1. Design & Illustration
  2. Graphic Templates
  3. Card & Invite

10 Creative Ways to Design Your 'Save the Date' Cards

Scroll to top
This post is part of a series called Top Design Tips.
10 Top Tips for Creating Unique Character Designs
11 Tips for Creating Professional Letterhead
This post is part of a series called How to Create a Wedding Invite.
How to Create a Laser-Cut Wedding Invitation in Illustrator and InDesign
How to Create a Rustic Wedding Invitation Template in Adobe InDesign
This post is part of a series called Learn Adobe InDesign.
How to Customise a Business Card Template in Adobe InDesign
50+ InDesign Templates Every Designer Should Own

If you’re planning a wedding, either for yourself or someone else, one of the nicest gestures you can make for your guests is to send a beautifully designed ‘Save the Date’ card. Superior all round to a hurried email or text, an elegant date card will inform your guests of your upcoming nuptials in the most stylish way possible. 

Still on the hunt for the perfect wedding save the date templates? Need save the date photoshoot ideas? Browse this selection of stylish and elegant Save the Date and wedding invitation templates to discover your perfect match.

Typographic save the date calendar template inviteTypographic save the date calendar template inviteTypographic save the date calendar template invite
Typographic Wedding Save the Date Graphic Stationery

These unique and creative templates cater to all different tastes and wedding themes. Browse our edited selection of some of the very best save the date card template designs out there and discover the perfect design for your wedding. If you're looking to design your own cards from scratch, you'll also find some fantastic inspiration, save the date photoshoot ideas and creative tips and tricks.

These Envato Market save the date calendar templates are all completely customizable. Why not experiment with different fonts, colors, or graphics to make them particularly special? Your DIY save the dates will look completely unique if you go this route.

yellow black save the date templateyellow black save the date templateyellow black save the date template
Black and Yellow Wedding Save the Date Card Template

Looking for something a little different to the designs pictured? Explore the full range of Save the Date templates over on Envato Market and you'll be sure to find The One!

1. Go for a Rustic Look

If you’re planning a more informal affair in the countryside, these rustic save the date calendar card templates offer the perfect balance of relaxed details and modern styling. A tactile brown paper texture teamed with a casual script typeface bring an informal edge to the photographic style. 

rustic invite wedding save the date card templatesrustic invite wedding save the date card templatesrustic invite wedding save the date card templates
Rustic Save the Date Calendar Cards

This save the date postcard template style is a great budget-friendly option. With no envelope required, you’ll be able to pop the card straight in the post. 

rustic invite rustic save the date graphic templaterustic invite rustic save the date graphic templaterustic invite rustic save the date graphic template
Rustic Save the Date Calendar Cards

This save the date card template also comes with seven different background and color options, so if brown paper isn’t your style, you can opt for wood, chalkboard, or a more glamorous gold metallic.

rustic save the dates calendar template stylerustic save the dates calendar template stylerustic save the dates calendar template style
Rustic Save the Date Calendar Card Templates

Like the rustic style but want to make your own save the date card? This tutorial shows you how to create floral save the date calendars and invitations with matching envelopes in Adobe InDesign:

2. Opt for Art Deco

If you don't like save the date photoshoot ideas, consider this option. An Art Deco style is the perfect choice if you want to have a vintage-inspired design without the risk of appearing too ‘hipster’. Art Deco is a timeless style that pairs geometric graphics with luxurious metallic finishes.

It’s a suits-all choice, equally appropriate for a city wedding or a country affair, and adds subtle glamor to any invite design. If you’re averse to using photos or illustrations on your save the date invitations, a striking Art Deco design might be just the ticket.

art deco save the date examples weddingart deco save the date examples weddingart deco save the date examples wedding
Art Deco Save the Date Cards

This Art Deco save the date invitation template comes in two colorways—I love the dark design for a more glamorous, edgy take on the style, and the white design for a more informal ceremony.

art deco save the date examples weddingart deco save the date examples weddingart deco save the date examples wedding
Art Deco Save the Date Cards

Want to match your save the date invitation examples to your wedding menus? You’re in luck! This tutorial shows you how to create menu cards with an Art Deco look in Adobe InDesign: 

3. Send a Postcard

Weddings can be expensive (fact!), and invitations can be a stealth expense. On top of hiring a venue, buying a dress, and providing catering for guests, the last thing you want to do is to blow your budget on stationery. 

