With guests often scattered across the country and everyone's busy schedules to consider, save-the-date cards are a great way to give advance notice of your special day.

Save-the-date cards should definitely be sent when family and friends will have to travel to your wedding location, or if your special day lands on or around a holiday. They allow your guests ample opportunity to request time off from work, arrange for babysitters, and if needed, arrange for a hotel and/or travel.

Save-the-date cards should be sent three to four months before the wedding; it may be a good idea to mail them even earlier if your wedding is held at a popular destination. Save-the-date cards come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, and can be as simple, trendy, or unique as you would like. Just make sure that everyone who receives a save-the-date card also receives a wedding invitation.