Friday, January 21, 2005
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 for your guests to request the time off from work, especially if your guests will need to travel to attend your wedding. In addition, most inexpensive airline fares require advance purchase. A Save the Date magnet announcing your wedding functions as both an announcement of your wedding and wedding date, and a notification 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, whereas a card is easily lost.
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 place a photograph of the couple on the magnet, for a flat charge of $4.00, regardless of the quantity ordered. 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
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
Most 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.
