The Card Gallery have a great range of save the date cards available online.  Here’s just some of our favourites…

When is the best time to send out your save the date cards?  It’s a question we get asked all of the time and the answer is usually the same – as early as possible!

We understand that every wedding is different, and will run to different timescales: some brides will be engaged and planning for years and others will have just a matter of days or weeks between saying ‘Yes!’ and walking down the aisle.

Sending out a save the date card or magnet isn’t designed to give people the specifics of your wedding day – asking guests for their menu selections a year in advance doesn’t quite work!  Instead, you are just informing them of the day of the wedding and asking them to kindly try to plan around that day so they are free to be a guest on your big day.

We’ve had a few brides who have still not been sure of the actual date but have the weekend or week earmarked as a possibility.  This isn’t ideal as it blocks out a large chunk of time in your guest’s diary, but it’s still acceptable if you cannot confirm until nearer the date.

More and more couples are choosing to tie the knot abroad and it is in these circumstances that you should give as much notice as possible and send out your save the date cards very early.  This is because people need to make extra arrangements to attend your wedding such as booking a flight, hotel, or time off work.  The same goes for if you are having a wedding in this country but have guests flying in from further afield – flights tend to be cheaper in advance and your guests will thank you for it later!

For any weddings which are a little different, you could give your guests a heads-up way in advance of your wedding date.  For example, if you are having a specific theme to your wedding and require guests to wear particular clothing, or if the wedding takes place on a national holiday or during the working week which might make it more difficult for people to attend.  You can also advise in a save the date card if children are included/excluded from the day as some people may need to make additional childcare arrangements.

So, in answer to the question we get asked the most – when is the best time to send out your save the date cards?  We say, as soon as you confirm that date!

Getting hitched is not cheap and you might be struggling to arrange your wedding within the budget you have set aside for the occasion. After all, while you no doubt want to enjoy a special day that’s one to remember for all the right reasons, it may be hard to justify huge expenditure.

The good news is, there are ways in which you can minimise your spending without compromising on the quality of your wedding. For example, by making sure you source superb and at the same time great value wedding invites and other items of stationery, you can help to control your costs.

James Cordon ties the knot

TV and stage funny man James Corden recently got married in style. The 34-year-old comedian and actor tied the knot with Julia Carey earlier this month after engaging to her on Christmas Day 2010. The pair, who had their first child together in March, looked content as they said their vows in front of their selected guests.

Julia is reported to have worn a stunning lace dress and the wedding took place in Somerset.

No expense spared

In true celeb style, no expense was spared and the celebration reportedly cost £250,000. It was staged in a luxurious private members club called Babington House and guests were even treated to a performance from Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody, as well as ex-Radio One DJ Chris Moyles and singers Rizzle Kicks, the Daily Mail revealed.

Meanwhile, a host of famous faces were in attendance, including David Walliams, Michael McIntyre, Jimmy Carr and Peter Jones.

The celebrations are said to have kicked off the evening before the ceremony, with guests meeting up at the 32-bedroom former stately home.

A stag do to remember

It should come as no surprise that Corden’s stag do ahead of the wedding was also out of the ordinary. The West Ham fan was treated to a kickabout on the pitch at Upton Park and West Ham player Mark Noble and former Tottenham and Liverpool star Jamie Redknapp joined the game.

Doing it your own way

When you read about the rich and famous getting hitched in lavish ceremonies, you might feel a little daunted, but there’s no need. Even on a tight budget, it’s possible to organise fantastic celebrations.

By paying attention to the small details and making sure you source the best deals, you can create a great impression without going bust in the process.

We’re here to help

Here at The Card Gallery we go out of our way to provide excellent value wedding place cards and other accessories that can help make your big day extra special.

Our full range

Meanwhile, our product range doesn’t end there. We also provide stunning christening invites, baby gifts and much more. So, to see our full selection of items, you can take a look around the rest of our website.

You will not be disappointed by the variety on offer and our prices should bring a smile to your face.