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Cool Destination Wedding Save the Date Ideas & Etiquette

You are here: Home / Destination Wedding Ideas / Invitations & Save the Date / Cool Destination Wedding Save the Date Ideas & Etiquette

//  by Cynthia // Leave a Comment

A destination wedding save the date is one of those details that takes on a new level of importance, precisely because you’re tying the knot away from home.  They’ll give your guests a heads up so they can plan their trip, take time off work, save money, arrange childcare and so on and so forth.  But aside from all that, they play an important role in setting the tone for what’s to come and creating excitement among your guests.

It’s the first impression and will either open the door or close it. It’s that important, so don’t mess it up.
~Nicholas Sparks

Your destination wedding save the date is the very first impression your guest will have of the celebration you’re planning. This is your opportunity to wow them so don’t mess it up!  This page has some unique ideas to help inspire you!

destination wedding save the date ideas
Credit: istockphoto.com/MariodelValle

Jump to Each Section on this Page

  • Unique Ideas
  • Shop for Save the Date Cards, Magnets, and Postcards
  • Save-the-Date Etiquette for Destination Weddings


Disclosure: We earn a small commission for purchases made through links in this post, at no additional cost to you. It’s one of the ways we keep this site running.

 

Unique Destination Wedding Save the Date Ideas

Paper plane Destination Wedding Save the date

Remember the paper planes you used to make when you were a kid and bored in class? Who knew that one day they’d be the inspiration for your destination wedding save the date?!  Not only will this idea inspire your guests to book their flights, it will stir some childhood nostalgia in the process.

destination wedding save the date ideas 1
Sold by: Georgia Yates Design via Etsy

Luggage Save the Date Magnet

How adorable and unique are these save-the-dates? These magnets are laser-cut in the shape of a suitcase and include a pouch to match your color palette.

save the date ideas luggage magnets
Credit: Catsi Creative via Etsy

 

Movie poster destination wedding save the date

How cool and unique is this? I know I’d be impressed if someone sent me this save the date for a destination wedding.  Not only would I save the date, I’d never forget it!

save the date movie poster

To recreate this concept, all you’ll need is a dash of creativity and an engagement photo or a pic from that nice little digital camera of yours.  I created the example above on Big Huge Labs to create the example above and it was really easy, free, and a lot of fun!

I just uploaded an engagement photo, borrowed the tagline “behind every great love is a great story” from one of my favorite movies, The Notebook.  And used the movie title “Once Upon a Time in Mexico” which is perfect for a destination wedding in Mexico.  Then I had a little fun with the “credits” at the bottom.  This is where you can put details like location, RSVP date, website URL and more.  Just have fun with it!

That’s all there is to it!  Just upload the pic, type your wording, choose your font colors, and voila! You’re now the star of your own feature film!  Not the DIY type?   You can order a custom-designed 5×7 movie poster save the dates from Etsy.

Boarding Pass Destination Wedding Save the Date

save the date boarding passes
Sold by: Etsy

Chances are, your guests will be on board with your destination wedding when they receive this cool save the date!  When I tied the knot, I created a set of multi-page boarding passes as my destination wedding invitations. The concept can easily be adapted to a destination wedding save-the-date.  Since there’s less information to communicate, you just need to mail out one boarding pass card with the date, location, and trip information.

Tip: For an extra touch of creativity and practicality, mount your boarding passes on magnets so your guests can stick it on their fridge door as a constant reminder to book that flight! 

Luggage tag destination wedding save the date

This is another travel-themed and budget-friendly idea that will send your guest packing.

You can buy a custom luggage tag save the date like the one pictured below which is great because not only is it customized with your wedding destination’s map but it is also a magnet!

luggage tag destination wedding save the date
Credit: Party Glamour Shop via Esty

Postcard destination wedding save the date

The idea of postcards is not necessarily a novel concept, but they’re a totally appropriate save the date for destination weddings.  Skip the more traditional image of the engaged couple, and add a photo of the exotic location where you’ll be tying the knot instead.  They’re really easy to make – just use a vintage image of your location, a gorgeous beach picture, or even a map.  Zazzle has some great and affordable options – just click on the image below to see tons of postcard save the date options.  A simple, but perfect save the date for destination weddings.

