As a graphic designer in Buffalo, NY, Save the Dates are one of the most requested projects I work on. Some people scoff at STDs (no acronym pun intended) but others truly feel that it is the first impression of their big day. What is always incredible to me is the amount of personality and love that can go into a single document.
From handmade elements, to custom drawn maps, to photos, to couple logos used throughout the wedding, every single element (usually) begins with a Save the Date. And because it is the first thing any of your guests will see, I think it is totally worth it.
Here are a few examples of my favorite Save the Dates created by yours truly in the last decade or so. Some are uniquely designed while others are just on trend. Let me know what you think! And if you are getting married or just engaged, let's chat! Happy to help design a piece that is perfect for you and yours.
#1. In highschool, in the nineties, these lovebirds had a caricature drawn. They kept it over the years and wanted to incorporate it into their save the date. I was able to restore the caricature, vectorize it, and use a nineties motif to give them a save the date that hit all of their checkpoints. This save the date was sent as a postcard, so it was nice and vibrant in the mail, with no envelope.
#2. This save the date was a labor of love. I shot engagement photos at Knox Farms, East Aurora, NY. I knew immediately that this one would be the one for the save the date. It was clearly the shot where they were having the most fun. We selected the fonts and colors to go with the photo. And it made perfect sense as their wedding was going to be in the backyard of the groom's family home. On top of the photo, some elements that were included were a love of fishing and typography of initials. The watermark of their initials and fish under the address lines ultimately became their logo and they were able to use it on many items throughout the wedding process!
#3. Ok so I am a little biased, this was actually my save the date. Our wedding was a campout extravaganza. Plus, I always like to hand draw anything that represents me. Our dogs are our biggest and greatest love, so they of course were represented on the Save the Date. After these were printed, I used actual colored acrylic paints to fill in more stars.
#4. Most recently I designed this for a client that is having a very elegant ceremony with decor heavily based on the floral arrangements. She selected the fonts and provided inspiration. This Save the Date is very much on trend with what people are looking for in 2018-2020. Cut of floral arrangements, light colors, script and sans serif fonts. Beautiful, clean, and fresh.
#5. This Save the Date is a bookmark. The whole wedding theme was based around the 1920s and F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby. Once printed and cut, it was backed by a thick gold cardstock and a beautiful ribbon that matched the purple element. The rest of the design was carried out through the entirety of the wedding -- from 1920s invites to menu cards to typewritten elements and maps.
These five save the dates show how unique and special each couple is. When taken into consideration, the details and elements of each wedding can begin subtly through a Save the Date.
Looking to create something special for your big day? Email me, meganrechin@gmail.com to chat.
