Sure, you could hire a plane to trail an aerial banner broadcasting your wedding date, and invite your friends and family over to watch it fly by. But posting these 3-D announcements is far more practical (and just as creative). Plus, your invitees will love opening the tiny envelope to reveal your happy news. While the airplane motif is apt for a destination wedding, these cards are also suited for local celebrations. The Details: Bird & Banner save-the-dates. Postage from Champion Stamp Co.

For a destination event, this is one of the first steps in the process. After all, your guests have a trip to book! Inform them of your plans about six months before the big day. Choose a card that captures the spirit of your location and also provides plenty of space for important travel information. One of these colorful retro-inspired announcements is just the ticket. Lab Partners for Hello!Lucky save-the-date cards.

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. Postage stamps, Champion Stamp Co.

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 -- on the map. 65-pound classic-laid continental-blue paper, Paper Presentation, Paper Presentation; "PS Collection" cover-weight soft-white paper, Paper Source, Paper Source.

In honor of Hawaii -- a perennial nuptial hot spot -- we devised this easy-to-make, impossible-to-dislike paper lei. The best part: You don't need steady hands to cut out the shapes. Just use one of these floral craft punches. Large and extra-large daisy punches, by Paper Shapers, from EK Success. "Perfect Petals" dogwood punch, McGill Inc. 25-by-37-inch paper, by Yatsuo, from New York Central Art Supply, 800-950-6111.

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. Postage stamp, Champion Stamp Co. Screw punch, by Martha Stewart Crafts, from Michaels.

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.

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, Paper Finger.

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

Go to a souvenir store and you'll find a plethora of tacky postcards. Go vintage, though, and you'll have delightful options at your disposal. Check out eBay, Etsy, and other websites for retro postcards that feature your wedding destination, then stamp the front with "save the date" and the back with a form for the details. Postcard, The Postcard Depot, The Postcard Depot. For custom rubber stamps, visit a stamp store online or near you.

Think outside the envelope -- not all save-the-dates need one. Case in point: This poster-like message is off the charts when it comes to cool. 1 1/4-inch round labels, Paper Source. Calligraphy, Deborah Delaney, 212-877-8773.

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!). "PS Collection" cover-weight paper, Paper Source. "Mi-Teintes" dawn-pink paper, by Canson, from New York Central Art, 800-950-6111.

The Eiffel Tower. The Chrysler Building. Big Ben. Getting married in a big city with an iconic landmark? Highlight one of its buildings by using stamps, collage-style, on the front of a plain correspondence card. Postage stamps, Champion Stamp Co. "Verge de France" stationery, by G. Lalo, from Kate's Paperie.