WE LIVE IN USA
Save the Dates go to relatives in Taiwan earlier: they need leave, tickets and possibly a visa
A Save the Date asks guests to hold the date before the formal invitation. The standard timing is 8 months before the wedding.
But if relatives are flying in from Taiwan, that has to move earlier.
Why they need more time
- LeaveTaiwanese leave policies are usually less flexible than American ones, so guests will need at least a week off for a transpacific wedding.
- FlightsPeak-season Taiwan-US airfares swing widely, so booking early can save you hundreds of dollars.
- VisasSome relatives might not have an ESTA yet, or their passport is close to expiring, and both take time to sort out.
- Older relatives have to weigh their healthA long flight of over ten hours is quite a burden for older relatives, and they need time to assess their stamina and prepare.
So for this group, tell them as soon as you know the date rather than waiting for a formal save the date eight months out. A phone call or a message is enough.
The one rule that matters most
Send a Save the Date and you must send an invitation.
This is one of the no-exception rules in American etiquette. Having asked someone to hold the date and then not inviting them is a slight that's very hard to repair.
So: settle the list first; don't send and then regret it.
If your list is still fluid (headcount not yet aligned with budget, see item 33 of the checklist), send only to the core guests you're certain aboutAs for everyone else, just wait until the list is finalized.
How this relates to tiering
If you're using A/B/C tiers (see item 48 of the checklist), Save the Dates go only to Tier A. Tier B means "invite if there's room," and sending a save the date is a commitment.
What goes on it
Very little:
- The date
- The city (no full address needed)
- "Formal invitation to follow"
- The wedding website URL (if it's live, see item 95 of the checklist)
Details all wait for the invitation (see item 37 of the checklist).
The format can be cheap
A Save the Date doesn't need fine printing. Electronic is entirely acceptable, especially for younger guests.
A common approach is using engagement session photos to create an image (see item 90 of the checklist), which is why that photo shoot needs to be finished 6 to 9 months before the wedding.
For older relatives, something printed reads as more serious and is less likely to be overlooked.
Destination weddings go earlier
For a destination wedding, Save the Dates move to 10–12 months out and invitations to 2–3 months (see item 124 of the checklist).
In one line
Tell relatives in Taiwan the moment the date is set; and a save the date sent is a commitment, so don't send before the list is settled.