Searching for the perfect save the date design? Our best advice: Think of your save the dates as your first impression to your guests. These cards are the first piece of wedding-related mail they'll receive, so they're the perfect opportunity to let guests know what to expect from the big day. (Not sure if save the dates are necessary? Read our Top 10 Reasons to Send Save the Dates to decide if you need to send them.)
The first step is to figure out your wedding aesthetic—i.e., the overall look, feel, and vibe of the celebration. Do you love the idea of a rustic wedding, with dinner set inside a glowing, candlelit barn? Or perhaps you prefer more classic and traditional wedding details—think: exchanging vows in a historic church, followed by dinner and dancing at a ballroom downtown? Maybe your wedding style is more pared-down, simple, and minimalist? Or perhaps you'd like to say "I do" outdoors, amid Mother Nature? Deciding on your wedding theme will help you pick the perfect save the date design that reflects what you're envisioning.
Once you've figured out your overall wedding aesthetic, then it's time to browse through the save the date designs and sizes available to find the one that perfectly captures the look you're going for. And to help you narrow down the options, we've rounded up the best designs and themes. Use our guide below to cross this major task off your wedding-planning checklist and set the tone for your wedding day.
Rustic Designs
Planning a rustic-themed wedding? Rustic weddings are one of our favorite styles. They're the perfect mix of organic, nature-inspired wedding details and decor combined with a more relaxed, down-home atmosphere. For your wedding venue, consider picturesque outdoor settings like a ranch or farm, local parks, or even your own backyard. Be sure to also consider cozy, interior spaces such as a renovated barn, mountain resort, or lakeside lodge.
Once you've selected the venue and wedding date, then it's time to send rustic themed save the dates to introduce guests to the wedding theme. This correspondence will give guests a little sneak peek at the wedding you're planning and get them excited for what's to come. When choosing rustic save the dates, here are some design elements to look for:
Rustic Designs: What To Look For
Wildflowers
Woodgrain
Kraft or speckled card stock
Leaf, branches, and greenery illustrations
Antique lace
Mountain scenery
Strings of lights
"Garland Arch" foil-pressed design by Laura Hankins
Classic & Formal Designs
If you're envisioning a classic, timeless wedding with all the traditional touches, then choose wedding details that will convey an elegant, formal aesthetic. Some markers of a classic and formal wedding might include exchanging vows in a church, with everyone dressed to the nines (a classic ball gown for the bride, tuxedo for the groom, and perhaps a black-tie dress code for guests). Classic wedding flowers could include lily of the valley, peonies, and garden roses, and the reception might feature a three-course dinner complete with candlelight, florals, and formal table settings.
For nuptials this sophisticated, you'll want to send a save the date that matches accordingly. Look for a classic and formal save the date design that will stand the test of time—here are design elements that will convey the right look:
Classic & Formal Designs: What To Look For
Ivory, cream, or white card stock
Metallic foil in gold, silver, or rose gold
Calligraphy and script typography
Borders and frames as design elements
Monograms incorporating both of your initials
Letterpress and/or foil-press printing methods
Wax seal closures
"Schaumrolle" foil-pressed design by chocomocacino
Botanical Designs
When you picture your wedding day, what do you see? Are you imagining exchanging vows amid blossoming flowers, stately trees, and lush greenery? If you and your partner want to be surrounded by nature on your wedding day, you might want to consider a nature-inspired setting for your celebration, such as a botanical garden, private estate, local park, or nature preserve. The location itself will be beautiful on its own, which means you won't need much in terms of additional decorations. Just add a few botanical-inspired touches to enhance the nature-inspired theme. Choose floral-patterned bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen ties, carry a bouquet of in-season blooms, and ask your florist to decorate a simple white wedding cake with a few choice flowers.
For your save the dates and the rest of your wedding stationery, draw inspiration for the design from your wedding setting. Choose a card featuring voluminous blooms, greenery garlands, or botanical drawings—anything with nature-inspired motifs to complement the locale.
