Postponing a wedding is never an ideal situation, but it is an unfortunate reality for some couples. There are a variety of reasons that your wedding may have to be pushed back – personal conflicts, a family emergency, or even a global pandemic. Many people are dealing with the cancellation or postponement of important events because of the health crisis we are currently facing, and weddings are no exception. No matter the reason, it’s important to keep your guests up-to-date about pushing back your wedding date. Letting them know that your wedding has been postponed, as well as giving them any information you have about when your new date might be can be very helpful for you and for your guests.
In the wake of the coronavirus, most, if not all, weddings have been forced to change their dates, leaving couples scrambling to make new plans with their vendors and venues. At Beechtree Design,
we know that this can be an extremely stressful time, so we’ve prepared a few different styles of change the date wedding invitations for you to use. Below are a few different ways to let your guests know about the postponement of your wedding.
First Things First
The first thing you should do when changing the date of your wedding is get in touch with your guests, though this is especially important when your original wedding date was a few months away or sooner. Call, text, or email your guests to inform them of the postponement; it may not seem ideal, but it’s good to let them know quickly that your wedding will take place at a later date so that they can change their own plans for your original date.
Website Announcements
If you’re using a wedding website, make sure to update it as soon as possible with any new information you have about the new date. If you know the new date, be sure to include that in the announcement, otherwise, just let them know that the date will be changing. As you learn more information about your new date, such as if you’ll be using a new venue or if you’ll be changing hotels, be sure to update your website for your guests.
When posting on your wedding website, consider using these wording examples to let your guests know that you’ll be changing the day of your wedding. If you don’t know the new date yet try these examples:
“We are saddened by [the reason for postponement] and have decided to postpone our wedding until we choose a new date to celebrate. We will be sharing updated details with you as soon as they are available.”
OR
Due to [the reason for postponement], the wedding of Jane Doe to John Smith will no longer take place on December 3rd as planned. A new wedding date will be announced shortly.”
Using a wedding website to make the announcement is an important step, especially when it is being postponed on short notice. As you determine your new date, be sure to update your website again so that your guests can stay up to date.
Digital Change the Dates
When texting, emailing, or digitally sending out the announcement about the postponement of your wedding, consider using a digital change-the-date invitations. At Beechtree design, we have 10 different change the date designs that can be used as digital stationery. Using a digital announcement can make your guests aware of the change quickly, giving them the chance to update their calendars and make new plans for your wedding day.
Again, if you know the date of your new wedding day, be sure to include this information in your digital change the date invitations. If you don’t, that’s okay, too! Just be sure to give your guests as much information as you can, since changing the date of your wedding can be just as stressful for your guests as it can be for you.
Physical Change the Dates
If you’d feel better sending out physical stationery about your new wedding date, the 10 digital designs we have on our website can be printed and posted, as well. Consider using a combination of announcements – send an email, text, or digital change the date to your guests as well as physical change the date invitations. Doing this will help to make sure that every guest knows that the wedding has definitely been postponed, as well as giving you the chance to add any additional information you have to the change the date invitations you send by mail.
When sending physical change the date invitations, it’s important to keep the timeline in mind – that is, make sure that there’s enough time between your old and new date for you to send and for your guests to receive the change the date card. Sending change the date invitations is a good option when your wedding has been postponed by eight or more months. Think about wording your change the date invitation like these examples:
“The wedding of Melissa and Matthew has been rescheduled. Please save the new date: Saturday, May 20th, 2021. Formal invitation to follow.”
OR
“Plans have changed. Alexandra and Michael have a new wedding date: Saturday, May 15th, 2021. Formal invitation to follow”
OR
“Change of plans. Due to unforeseen circumstances the wedding of Sarah and Kyle has been postponed. Please save the new date: Saturday, December 5th, 2021. Formal invitation to follow.”
Regardless of which wording you choose, sending change the dates can be extremely helpful for you and for your guests.
Communication is Key
No matter the reason for your change of date, keeping your guests in the loop is the most important thing to do when picking a new wedding date. Whether because of a sudden emergency or because of a global health crisis, changing the day of your wedding can be stressful, but using the tips we mentioned above can help.
In the short-term, remember to call, text, or email your guests right away when deciding to postpone your wedding. Follow up with an announcement on your wedding website, and consider using digital change the date invitations to let your wedding guests know about the change quickly. Finally, sending out physical change the date invitations can serve as an official announcement about the postponement and updated date, time, and location of your wedding. Communicating with your guests about your new date will ensure that they can still attend your wedding and celebrate your special day with you.
Have questions about choosing a change the date invitation or about ordering custom change the date invitations? Contact us at: michelle@beechtree.design
