We’ve lost count of how many couples had to postpone their wedding plans and reschedule everything because of Covid. Many couples are still navigating postponements and new wedding plans, as well as communicating these changes with guests and suppliers. This is where the change-the-date comes in!
What is a “Change-the-Date”?
Think of this as a sibling to the save-the-date. However, there are a couple of important differences. These are typically sent out to any guests who have already received a save-the-date or wedding invitation. With a change-the-date, there is more urgency in communicating, so it’s completely ok to communicate digitally. You can do so via your wedding website, email, social media or text.
Wedding postponements happen! Whether it’s because of a global pandemic, a natural disaster, or some other kind of unforeseen circumstance, it happens. A change-the-date will allow you to inform everybody of the change as soon as you can.
What should I include in mine?
The key is to communicate only the basic, important information. Things like your dress code or gift registry can be left off.
Here’s an example of text that you can copy and paste into your message that accompanies your change-the-date:
Dear [Name/s],
Due to the current global pandemic, we would like to inform you that our wedding will regrettably not take place on [original date] as we had planned.
As soon as we have a new wedding date, we will let you know. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause! We can’t wait to celebrate with you at a later stage.
[Add your wedding website here if you’ve got one!]
Please keep safe and well!
[Your names]
Related: Email Templates You Can Use If You’ve Changed Wedding Plans Because of Covid
When should they be sent out?
It’s customary to send out any form of postponement announcement as soon as possible. It’s totally ok to do so even if you haven’t yet set a new date. Couples typically send theirs out digitally and then follow that up with a postponement card or change-the-date in physical format soon after. We recommend selecting a design that is a continuation of your wedding theme. Incorporate the same fonts, designs and colours as you have in your save-the-date and wedding invitation.
Here’s some text that you can copy and paste into your message that accompanies your change-the-date if you’ve previously postponed and now you have a new date:
Dear [Name/s],
We’ve set a new wedding date and we would be delighted to celebrate with you!
[Add your wedding website here if you’ve got one!]
Please keep safe and well!
[Your names]
Looking for professional help designing beautiful wedding stationery? Take a look at our supplier directory!
