How important are save the dates?

I'm having a DW, so they were essential for me.

I would recommend you saving STDs to those who have to travel a substantial distance to attend the wedding.

However, you are a long way off from the time that you would need to send them out. I wouldn't recommend getting them now because a lot can happen in five years' time.

I'm not sure when STDs were created, but a long long long time ago (like when my parents got married in 1974), no one really had to travel to the wedding. All my mom's family still lived in the same town and my dad's family lived close by. They had a couple friends who lived in Chicago - 6 hours away.

If you want to save money, then I would send STDs only to the people who will need to travel. And it could be a peice of paper you print and mail.

However, on vistaprint, my STD postcards (because stamps are cheaper!) are costing me around $10 since they have so many deals. It will cost me $20-30 to mail out.

Since your wedding is so far out, do you have time to save the extra money for them? What type of budget do you have? I wish I would have had 6 years to save!!

They are more important for people who need to make travel arrangements and take time off from work to come, or if you are having your wedding on a holiday weekend when people might make other plans far in advance. If you don't want to spend money on STD's and most of your guests are local, I think word of mouth (or email) works just fine. Personally, I think a nicely created email save-the-date is perfectly fine, but mailed postcards or fridge magnets are nice, too, if you want to do them.

Yes, the reason why our date is so far off is for the money. We're looking to buy a house first then get married. My FH figures that since we both know it's going to happen it's better to get settled first. The email is a great idea since I would only need to send them to maybe a dozen people. Thank you guys so much!

I don't think they're necessary unless it's a holiday weekend or a DW. When we set a date, we called up or emailed the people who would have to travel a long distance (about 20-25 people) so they could start saving money and making arrangements.

I think STDs to everyone can be a big problem down the road. It locks you into a certain guest list, no ifs and or buts. Once the STD goes out, you have to send them an invite.

I've seen a fair number of brides on here posting that they sent STDs to people they don't talk to as often, and now they don't want to send them an invite. Or they've had to significantly downsize the wedding for budget or logistical reasons, which sticks them with awkward phone call after awkward phone call to everyone who received an STD.

Wowww Shannon, i REALLY wouldn't wanna do that lol but fortunatly the people i would be sending them to is cousins who would definatly be invited because we are close. I think i'll go with doing the email STD's. Thanks everyone for the great ideas!

Shannon S- you read my mind- due to an ever shrinking guest list we are only sending STD to family... (Grandparents/aunts/uncles) FI's family is all traveling 6-12+ hours for this wedding and it is on a (minor) holiday weekend. I have explained to many friends that they will not be receiving STD's as they are just for family... No one really seemed to mind...

I didn't send save the date cards to any one but I did call people to give them the heads up.

Honestly, if you send STDs at all, I would limit them to those who a) would need to travel, and b) are close enough to you so that they would likely save up/modify vacation plans to be with you. The problem with STDs is that they lock you into a guest list, at a time when you may not really be aware of all the per-guest costs. If you have any kind of a financial setback, or just discover that you've underestimated the costs, you then have no way to cut back the guest list.

Our wedding is out of state on a holiday weekend, so we sent them. But we made sure that everyone that got one was definitely someone we wanted there. Our guest list was very carefully selected. We chose just enough people and that's who got the STD.

I would suggest them if you want to have a DW or a holiday weekend wedding, but if you're just roughing out the planning as you go, and don't have a determined venue, guest list size, and list of guests all roughed out, then I would wait until you have more details about the actual wedding.

We didn't do STD's...I figure everyone either was told by me, my parents or word of mouth about the wedding..those who I REAAAALLY want to be there...already know about it so it would be a wasted expense in my opinion. Your wedding is so far off that chances are...people will know your date. Plus..everyone is on facebook and I've been talking about it for months...lol

I think they are necessary for out of town guests......and possibly others since its a summer wedding.

however, you have about 4 1/2 yrs before you even need to consider it.

My entire family is traveling and frankly, I just emailed them. Easier and cheaper and just as effective!

If isn't in your budget I think you can just email them, txt, or just word of mouth! I sent STDs because for me it is just part of the fun on planning a wedding ;-)