Save the Date!

The concept of sending "Save the Date" announcements is fairly new - mostly due to the increase in long engagements. Typically long engagements only took place when someone was reporting for duty or finishing up their degree. Nowadays, many couples are engaged for a minimum of one year, some up to two years. What does that extra time give you? You may think peace of mind because you can take your time to plan out all the details, but that actually could be your demise. Without the pressure to make decisions quickly, you will find yourself spending hours agonizing over which bridesmaid dress to choose, what invitations to pick, etc.

But knowing that most brides choose Save the Date's these days, many companies have come up with creative ways the couple can kick start a long year of wedding planning. Here are some of my favorites that will help set the tone for the entire wedding:

• Plantable Cards: Your eco-conscious friends will love this! These handmade cards are embedded with real plant seeds and can be customized with your own message. They can be planted and grow beautiful flowers that will last much longer than the wedding day.
• The Calendar Save the Date: Calendars serve as some of the greatest reminders, plus you can customize them in your wedding colors. The cute heart around your wedding date makes these stand out.
• Funny Photos: The strip of photos from a photo booth are always hilarious, so find a photo booth (www.photobooth.net) and make each other laugh! Afterwards, make copies of the strip and glue them on hard card stock with the Save the Date message on the back.

What other ideas are out there for unique Save the Date's?