Save the date etiquette: when and how to send

Send save the dates six to eight months before the wedding for a local celebration, and closer to nine to twelve months out if you're getting married abroad or over a holiday weekend, when guests need extra time to arrange travel and time off work.

Only send one to people you're certain will be invited. A save the date is effectively a promise of an invitation, so it shouldn't go to anyone still on the maybe list. If your guest list isn't finalized yet, wait until it is rather than sending early and having to walk it back.

Keep the content minimal: both your names, the date, and the city or region. You don't need the venue, dress code, or itinerary yet, that's what the invitation and wedding website are for. Trying to pack too much in early tends to create information that goes stale or changes before the big day.

A short link to your wedding website is the one addition worth including. It gives guests somewhere to check back for details as they're confirmed, without you needing to send a second round of updates to everyone individually.