While you might want to reserve a few more pennies for perfecting your actual invitations, you can keep the expense of your Save the Date cards low by not only minimizing the size of the cards but also by eliminating the need for envelopes. Cute and quirky postcards are a great solution for budget-friendly Save the Date cards, and they also have a lovely nostalgic charm to them.

save the date postcard templatesave the date postcard templatesave the date postcard template
Save the Date Postcard Templates

Do you like retro save the date photoshoot ideas? This vintage-inspired save the date postcard template is a crisp and clean take on the postcard style. There’s room for a photo on the front, and the design is available in three colors. 

save the date postcard templatesave the date postcard templatesave the date postcard template
Postcard Save the Date Cards

It couldn’t be simpler than printing these wedding save the date templates off (at home if you’re on a very tight budget), writing the address, attaching a stamp, and popping them in the post.

save the date postcard templatesave the date postcard templatesave the date postcard template
Postcard Save the Date Cards

Like the postcard style but not sure this design is for you? I've got a tutorial coming up in which I show you how you can make your own Save the Date postcards with a rustic look in Adobe InDesign.

4. Go Back in Time

If your wedding is going to have a vintage theme or will even be taking place somewhere with a special historic feel, a true-to-vintage style is the perfect choice for your Save the Date cards. These will also have the benefit of looking timeless in style for decades to come—it’s a great choice if you want to treasure your Save the Date cards forever.

Let's see what that looks like with some save the date examples for a wedding. These miniature vintage cards marry muted color tones with punchy antique-inspired typefaces to create a style that wouldn’t look out of place in the 19th Century. 

vintage save the date card templatesvintage save the date card templatesvintage save the date card templates
Vintage Save the Date Template

Follow the lead of the template designer and print your Save the Date cards on heavily textured card or watercolor paper for a final authentic vintage touch. 

Want to create your own vintage-style cards? This tutorial shows you how to create DIY wedding save the dates with an old-world look; they could be easily adapted to Save the Date cards:

5. Focus on Typography

Simple, striking typography doesn’t need photos or illustrations to complement it. Sometimes, simplicity is best. A typographic Save the Date design can have as much impact as any image-based style. 

typography wedding save the date card templatestypography wedding save the date card templatestypography wedding save the date card templates
Typographic Wedding Save the Date Graphic Template

If you’re opting for a typographic style, make sure to play with proportion to get the most out of your type. Blow up beautiful serif characters to large size and use the wedding date as an opportunity to make the numbers stand out big and bold. The bonus is that your guests will be hard-pressed to forget the date!

These elegant typographic cards make the most of a sweeping serif typeface. Teaming this font with minute arrows creates a look that's romantic yet pared back.

typography save the date card templatestypography save the date card templatestypography save the date card templates
Typographic Save the Date Calendar Template

Although pink is a conventionally feminine color, here it strikes just the right balance of masculinity and femininity with the strong type style. But the cards would be equally good in a country-appropriate jade green or a Tiffany-esque mint blue.

Typography save the date card examples weddingTypography save the date card examples weddingTypography save the date card examples wedding
Typographic Wedding Save the Date Calendar Template

6. Team Black & White Photos With Punchy Color 

Take a look at these cool save the date photoshoot ideas! Black and white photography always looks more elegant, formal and classic than full-color images. However, to avoid stuffiness, a generous dose of color across type, borders and/or backgrounds can really help to frame the image and lift it into more contemporary territory.

This colorful Save the Date graphic template is a case in point. The black and white photo works as a beautiful backdrop to the more punchy type and border. 

color plus photo save the date templatecolor plus photo save the date templatecolor plus photo save the date template
Colorful Save the Date Graphic Template

This helps to make the text the most important element on the page, while creating an overall subdued and elegant look. Restricting the design to just two colors also helps the layout to feel relatively simple and, as a result, extremely modern. 

color plus photo wedding save the date templatescolor plus photo wedding save the date templatescolor plus photo wedding save the date templates
Colorful Save the Date Template

Choose from three equally lovely color combinations—mustard and navy, aqua and orange, or yellow and black. On the back? A simple postcard design with clean type and a lack of color—meaning the whole focus is on that high-impact design on the front. With the right skills or template, you can make your own save the date card in this style.

7. Illustrate Your Cards

Illustrated Save the Date cards can feel very special and romantic. Keeping the illustrations simple, graphic and with a slightly vintage feel will ensure that the style doesn’t date. 

Vector illustrations can strike the perfect balance between tradition and modernity—stick to muted colors, clean shapes and flat styles to make sure the artwork doesn’t look too 3D or digitally generated.

If you’ve got the budget to commission an illustrator or think you could do the drawings yourself, the cards will feel particularly personal, particularly if you can incorporate special details, like hair color or other personal references, that will make it truly unique.

