Think of your save the date as a casual notice of just that– the date. Guests only need three pieces of information until the formal invite comes: Who is getting married, on what day and in what city? 

If you have a wedding website, it might also be nice to include that for eager guests looking for accommodations or registry information. The key is to keep it concise so that your design isn’t cluttered and your photo can be the real star. Speaking of which...

What photo should I use for my save the date?
In general, one professional, tasteful photo that includes both of your faces is a perfect choice. Of course, there are exceptions. I’ve seen abstract shots of couples dancing or holding hands that end up looking fabulous... but for the most part, you want to play it safe. 

Why just one: Although it’s tempting to share all your favorite engagement shots on one card, two or more photos tend to clutter up a design. Keep it simple and if you really want to feature multiple photos– ask your printer about doing different versions of our save the date instead.

Why professional: Photos taken by a photographer will be higher quality and they will print better, leaving you with a perfectly polished final product. Cell phone photos will always turn out fuzzy, and selfies will always look well, like a selfie. 

Why tasteful: This one is pretty self explanatory, but since photographers usually do some sappy make-out photos, I think it’s important to heed against sending any of these directly to everyone you know and expecting them to hang it on their fridge.

Why both faces: Because your family wants to see you and his family wants to see him. Also because if we’re being totally honest, just your name and a photo of your hand might not jog Great Aunt Martha’s memory as to whose child you are.

Does my save the date have to match my wedding suite?
Absolutely not. Save the Dates are just a fun, casual way to announce your big day. There is no need to stress over choosing a design that will coordinate with your formal invitation suite. 

How should I print my Save The Dates?
If your designer offers print services, (I do!) it is best to order it all from the same place. This way, you know the files will be properly handled and nothing will turn out unexpectedly wrong. 

If this is not an option, use a professional print service– either online or by searching for a locally owned print shop. Beware of chain store printing, as their equipment, paper quality, and employee skills are not as great. There is nothing that makes a well-designed save the date more sad than a bad print job. Don't make your design sad.

Should I mail my save the dates in envelopes or as a postcard?
This one is totally up to preference. Generally, using envelopes ensures your guests receive a clean, undamaged copy of your save the date. It is also slightly more formal than a postcard.

Postcards tend to be more budget-friendly– requiring cheaper postage, and saving you the cost of envelopes. Disadvantages are that postcards can sometimes (read: almost always) be damaged going through post office rollers, or dirty from exposure. 


Most importantly: never, ever abbreviate "save the date" because no one wants an STD in the mail. 

Process // Deer Sweet Baby Shower

I love to design for weddings. Weddings are my jam and also bread and butter. BUT babies are creepin' up and trying to be my new favorite. Invitations to a party where all you do is look at precious tiny clothes and toys? Yes. Birth announcements? Even better. I could look at squishy newborn photos all day everyday. Don't tell anyone, but I sometimes zoom in super close on their photos and cry at their tiny features. We all have our quirks, okay?

I digress. 

I'm going to be an aunt! My sweet sister, Haylee, is due in March and I. cannot. wait. She, the most impatient person on this Earth, also cannot wait. My nephew's nursery has been beautifully decorated and waiting for him to come play since the day after her first ultrasound. (That's a slight exaggeration but you get it.) Mr. Fischer will be a boy's boy. Hunting, fishing, all things dirt. His room is rustic chic with my sister's signature style. This made the shower invitation easy. 

 

I started with the color palette, and chose to pull from the colors of his bedding (purchased here). The theme would obviously be antler-based, but I also wanted to play on the delicate nature of babies themselves and so I chose a playful script. 

Bonus: it's perfect for monograms and nobody loves monograms more than Fischer Zachary Boyd's mom-to-be. This kid will never lose a blanket in his life. Monograms are also one of my most favorite ways to "class up the joint" as we (I) refer to it with my coworkers (no one) around the office (living room). And so, BEHOLD: the final product:

So far, it has rave reviews (from my sisters, and my mom who called it "cute" with no punctuation or emojis because why inflate your child's ego?). If you also want to purchase this invitation and leave a one word review, you may do so right here. My mom suggests "neat" or "good" in case you need ideas.

DIY // Holiday Card Flipbook

It's time to clean up the Christmas decor. This used to be my least favorite thing to do. I always missed seeing the tree and feeling all the holiday vibes. This year, I've got a wandering baby who loves hazards and I was relieved to have the tree out of the way.

If you're like me (you are), then you've got approximately 5 million holiday cards that you don't want to throw in the trash. Something about seeing leftovers smeared all over your aunt's face just doesn't sit well. What do you do with them? They're sweet but you're out of drawer space. Enter: me. My little flipbook is perfect for holding onto these holiday moments in a much less cluttered way. Also, it takes maaaaybe 10 minutes total because TIME IS MONEY or because naps are better than crafts.

SUPPLIES // Single hole punch, binder ring, tag, pen, leftover ribbon, Christmas cards. 

STEP ONE // Aggressively punch holes in the corner of each card.

STEP TWO // Weave the binder ring through each card.

STEP THREE // Write the year on your tag and tie ribbon around it all for cuteness and storage purposes.

That's all. Stick it on a shelf or pack it away with your Christmas decor so you can look through it each year and remember how skinny everyone used to be. 

Hi Internet,

As my 2016 gift to you, I've decided to start a blog. Truth be told, I meant to start this blog in 2014 when I paid someone to design it for me but they were in the UK and it took me 1.5ish years to figure out how to get the date out of the European format. (I also had a baby.) 

I don't really have a plan for this... I'm thinking I'll tell you guys about new stuff in my Etsy shop or fun projects I get to do. Because apparently you're supposed to have a BLOG for your SMALL BUSINESS to promote HANDMADE ITEMS and other buzzwords like that. (Is it handmade if you use a computer? I use my hands to click the mouse so I'm going to say yes.) I might end up just typing lots of nonsense because I miss ranting on The Duds. Either way, I'll be sure to post about new blogs on my Facebook page and then you can decide whether or not to waste your bathroom visits on me. 

x HAPPY NEW YEAR x