destination wedding save the date
Sold via Zazzle

Mini Message in a Bottle Destination Wedding Save The Date

It’s so interesting when couples go beyond standard stationery and add some texture and beach theme elements to their wedding invitations or save the dates.  As I went on the hunt for something unique to share with you, I found these cool mini message in a bottle save the dates which are custom designed by Kseniya Revta.  Each bottle includes sand and a tiny personalized message attached to the cork.   You can choose from one of 9 different sand colors and either natural, gold, or silver seashells. Each bottle can be sent in a small gift box wrapped with a satin ribbon.  These are so unique and can double as keepsakes for your guests.

destination wedding save the date message in a bottle
Credit; Kseniya Revta via Etsy

Destination Wedding Save The Date Guide

I know what you’re thinking…

“Cool, I found the perfect stationery, but what’s next?”  Ah, good question. Here are some answers to your most common questions.

When Should I send Destination Wedding Save The Dates?

It’s never too early to send out your save the date.  Destination weddings require a lot of planning, so you should mail them out as soon as you lock in the date with your venue.  9-12 months is ideal.  That will give your guests plenty of advanced notice to plan their trip, request vacation time from work, and save some dough.  More on when to mail out your save-the-dates

What Wording Should I Include on My Destination Wedding Save The Dates?

You can include as little or as much information as you want.  Traditionally save-the-date cards simply included the couple’s names, the wedding date, and location.  But since guests need time to coordinate their travel plans, a destination wedding save the date calls for a few more details.   You can still keep the card short and simple, but make sure you include a link to your destination wedding website where they can get additional info such as itinerary, travel details, accommodations, etc.

More:  A review of the best travel and beach themed websites, PLUS a list of all the info you should include.

Do we have to print and mail a destination wedding save the date, or can we just send an email?

The choice is yours but it can’t hurt to send both.  If your goal is to have a good turnout at your celebration, you need to cover all your bases.  Some people may receive a card in the mail, throw it to the side and forget all about it.  But if they get an email with a link to your site, they might be more inclined to click through to view the details since they’re already online.  On the other hand,  if you only send an email you’ll be alienating the technically-challenged (i.e. grandparents or those without email access), so it’s always a good idea to also send it via snail mail as a backup.

If someone received a save the date and notified me they are unable to attend, do I still need to send them a formal invitation?

It would still be nice and some consider it common courtesy to send them an invite.  And who knows–they might get your super fabulous destination wedding invite and change their mind at the eleventh hour. Stranger things have happened!

Do you have a question I didn’t answer here? See more Etiquette Q&A’s or ask your own question

Shop our Favorites

Below is a collection of some more of my favorite destination wedding save the date cards, sold by Basic Invite. I really love these cards because they are printed on premium, high-quality cardstock so they look and feel luxurious without the big price tag.  I also love that you can change the color of every single detail on the cards to your choice of over 160 different colors.  You can match your wedding’s exact color scheme and instantly see a preview on their site.   Check them out!

destination wedding save the date with map
Dream Big Save the Date

 

Seashell destination wedding save the date
The tiny seashell save the date card

 

palm tree destination wedding save the date
Modern Beachside Save the Date Card

 

foil destination wedding save the date
Posh Postmark Foil Save the Date

 

destination wedding save the date 1
Bon Voyage Foil Save the Date

 

nautical destination wedding save the datecard
Nautical Compass Silver Foil Save the Date

 

foil palm destination wedding save the date
Caribbean Palm Foil Save the Date Cards

 

palms destination wedding save the date
Palms of Paradise

 

Boarding pass destination wedidng save the date
Boarding pass destination wedding save the date

 

luggage destination wedding save the date
Lavish Luggage Save the Date

 

las vegas destination wedding save the date
Lady Luck Las Vegas Destination Wedding Save the Date

 


Related Articles

  • A Complete Guide to Destination Wedding Invitations
  • Beach Themed Wedding Invitations
  • Creative Wording for your Destination Wedding Invites
  • Unique Invitations in a Bottle

Related

Filed Under: Destination Wedding Ideas, Invitations & Save the Date Tagged With: Destination Wedding Save the Date

Cynthia
Cynthia

Cynthia is the founder and editor of Destination Wedding Details.She has over 15 years experience in the Marketing and Event industry and launched Destination Wedding Details in 2010, shortly after planning her own destination wedding. Cynthia uses her experience and genuine passion, to inspire brides who are planning their dream wedding away from home.

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