If your budget won’t stretch to bespoke artwork, that’s no problem. There are plenty of save the date examples for a wedding with great drawings. This illustrated save the date calendar template is one of them. 

illustrated invites save the date templateillustrated invites save the date templateillustrated invites save the date template
Illustrated Save the Date Template

The simple style feels stylish and elegant, and the ribbon and ornate border make the design look traditional and classic. 

Why not go one step further and DIY your own wedding icon for your save the dates? An illustrated 'logo' can give your wedding its own special branded look. Here's how:

8. Make Your Florals Modern

Flowers don’t need to look outdated—a modern take on floral design can look equal parts stylish and traditional. Keep your floral illustrations minimal and use them as a framing element for elegant script type. Stick to a restricted color theme (and avoid peach at all costs!), opting for high-impact color pairings like metallics and monochrome.

You can easily create your own floral save the date invitations using ready-made vector graphics. Try these watercolor flowers which have a folky, rustic look that looks great on informal save the dates. It's one of the save the date examples for a wedding that does the floral style well. 

Rustic Floral Water Colour save the date graphic templateRustic Floral Water Colour save the date graphic templateRustic Floral Water Colour save the date graphic template

This floral Save the Date template strikes the perfect balance of crisp, minimal design and a classic look which will appeal to all audiences. 

floral invite save the date card templatefloral invite save the date card templatefloral invite save the date card template
Modern Floral Save the Date Cards

Pairing berry color tones with a clean white background helps the layout to feel contemporary, not fussy. 

floral invite save the date postcard templatefloral invite save the date postcard templatefloral invite save the date postcard template
Modern Floral Save the Date Cards

Print on textured paper to bring out the rustic good looks of these save the dates.

floral invite rustic wedding save the date templatesfloral invite rustic wedding save the date templatesfloral invite rustic wedding save the date templates
Modern Floral Save the Date Cards

9. Choose Unconventional Color Combinations

Sometimes Save the Date cards can look a little... well... pastel. Color without a doubt can be one of the most difficult elements to get right on your cards. 

Try steering away from traditional wedding colors, like pink, peach, and baby blue, and take a more attention-grabbing color combination for a spin. A zesty orange or deep jade green can look fantastic paired with a crisp white, and a deep midnight blue teamed with metallic copper or silver can look incredibly glamorous and elegant.

If you’re looking for color inspiration, looking on Google or Pinterest for examples of stationery designs that aren’t strictly tailored for weddings will throw up all kinds of cool color ideas. Another idea is to choose a photo or image that you love, and lift the color palette from it using a tool like Adobe Color. This tutorial shows you how: 

How great does this pairing of yellow and black look on these ultra-modern Save the Date cards

yellow save the date card calendar templatesyellow save the date card calendar templatesyellow save the date card calendar templates
Yellow & Black Wedding Stationery

Black and white alone might be a little harsh for wedding stationery, but with the addition of a warmer color tone, like yellow, the save the date invitations look ultra-luxurious and modern. The unusual color pairing is softened further with handwritten script typefaces and antique-style leaf illustrations.

yellow save the date calendar card templatesyellow save the date calendar card templatesyellow save the date calendar card templates
Yellow & Black Wedding Stationery

These unique save the date examples for your wedding will definitely have your guests talking.

10. Add a Modern Touch With a Grid Style 

Perhaps you’re fed up of florals, and vintage just isn’t your bag. For many people, choosing their wedding stationery can be stressful, particularly if you feel that you’re compromising on your usual taste just to please your mother-in-law.

If you picture your wedding as a ribbon- and potpourri-free affair, you might want to opt for a Save the Date card that's refreshingly contemporary in style. Simple, clean, minimal stationery styles are enjoying a moment in the sun, and they can be adapted to suit almost any kind of wedding ceremony.

The quickest way to make your Save the Date cards look modern is to build your layout around a grid. Straight angles and boxy sections look immediately more modern and clean than fluid or ornate details. Once you have the sections worked out, you can get playful with type, graphics, and color, with the knowledge that everything will still look organized and sectioned when you’re done.

grid save the date graphic cardsgrid save the date graphic cardsgrid save the date graphic cards
Modern Grid Save the Date Template

This simple card template is a nice example of the modernizing impact of a simple grid. Teamed with chalkboard sans serif type and a muted wash of either mint or mustard, the design remains refreshingly modern. 

grid save the date graphic cardsgrid save the date graphic cardsgrid save the date graphic cards
Modern Grid Save the Date Template

It’s a distinctly elegant choice and has the added advantage of stepping into more gender-neutral territory—perfect for modern brides and grooms.

