Save the dates

Definitely not a ‘must’, but if you’re inviting a lot of people from out of state/country, you should send a save the date so they can prepare with sufficient time.
I will also add that for a lot of people in my generation (early 20s), save the dates have become very outdated. We just sent out ours and have already had three people ask us if we’re supposed to RSVP now or what hahaha.

I didn't do them. It seemed like a total waste of money to me. However, I only have a handful of out of town guests and they probably will not come anyway. That's the only reason I could see them being useful is if you have a lot of out of town guests that will need to make travel/accommodation arrangements.

If you're having a destination wedding, yes. Otherwise, nope! We'll be sending them for our families (very few out of town) so they'll have a couple of our engagement photos and also so they can mark their calendars in case they want to take off work the day after (Sunday wedding).

I'm honestly just doing a Facebook event for my save-the-date. I may send a few physical save-the-date cards to some older relatives that don't have facebooks, but that should only be about 10 people.

I think this one depends on how formal your wedding is.

They aren't required! We sent them 10 months in advance. We had over 100 out of state guests, we were getting married in the summer, and we are the age where tons of people are getting married every year.

There are a couple of reasons that would make it important to do STD's:

1. You have guests who would need to travel a long distance, either because they live far away or you are having a destination wedding. This can be expensive. Giving them extra months to save the money for airfare, food, rental car, and the hotel is a courtesy that you should show your guests. It will also give them time to ask for those days off from work.

2. Your wedding is on a holiday weekend. (Memorial, July, 4th, Labor Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, etc.) People plan their vacations months in advance. If you don't inform your guests about your date ahead of time, they may make and pay for a vacation on that weekend before they know your date. This will mean they either have to lose the vacation money they've already spent, or they will have to miss your wedding.

STD's are not a fad or trend that goes out of style. They are an important courtesy to show to your guests when necessary.

They’re necessary to me. People need a head’s up about weddings, some people might work that day, or they’re out of town, or simply have to make arrangements because life is busy. It’s a courtesy to guests. You can tell them word of mouth to save on postage I guess but they absolutely need advance notice for weddings.

I was going to do them, but then seemed like a waste of money. If rather use it on beverages and food at the reception.

Save the Dates have only been in use for under 20 years, and have as many drawbacks as advantages. People send far too many, too soon, then when the need to change the style or budget, or major change that will cut many guests, they are stuck with having invited people. So apologies followed by correcting things, as much h work and cost as went into Save the Dates. A lot of people never used them, and all along have done what people did before STD were around : they gave anyone who needed advance information the information, talking to them, by phone, by email or regular mail. Sometimes they enclosed it with some other card, annual holiday cards and such. Making your own notice in Paint it other app, and sending a free email to those who need it, is free. For those with unlimited data plans, so are phone calls. Most people you would invite to your wedding , either you or other family talk or write to within a 3 or 4 month period, include info then .
And only send advance notice to absolute must have people, and those who need travel info for Visas, passports, or cheaper plane tickets. That does not mean 15-18 months, like some STD's I have received. Only to receive one or two more notices to change the previous info sent . But 6 months is good for whatever other method you use. And remember to put in with your advance information, that you will send actual invitations in the month of _______ , whatever is 8-10 weeks before the wedding, standard invitation time. Then people do not get confused about when they must respond.

Thank you everyone!

I didn't send save the dates because all but maybe 5 families live in our state and the out of state / country guest already said they wouldn't be able to make it with it being so close to a holiday and them living out of the country

We personally skipped these to save some money! Then again, we don't have many people traveling from outside the state