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A formal save the date announces a black-tie wedding with the same restraint the invitation will carry. Personalize the type and wording online, then send digitally or order printed cards.
A formal wedding is an elevated, elegant affair that focuses on the love you and your partner share. This wedding style informs the attire, decor and much more. And if you love the idea of a formal wedding, you should have the stationery that matches it. A formal Save the Date can serve as the ideal primer for your guests about your future festivities.
In this guide, we will explain the best formal Save the Date wording and etiquette rules, the best ideas for your design and how you can get started on your own set of cards.
Before we can explain what a formal Save the Date is, we need to cover the concept of a formal wedding. “Formal” typically refers to the requested attire, and it is interpreted as a slightly more upscale version of cocktail attire. Recommended items to wear include long or tea-length dresses and dark suits. You might also see a formal Save the Date created for a black tie wedding or black tie optional event.
Formal Save the Dates are classic and most are printed. While online versions are becoming more popular and widely accepted among etiquette experts, the most formal options are printed Save the Dates.
There are several components to formal Save the Date wording, and a few more etiquette rules that go with preparing and sending them out to your guests. For starters, your formal Save the Date should go out about six to eight months prior to the wedding day. And while there are stricter “rules” for wedding invitation etiquette, but any formal Save the Date should include a few key pieces:
The wedding date: You will need to include the exact date of your wedding. If you are hosting a multi-day wedding or other events before or after the ceremony and reception, make that clear in your formal Save the Date wording.
The wedding location: While you do not need to provide the exact spot where your ceremony and reception will be held, you should detail the city and state. If all of your guests are relatively local, you can also simply write down the city name.
The wedding couple’s names: Do not forget the guests of honor! Your guests should know exactly who is being celebrated, so make your and your partner’s names prominent on the formal Save the Date.
The URL for your wedding website: An optional but super helpful addition to your formal Save the Date cards is a link to your wedding website. This can connect guests to a site full of photos, travel and lodging recommendations and even an RSVP platform.
In addition to formal Save the Date wording, there are other etiquette-related guidelines to keep in mind. First of all, Save the Dates are optional but highly recommended. Your guests need time to plan out their attendance, and providing them with this formal “heads up” will give them time for any work or childcare arrangements. And if you send out a Save the Date, you need to follow up with a formal wedding invitation.
If you are interested in printed formal Save the Date cards, there are quite a few options to explore at Bliss & Bone. See below for a highlighted selection of these special Save the Dates:
Modern-minimalist formal Save the Date: An ultra-chic black tie affair would go perfectly with a Save the Date like the Ashton design. With a white card, black text and gray envelope, it has a beautiful setup that puts an emphasis on the text.
Tropical formal Save the Date: You can easily host a formal or black tie wedding in a tropical environment. The Beckett Save the Date, for instance, has a subtle background showcasing tropical leaves in motion.
Formal Save the Date with a photo: Photo Save the Dates are incredibly popular because they give you an opportunity to share an adorable image of you and your partner. You can use a photo from your engagement photoshoot or any other time in your relationship. The Avery Save Date is a fabulous option for photo-loving couples.
The intimacy of a sweet photo or the formal style of a classic printed Save the Date are dreamy examples of options within this broad category. Sit down with your partner, review your choices and see which ones you are both gravitating toward.
At this point, you should feel ready to get to work on your formal Save the Dates. Just remember that our team is here to help with anything you need, and you are encouraged to contact us online or send an email to hello@blissandbone.com.
A formal save the date is the first notice of a black-tie or dressy-formal wedding. It carries the couple's full names, the wedding date, the city and state, and a line confirming an invitation will follow. The card uses spelled-out dates and refined typography to signal the tone before guests see any other detail.
For a formal wedding, yes. Address the outer envelope with full titles and spelled-out names, such as "Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Ellis," and write out "Street," "Avenue," and the state in full. The envelope is the first thing a guest touches, so it sets the formal register before the card inside does.
Use full names and titles, one household or guest per envelope, with no abbreviations where space allows. A calligraphy-style font printed on the envelope gives the hand-lettered look at volume. The inner envelope tradition belongs to the invitation, so a single, carefully addressed outer envelope is enough for the save the date.
Four elements: the couple's full names, the wedding date, the city and state, and "Formal invitation to follow." Some couples add a small wedding website line at the foot. Leave off venue names, ceremony times, dress code, registry links, and RSVP instructions, since all of that belongs on the invitation.
Spell the date out in full, as in "Saturday, the fourteenth of June, two thousand twenty-seven," and avoid contractions. Open with the couple or a parent host line for the most traditional tone. Match the phrasing to the invitation so the two pieces read as one continuous voice.
Send them six to eight months before the wedding. Extend to eight to twelve months for a destination wedding, a holiday weekend, or any date that asks guests to travel far. The save the date should always land well before the invitation, which mails six to eight weeks out.
Printed cards hold the most formal register, and heavyweight stock reinforces the tone in the hand. Online save the dates are fully acceptable for destination weddings and short timelines, and many couples send printed cards to close family and digital versions to the wider list.
Heavyweight cotton stock with letterpress or foil reads the most formal, since the pressed impression and metallic detail carry traditional weight. Flat digital printing on a substantial card gives the formal look at a gentler price. Avoid thin, glossy stock, which undercuts even careful wording.
The save the date holds the date and names, arriving six to eight months out. The invitation carries the full logistics, ceremony time, venue, dress code, and RSVP, and arrives six to eight weeks before the wedding. The save the date sets the tone; the invitation delivers the details.
Yes, when the styling matches the tone. A black-and-white portrait or a single editorial image on heavy stock keeps the register formal, where a bright candid snapshot leans casual. Choose a calm palette and refined type so the photo reads as elegant, not playful.