Planning a wedding requires a lot of work – charts, sheets, appointments, the list goes on. As excited as you are for the big day, you’re probably overwhelmed with the logistics of it all. Apart from the couple, the guests are the most important part of the ceremony. So it is with them that your planning starts – your Save the Date cards. These cards are more than just small pieces of paper. They’re the perfect way to kickstart the planning process and the way you ensure that your guests are informed about the event on time. So here is everything you need to know about sending the perfect Save the Date!

The Time

It is always advisable to send your Save the Dates at least 6-8 months prior to the big day. This will give the guests plenty of time to move around their schedule and ensure their attendance. Your guests will need more time when it’s a destination wedding as compared to one in your city/town. It also helps you know the total number of attendees; the sooner you send out the cards, the sooner you get the RSVPs.

The Content

All the basic information – the name of both halves of the couple, the event a.k.a a wedding, and the city it is happening in – they’re all a must on your Save the Date. You can also include your wedding website and engagement photos, but that’s entirely up to you!

The Logistics

Finding the addresses of all your guests can be a task. A good way to tackle this is to recruit your friends and family and divide the work. For example, if you have 80 guests and four helpers, you can give them all 20 people to track down and the work will be done in a quarter of the time it would have taken if you did it all alone!

Affordable Alternatives

A traditional Save the Date card can be expensive, costing around $150. A money-saving alternative can be going digital. Email the cards, and you’ll save a ton of money by going paperless. Another way is to design them yourself.

If you want to go for something a little less traditional for your engagement ring, then perhaps you’ve had your eyes on different colored gemstones. They’re definitely the perfect way to make a statement, but do you know what they mean?

Blue Sapphire

These stunning blue gems are a firm favorite with royalty, with both Princess Diana and Kate Middleton opting for a blue sapphire. It’s believed that this stone is the key to honesty and loyalty, so you will always tell each other the truth in the relationship.

Emerald

You’re bound to turn some heads with this green gemstone on your finger, but it’s more than just a statement piece on your finger. Emeralds are believed to symbolize a happy and successful marriage, making them the perfect gem for an engagement ring. It also symbolizes the 55th wedding anniversary!

Ruby

It’s one of the most expensive gemstones in the world, and is actually a red sapphire! If you’re lucky enough to bag yourself a ruby engagement ring, then expect things to be passionate and loving – as that what this gemstone means!

Yellow Diamonds

White diamonds are thought to signify pure love, which is why they’re the most popular engagement ring gemstone. However, if your partner opts for a yellow diamond then it means something slightly different… Yellow diamonds are believed to symbolize that you’ll always be best friends and playmates, as well as being lovers.

Pink Diamonds

It’s one of the rarest diamonds of them all, but it does have a special meaning behind it. If your engagement ring includes a pink diamond, then expect your marriage to be full of surprises, love, and creativity.

Blue Topaz

The sparkly blue topaz is one of the most beautiful gemstones out there, that also holds a special meaning. It’s believed to symbolize staying true to yourself, but also eternal love. Wear this for a bond that never breaks!

So, which of these gemstones do you want in your engagement ring?