Need to brush up on your grid skills? Don't sweat it, just check out this quick tutorial:

Top 5 Creative Save the Date Card Templates From Envato Elements

Now that you know how to make your own save the date card with creative ideas, it's time to put them to use. You can find some useful templates from Envato Elements. There are over 900 save the date templates available, but let's look at five of my favorites:

1. Save the Date Cards (PSD)

These wedding save the date templates are as simple as they need to be. The minimal design puts the focus on your photo and the relevant event information. It's editable in Photoshop, and the Smart Object layer makes adding an image a breeze. It's a save the date graphic template that's worth checking out.

Save the Date Card TemplateSave the Date Card TemplateSave the Date Card Template

2. Stylish Save the Date Card Template (AI, EPS)

Here's another minimal save the date template that has a unique style. On one side you get a beautiful shot of the couple. On the reverse, your attendees are greeted with bold typography and a stunning border. You can customize this save the date card template in Adobe Illustrator.

Save the Date Calendar Postcard TemplateSave the Date Calendar Postcard TemplateSave the Date Calendar Postcard Template

3. Save the Date Calendar (PSD)

This is a warm and inviting wedding save the date calendar template. It features soft colors, a nice font, and great use of white space. This save the date postcard template is editable in Photoshop. It even comes with a help file in case you're not big into design.

Save the Date Calendar TemplateSave the Date Calendar TemplateSave the Date Calendar Template

4. Save the Date Postcard (PSD)

We move from calming tones to one of the more vibrant save the date examples for a wedding. This one comes with editable text and a customizable background, courtesy of the hue and saturation slider. It's also print-ready, so your save the date graphic can hit mailboxes in just a few clicks.

Save the Date Card TemplateSave the Date Card TemplateSave the Date Card Template

5. Typography Design Save the Date (PSD)

If you're a fan of elegant typography like me, you'll love this save the date calendar template. It uses a large serif font to announce the big occasion and is completely editable. The organized layers and print-ready file make this a save the date postcard template that shouldn't be missed.

Wedding Save the Date TemplatesWedding Save the Date TemplatesWedding Save the Date Templates

10 Creative Ways to Design Your Save the Date Cards

Here we’ve showcased 10 stylish templates for Save the Date cards, a key part of your wedding stationery set. You can either choose to download a template that fits your style and customize it to make it personal to you or create your own cards from scratch, which gives you complete control over making the design unique. 

illustrated save the date card templateillustrated save the date card templateillustrated save the date card template
Illustrated Save the Date Postcard Template

Whichever route you choose to go down, you can be sure that one of these creative stationery styles will suit you, your partner, and the style of your ceremony. Let’s recap those 10 creative ideas to make your own save the date card:

  1. Go for a rustic style—paper textures, script type, and a simple calendar layout will keep your cards looking country-friendly and informal.
  2. Opt for Art Deco—this is a classic, glamorous style which won’t date and looks supremely elegant.
  3. Send a postcard—don’t worry about buying envelopes by setting your save the date invitations up as a cute and convenient postcard.
  4. Go back in time—borrow design styles from bygone eras to make cards that are timeless and nostalgic.
  5. Focus on typography—put your energy into tracking down really beautiful serif typefaces that won’t require graphics or color to make them shine.
  6. Team black and white photos with a pop of color—it’s a great method for modernizing a classic photo style.
  7. Illustrate your cards­—draw the designs yourself or commission special artwork to make your cards feel particularly unique and personal.
  8. Make your florals modern—flowers don’t need to look musty; use a simple illustrative style and modern color to make your floral cards feel utterly modern.
  9. Choose an unconventional color combination—move away from pastels and embrace colors that don’t necessarily scream ‘wedding’, like unusual metallics, monochrome, and zesty brights.
  10. Go modern with a grid—stick to a boxy grid layout to keep your design looking slick and contemporary.

Have fun with creating your dream wedding stationery—this is one of the few opportunities in your life where you’ll be able to have complete control over the finished design. So take the chance to make it feel completely personal and special to you and your partner.

Still looking for that elusive perfect Save the Date card? You can find a huge range of different Save the Date stationery designs, from traditional to modern, on Envato Market. 

We've also got even more helpful design resources! If this guide has you wanting to learn more, check out these articles and tutorials:

Advertisement
Did you find this post useful?
Want a weekly email summary?
Subscribe below and we’ll send you a weekly email summary of all new Design & Illustration tutorials. Never miss out on learning about the next big thing.
One subscription. Unlimited Downloads.
Get unlimited downloads