Keep it to the essentials, because the formal invitation handles the rest later. You need four things: your two names, the wedding date (or "the weekend of" for destination events), the city or general location, and the line "Formal invitation to follow." That last phrase signals that this is a heads-up, not the full invite, so guests don't go hunting for an RSVP that doesn't exist yet. If your wedding website is live, add the URL so eager guests can start planning travel. That's it. A save-the-date is a teaser, not a brochure. Everything else, venue address, timing, dress code, registry, belongs on the invitation or website, not here.
Save the Date Wording and Ready-to-Use Examples
A save-the-date has one job: get your wedding onto the calendar before invitations go out. This guide covers exactly what to include, when to send, and gives you copy-paste wording for formal, casual, digital, and destination weddings.
On this page
What a Save-the-Date Must Include
Formal Save-the-Date Wording
Formal wording is restrained, with full names and a polished structure. Copy and adapt:
Please save the date for the wedding of Elena Marie Whitfield and Daniel Alexander Reyes Saturday, the twentieth of June, two thousand twenty-six Charleston, South Carolina A formal invitation to follow
A cleaner alternative:
Save the Date Elena and Daniel are getting married June 20, 2026 | Charleston, SC Invitation to follow elenaanddaniel.com
For formal events, spell out the date or use a clear long form, and keep the layout centered and uncluttered. Resist adding extra lines; the elegance comes from the restraint.
Casual and Playful Wording
If your wedding is relaxed, your save-the-date can be too. The structure stays the same; the tone loosens up. Copy and adapt:
We're tying the knot! Maya & Jordan September 12, 2026 Austin, Texas Details (and an invite) coming soon
A cheekier version:
Save the date or we'll be very sad. Maya and Jordan are getting hitched! 09.12.2026 - Austin, TX Invitation on its way
Or short and sweet:
It's happening. Maya + Jordan Fall 2026 - Austin You're invited (officially, soon)
Match the voice to who you actually are. A playful card sets honest expectations for a laid-back celebration, and guests appreciate knowing the vibe early.
Digital Save-the-Date Wording
Digital save-the-dates can do more than paper: animation, a tap-to-add-to-calendar button, and a live website link. Keep the words tight since the design carries the charm. Copy and adapt:
Mark your calendars! Sophia & Marcus are getting married May 9, 2026 - Portland, Oregon Tap to save the date Full invitation coming soon
A warmer version:
Something wonderful is happening. We're getting married, and we want you there. Sophia and Marcus 05.09.2026 | Portland, OR Visit sophiaandmarcus.com for updates
With a Occavia animated save-the-date, guests open a moving page, save the date in one tap, and bookmark your link, so your formal invitation lands somewhere they already recognize.
Save-the-Dates for Bilingual or International Guest Lists
When your guest list spans two languages, whether family speaks Spanish and English, or half your guests live abroad, say the essentials in both rather than picking one. A short bilingual card keeps it simple: "Save the date / Guarda la fecha — Elena and Daniel, June 20, 2026, Charleston, South Carolina." Keep the date format unambiguous for international guests by spelling out the month rather than using numbers only, since a date written as 6/8/2026 reads as August the sixth in much of the world and June the eighth in the United States. A digital save-the-date keeps this simple: on Occavia the save-the-date itself is a single-language announcement, so write the bilingual line into it as above. The full wedding invitation you send later can carry up to three languages, and guests switch between them with a tap, so nobody needs a second card.
Destination Wedding Wording
Destination weddings need extra lead time and a clear hint about travel, so guests can budget and book. Name the destination and gesture at the dates without overloading. Copy and adapt:
Save the date Join us in Tuscany as Isabel and Thomas say "I do" The weekend of October 3, 2026 Montepulciano, Italy Travel details to follow at isabelandthomas.com
A simpler take:
We're getting married abroad, and we'd love for you to come. Isabel & Thomas Tuscany, Italy - October 2026 Formal invitation and travel info to follow
For destination weddings, send these eight to twelve months out and point to a website early, because guests are making real financial commitments to be there.
Timing and What to Leave Out
Send save-the-dates six to eight months before a local wedding, and eight to twelve months before a destination or holiday-weekend wedding, so guests can request time off and find good airfare. Send to your firm guest list only, anyone who gets a save-the-date must get a real invitation, so don't include maybes. Now the leave-out list: no full schedule, no venue street address, no registry, no dress code, and no RSVP request. Those all belong on the invitation or website. Adding them now just clutters the message and invites premature questions. The save-the-date's whole power is its simplicity: name, date, place, "invitation to follow." Anything beyond that dilutes it.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should you send save-the-dates?
Send save-the-dates six to eight months before a local wedding, and eight to twelve months ahead for a destination or holiday-weekend celebration. Earlier notice lets guests request time off and book affordable travel. Only send to your confirmed guest list, because anyone who receives a save-the-date should also receive a formal invitation later.
What should you not put on a save-the-date?
Leave off the full schedule, the venue's street address, the dress code, registry details, and any RSVP request. A save-the-date is a heads-up, not an invitation, so those details belong on the formal invitation or your wedding website. Stick to names, the date, the city, and "formal invitation to follow."
Do you put the wedding website on a save-the-date?
Yes, if your website is ready, include the URL. It lets eager guests start planning travel and accommodation early, especially for destination weddings. Add it as a single clean line. If the site isn't built yet, simply write "formal invitation to follow" and share the link later on the invitation itself.
Are digital save-the-dates acceptable?
Absolutely. Digital save-the-dates are widely accepted and often preferred, because they arrive instantly, cost less, and can include a tap-to-save-the-date button and a live website link. As long as the design is polished and the message is personal, a digital save-the-date reads as thoughtful and modern, not lazy.
How much lead time do overseas guests need for a save-the-date?
Give international guests the full eight to twelve months you'd use for a destination wedding, even if your venue is local, since flights and any entry paperwork take longer to arrange from abroad. Mention the country or region early so guests can start checking passport validity and travel requirements on their own. If a guest will need a formal invitation letter for a visa application later, let them know that's coming separately once the full invitation goes out, so they don't wait on you before starting their own paperwork.