Save the Date vs Invitation: What’s the Difference (and Do You Need Both?)

What’s the Difference Between Save the Dates and Invitations (And Do I Really Need Both)?

Planning a wedding comes with a whole lot of decisions—and if you’ve ever Googled “Do I need Save the Dates and invitations?”, you’re definitely not alone.
Let’s break it down simply so you can feel confident about your stationery decisions and get back to more exciting things (like cake tastings ?).

So... what is a Save the Date?

Think of a Save the Date as the heads-up. It’s usually the first thing your guests receive, and it lets them know the when and where so they can mark their calendars (and maybe even book travel or time off).

You typically send Save the Dates 6–9 months before the wedding (or up to a year ahead for destination weddings).

Key details to include:

• Your names

• The date

• The city/venue

• “Formal invitation to follow”

Optional but fun: engagement photos, custom illustrations, a wedding website URL.

And the Invitation?

Your formal invitation is the real deal. It gives your guests all the details they need to actually attend and RSVP. Think of it like your wedding’s official debut.

These usually go out 6–10 weeks before the big day.

Typical items in an invitation suite:

• Invitation card

• RSVP card + envelope or digital RSVP info

• Details card (hotel, dress code, website, etc.)

• Optional: inner/outer envelopes, wax seals, belly bands, vellum wraps, maps (we love these!)

Do I really need both?

Short answer: It depends on your timeline and your guest list.
Long answer: If you’re inviting a lot of out-of-towners or having a destination wedding, Save the Dates are a must. Even for local weddings, they give your guests a heads-up to avoid booking vacations or saying yes to other weddings that weekend.

If your wedding is coming up fast (say, under 6 months away), you can skip Save the Dates and go straight to invitations. But if you’ve got the time? Send them! They're the perfect way to build excitement and start showing off your wedding vibe.

How Saluna Creative makes it easy

At Saluna Creative, we make your stationery timeline way less stressful. We offer bundled design services for Save the Dates and invitations, so everything feels cohesive, intentional, and—let’s be honest—gorgeous. ✨

We’ll help you stay on schedule, choose pieces that make sense for your event, and make sure your guests are wowed from the first piece of mail they receive.

Got questions or want to chat timelines? Reach out here or check out our portfolio to see some of our favorite Save the Dates and suites.