"To Save the Date, or not to Save the Date"?

That is the question for budget-conscious brides.  When deciding which traditional expenses can be spared, Save the Dates can end up on the cutting floor, and for good reason.

Snail mail is time-consuming, expensive and takes up space.  Timing is critical with Save the Dates.  Collecting addresses can take weeks, while printing, shipping and addressing envelopes adds to the backlog.  For those planning with less than 6-months notice, Save the Dates can end up arriving just weeks earlier than the actual invitations. 

Digital printing is almost always the most cost-effective approach to printed invitations.  Online vendors that have become popular by specializing in just that, such as Wedding Paper Divas and Minted, have Save the Dates beginning at $0.94 and $1.08 respectively for small postcards – though that's for a minimum of 125 cards and before custom colors or edging, not to mention postage and calligraphy.  While Save the Dates differ greatly in style, size and formality, expect to spend at least $1-$1.50 per printed piece.  Postage will be $.33 at minimum – for post cards – or $.46 for a regular-sized card with envelope.  And note: there is only one USPS $.33 stamp, which now features apples (much more appealing than the Hawaiian shirts before.)  Custom stamps from Zazzle – albeit adorable – will run you an additional $.75 per stamp, give or take.

And when was the last time you preserved anything you received in the mail anyway?  With the onslaught of seasonal wedding announcements, your fridge would be an overflowing sea of white and calligraphy if you saved longer than one wedding season.  

A great modern alternative (that’s also eco-concious): emailed announcements.  Yes, many years ago this would have been a faux pas – email was restricted to stationary PCs, older family members didn’t even have email and the designs available were lackluster at best.  But these days you can send stunning (no exaggeration) invitations online, while young and old alike are so glued to their phones and laptops they’ll add your date to their google calendar from an email long before a sealed invitation reaches them.  Another bonus: you are far more likely to have their email than complete mailing address; in fact, you’ll be emailing half of your guests to ask for their mailing address (negating the need for a mailed announcement anyway.) 

For less than $20, if not free, you can send something perfectly suited to your affair.  Our favorite site: Paperless Post.  Teaming up with designers like Kate Spade, their selection is extensive, modern and stylish; animated envelopes and high-quality free options make this a standout site.  And should there be any off-the-grid relatives that need a hardcopy invitation, you can order a paper version of your online design for those particular individuals.  Another great alternative is Pingg, which leans toward 'cute' designs rather than chic.  And Evite now has a paid version, Evite Postmark, that sports much better design options than the free site.  Want to feature one of the engagement photos for which you paid so dearly?  You can do so on all of these sites.

While it's tempting to see Save the Dates as a crucial medium for: a) telling your story, b) getting across your theme, or c) showing off cute engagement photos, when budgets are extremely tight you may find yourself admitting that printed Save the Dates aren't necessary.

Should you decide paper announcements important, don’t feel obligated to use the same stationery or calligrapher that you’ve chosen/budgeted for with your wedding invites.  Also consider DIY options (full post on this to follow): a custom stamp from Etsy can make inexpensive blank notecards into a fabulous rustic or vintage Save the Date, while simple watercoloring can transform print-at-home suites into one-of-a-kind artwork no one will mind having on their fridge for years to come.