Do It Yourself: Save the Date for a Wedding

Create a small booklet on the computer as a save-the-date announcement.

Save-the-date cards notify potential wedding attendees of the date of the celebration as a courtesy. The announcement allows guests plenty of time to make arrangements to secure vacation time from employers, make travel accommodations and rearrange previous engagements. The cards commonly are sent approximately six months before the wedding date. Making your own save-the-date cards keeps a few extra dollars in your pocket while offering an inventive and crafty momento for your special day. Create an informational booklet in lieu of a postcard as a save-the-date announcement.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Black ink printer cartridge
• White printer paper
• Scissors
• Card stock
• Hole puncher
• Ribbon
• Envelopes

Instructions

1. Sketch a rough-draft booklet onto a piece of paper that spells out all the information you'd like to include in the save-the-date mailing, including page orientation and the detailed wording. Include your names, the date of the wedding, discounted room blocks in a preferred hotel, directions and suggested wedding information.

2. Open a blank word-processing document on your computer. Reformat the page setup to a landscape (horizontal) orientation. Format the page to include two vertically-oriented columns. Choose a romantic or calligraphy font for the announcement.

3. Type a wedding quote or a romantic poem centered around the engagement in the left column. Center the wording within the column.

4. Type the engaged couple's names and the wedding date in the right column in a large, decorative font. Center the wording within the right column.

5. Press the "Enter" key a few times to begin a second document page. Ensure that the next page is formatted with two vertical columns. Type the reserved hotel choice for guest accommodations in the left column of page two. Include the hotel address, accommodation specifics, such as the ability to bring pets and the option of smoking versus nonsmoking rooms, plus directions to the hotel. Center the information in the left-side column.

6. Type any pertinent wedding information that guests might need to prepare for the event in the right column of page two, such as black-tie attire, costume theme or any "in lieu of gift" suggestions. Center the information in the right-side column.

7. Print a test set of inner pages. Review for grammar, punctuation, wording and spelling. Check for adequate margins and spacing. Adjust the document wording as needed.

8. Print page one. Flip the same piece of paper over vertically and print page two on the reverse side of page one (page two appears upside-down from page one).

9. Arrange the paper over a sheet of colored card stock matching the wedding color scheme. Fold the paper and card stock together to form a booklet.

10. Punch two holes into the fold of the paper and card stock simultaneously, approximately 1 to 2 inches from the edges. Cut an 8- to 12-inch length of ribbon matching the wedding colors, thread through the holes, and tie in a decorative bow on the outside of the booklet. Review the booklet order, which should show the bride and groom names and wedding date on the first inner page, the hotel information on page two, the wedding details and suggestions on page three and the romantic wedding quote on page four.

11. Create one booklet per family or person attending the wedding. Insert each into a 6-by-9-inch envelope. Address and mail to each attendee.

Tips & Warnings

• Save-the-dates can be created in postcard form to save on added material expense and postage.

References

• Martha Stewart Weddings: Informational Save-the-Date
• Make Your Own Invitations: Wedding Save the Date Cards and Ideas
• A Wedding Day: Instructions for Making Your Own Stationery

Resources

• Yum Sugar: Ways to Save the Date