Botanical Designs: What To Look For
Floral illustrations
Painterly florals
Watercolor florals
Greenery illustrations
Tree and branch motifs
Botanical line drawings
"Chelsea" design by Vera Lim
Modern Designs
For couples who are looking for a fresh take on weddings, a modern theme is a way to highlight your chic style and love for all things avant garde. Look into local venues that have existing modern architecture and decor, such as an art museum, gallery space, brick-walled loft, light-filled warehouse, or boutique hotel. Choose wedding attire with streamlined, sculptural shapes and a sophisticated color palette. Opt for decor that's clean and contemporary with nothing overly fussy, such as translucent Lucite chairs, acrylic cake stands, square-shaped tiers for the wedding cake, and unexpected florals like anthuriums and proteas.
Set the tone for your modern-themed wedding with creative reminders and stationery that reflects your contemporary aesthetic. Look for clean lines, abstract prints, minimalist text, and graphic color palettes.
Modern Designs: What To Look For
Clean lines
Emphasis on white space
Bold fonts
Geometric shapes
Graphic color combinations
Abstract prints and patterns
Whimsical and playful wording
"Balance" design by Morgan Kendall
Bohemian Designs
If your style is more Anthropologie meets the Jungalow, then a bohemian-themed wedding might be the perfect theme for your upcoming celebration. Boho-style weddings feature a perfectly eclectic mix of natural, organic, crafty, and vintage details. Together, they combine to create an effortlessly relaxed, laid-back wedding-day vibe and aesthetic. For your venue, consider unexpected party sites like a rustic ranch, desert hotel, or a blank-slate warehouse where you can bring in all the decor you'd like to make it your own. Decorations such as Moroccan-style lanterns, hanging macrame planters, terra cotta vases filled with colorful blooms, potted succulents in handmade ceramic pots, and plenty of pampas grass will help create that boho-chic look you're going for.
Give your wedding guests a sneak peek at the boho-chic theme you're envisioning by sending creative save the dates that convey a bit of the eclectic, free-spirited style to come.
Bohemian Designs: What To Look For
Hand-drawn or painted florals
Succulents
Lace patterns
Macrame and woven details
Feathers
"Truro" design by Paden Gillette
Designs for a Destination Wedding
Hosting a destination wedding at some amazing, far-flung location? Whether you're tying the knot on the beach at some dreamy, tropical destination or up in the mountains at a historic lodge, it's a good idea to send a themed notice to get guests excited about booking their flight to attend the celebration.
Customize your save the dates and wedding stationery with some defining elements of your wedding locale. For nuptials in Wyoming, draw inspiration from the Tetons and choose a design that depicts a picturesque mountain range. Tying the knot in Santorini? A design in shades of crisp white and that perfect Grecian blue will definitely get guests to mark their calendars. If you and yours are setting out for Joshua Tree, then channel the dramatic landscape via your creative save the dates featuring desert imagery and lots of succulents. This way, your guests will get a little taste of what's to come.
Destination Wedding Designs: What To Look For
Tropical palms
Ocean patterns
Mountain scenery
Cultural/architectural landmarks
Illustrations of local flora and fauna
Succulents and cacti
Local fruit and flowers
"Flight Path" design by Olivia Raufman
Simple & Minimalist Designs
If "less is more" has been your wedding-planning mantra, chances are you're gravitating towards a more simple and minimalist wedding style. Rather than choosing all of the wedding bells and whistles, a minimalist wedding celebration pares down all the extras and emphasizes just the essentials. But keep in mind that minimalist does not mean sterile and bare. Rather, a minimalist celebration highlights only the most important elements so that they truly stand out. Think: luxurious stationery, simple floral arrangements with only the most choice blooms, and streamlined silhouettes (like a sleek sheath or column dress for the bride).
When looking for minimalist save the date designs, keep an eye out for styles that are ultra simple, chic, and contain some of the design details below:
Simple & Minimalist Designs: What To Look For
Emphasis on white space
Clean typography and lettering
Muted color palette
Simple wording
One-photo designs or text-only designs
"Brookefield" design by Robert and Stella
