|
All About Save
the Date Magnets
Save the
Date magnets are probably the hottest new trend among brides.
They are custom printed refrigerator magnets, usually about the size
of a business card, that are sent to your future wedding guests
between 12 months to 4 months before your wedding.
The whole
concept of a Save the Date notification--whether by card or magnet
or both--is a relatively new one. Wedding invitations are
traditionally sent 6 to 8 weeks in advance of the wedding, and it is
often too late, especially if your guests will need to travel to
attend your wedding, for them to request the time off. In
addition, most inexpensive airline fares require advance purchase.
They function as both an announcement and a notification that you
are getting married and that they will be invited.
Up until
recently, brides sent Save the Date cards, and often still do, but
if a magnet is sent either alone or with a card, it is something
that people can put on their refrigerators, so that they won't
forget about your wedding date until it is too late for them to
attend.
The rise in
popularity of Save the Date magnets--either as an addition to a card
or performing the dual function of card and magnet--can be directly
attributed to Martha Stewart, who recommended them during one of her
segments and on her website.
We did see a
study a short time ago, when were considering adding the magnets to
our website, that indicated that it increased attendance as
weddings, particularly if most of the guests lived away the city
where the ceremony was planned. We're trying to find the study
again, but we were impressed with the information at the time, and
it did weigh heavily on our decision to offer them to our visitors.
Thinkwedding
offers custom
Save the Date magnets, as do some other websites. It is
important to compare sizes as well as styles and price; anything
below a business card size (3.5" x 2") will probably not fit the
necessary information, and may not be readily seen on a refrigerator
as well, which certainly defeats the whole purpose of sending them!
At
Thinkwedding.com, is possible to fit a photograph of the
couple on the magnet, for a flat charge of $4.00, regardless of
quantity. While it is nice to include a photograph of the
couple, and it certainly makes the magnet stand out, consider the
fact that the words and design will have to be made smaller to
accommodate the photo, and that may be less than desirable.
Another
factor to consider is what kind of surface the magnet will have.
You should have a high-resolution, preferably high-gloss
photographic surface on the magnet, and it should be at least water
resistant. The kitchen is often a humid area both in Summer
and Winter, hands are often dripping when they open a refrigerator
door, and you don't want the ink on your magnet to run as it hangs
on the refrigerator! While that will certainly impress your
guests, it won't do a thing for your reputation!
The typical
Save the Date magnet has the words, "Save the Date," or, "Please
Save the Date," along with up to four lines of print. They
should contain the names of the couple and the date, as well as the
celebration. Other details should be omitted.
Typical
wording would look like:
Save the Date!
for our wedding on
January 25, 2005
Mary Anderson and John Doe
Vendors
offering custom Save the Date magnets also include designs along
with the wording; it makes a most attractive notification--one that
your future guest will be glad to place on their refrigerators!
While Save
the Date magnets are still primarily used for weddings, they are
becoming popular for other celebrations as well; we are designing a
line of magnets for graduations, baby showers, bridal showers,
anniversary and birthday parties, and as new baby announcements for
an additional website we are developing.
|
