Save-the-date cards are usually the first piece of wedding stationary you will send to friends and family revealing your wedding date and location. Once only by couples planning destination weddings, save-the-date cards have become the norm with most wedding events. Here, four reasons why you should send save-the-date cards to announce your big day.

1. Save-the-date cards let your personality shine:
Sending a save-the-date card is a great opportunity to highlight elements of your personality and share recent engagement photos. Save-the-date cards can be designed as creative as you like fun, offering the engaged couple the opportunity to share their distinctive style, declare a theme or set the tone of their wedding, right from the start.

2. Save-the-date cards help organize the guest list:
Save-the-date cards help narrow the guest list even before invitations go out. Many couples use save-the-dates to verify far-away family, workaholic friends, and others who would appreciate advance notice in order to make travel plans.

3. Sending a save-the-date card can keep you on schedule:
Save-the-date cards should be sent four to 12 months ahead if the wedding date, therefore, sending these “early reminder” announcements can help you stick to a time line and finalize a date.

4. Save-the-date cards give guests all the important details upfront:
When sending save-the-date cards, you should include all the necessary information: dates, phone numbers, hotels and even a wedding Website for updates.

To find stationary vendors in your area, see Invitations and Gifts.