With save-the-date cards, even classic styles can have a little embellishment. Guests will eagerly mark their calendars when they get one of these. 

Clockwise from top:

• The couple's monograms grace this scripted card.
  
• A playful letterpress card reads, "Going to the chapel and we're gonna get married."
  
• Preprinted cards with a top-hat icon have room to write a message.
  
• An anchor icon hints at a seaside locale.

Receiving pertinent information early gives guests time to plan. 

Clockwise from top left:

• A slender folder from an office-supply store holds a save-the-date letter, list of accommodations, and some brochures.
  
• A ribbon-bound booklet offers the particulars of wedding-related events: the bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, and so on.
  
• This bluebird-and-floral-motif mailing is two-in-one: One card gives the date and place; another names local hotels.

These save-the-date cards convey their message in lighthearted ways. 

Clockwise from top left:

• A calendar from a stationer starts at the wedding month and is tied with red waxed twine to a precut custom-stamped card; the wedding date is circled in red.
  
• Slip into a photo booth and come out with adorable images for your cards; have the photo strip reproduced at a copy shop onto card stock, and then fold and cut into a narrow card containing basic information.
  
• To make a save-the-date magnet, design your message on a computer, and print onto 8-1/2-by-11-inch magnetic sheets using an ink-jet printer; cut out.
  
• Re-create schoolgirl doodles, then photocopy onto vellum and cut to size; include a white paper background to make the words stand out.
  
• Make reminder stickers for guests to affix to calendars: Buy sheets of adhesive paper; print stickers on a computer, cut to size, and attach them to the save-the-date cards using store-bought adhesive dots.

Pique your guests' interest about the wedding location. 

Clockwise from top left:

• Send a miniature flag of the state or country in which you are marrying; wrap a banner printed with your names, wedding date, and location around the handle, and mail in a tube.
  
• Inform guests of a beach wedding with a seashell hot-glued to a magnet that can hold the card on a refrigerator (for other settings, use different small, inexpensive items).
  
• Buy postcards from the city where you'll marry, and have a rubber stamp made with your wedding information.

Send your guests a heads-up -- and an altitude adjustment -- in the form of a paper airplane. The look is playful and hip (use our online clip art for the plane and the envelope liner), and the response will be pure childlike glee.

Here's a save-the-date that will grow -- and grow -- on your loved ones. Find vintage illustrated seed packets (you can buy them on websites like eBay or Etsy) for the state flower of where you're getting married. Then, fashion a cute card to frame it. To add the packet, cut four diagonal slits (1/2 inch is long enough) on the card, so that you can tuck in the corners. Vintage seed packets, Garden Lelah, gardenlelah.etsy.com.

You can get a lot of mileage out of vintage maps. In this save-the-date, the map acts not only as the primary artwork but also announces the wedding locale. This idea works especially well when the destination is a city (the multitude of crisscrossing streets makes for a more interesting design). To create this postcard, find a vintage map of your destination, scan it, print it onto card stock, and cut to postcard size. Then punch a small hole at the exact site of your event. On the flip side of the card, print a message asking your guests to meet you there. Screw punch, by Martha Stewart Crafts, from Michaels, michaels.com for stores.

Instead of sending traditional save-the-date cards, make it easy for guests to "pencil in" your wedding date with customized writing tools perfect for the job.

We chose colorful six-sided pencils and had information printed on every other pane by an online pencil store. Secure a bundle with a rubber band, and mail.

For convenient packaging, wrap pencils in tissue paper and place in an 1-1/2-by-9-inch cardboard mailing tube (available at shipping-supply stores).

The vast majority of destination weddings are held Stateside. With that in mind, we created these two America-happy postcards that put your big day -- and your personal touch.

Tell guests you've set a date with a calendar-inspired card.

Open this card, and the details (literally) come spilling out. Cut date from card stock using number punches; pierce tops with a hole punch. Slide onto 1/4-inch ribbon, tying bows before and after each pair. Cut two slits in a note card; thread ribbon through, and tie a bow. Download our envelope liner here, or use a word-processing program to cut and paste words in different colors all over a page; print out. Cut to size (use unfolded envelope as template); affix with glue stick.

Remind guests of your wedding with every page they turn. These bookmarks were printed on lightweight card stock five per sheet and trimmed to 2-by-7-inch strips. Punch holes; add store-bought tassels. Mail in glassine envelopes with card-stock inserts bearing the address.

If you're planning a fete in Europe -- and believe that all European languages have a certain je ne sais quoi -- this is the idea for you. Featuring the phrase "save the date" in eight languages, the cards get the message across clearly, succinctly, and stylishly. Simply print our web clip art, then fill in the blank on the front, and circle the language from the country where your wedding will be held. Calligraphy, Paperfinger, paperfinger.com.

Denmark clip art
England clip art
France clip art
Germany clip art
Italy clip art
Portugal clip art
Spain clip art
Sweden clip art
Clip art for the back

Guests are sure to remember your wedding day if all they have to do is peel and stick a reminder to their calendars. You can personalize adhesive labels at home.

Direct guests to your wedding with this fun compass-inspired card that helps them find reasons to attend: When they spin the bottom portion of the card, they'll see all the activities they'll be enjoying (dancing! feasting! toasting!).

A growing trend is to send save-the-dates or even invitations via email. Through our partner, Pingg, you can customize your save-the-date or invitation, manage your event online, and post your event to your social networks, plus it's free.