Free Tool · No sign-up required
Free Save the Date Maker
Add your own photo, pick a template, and download a shareable image plus a print-ready PDF — for weddings, birthdays, showers, reunions, and any event. Your photo stays on your device.
Your photo never leaves your device
How it works
From idea to a print-ready card in a few minutes — no design skills needed.
Pick your event & details
Choose the occasion, add your names and the date. Templates and wording adapt to the event.
Add a photo & customize
Drop in a photo — kept private on your device — then tweak fonts, colors, and text.
Download & share
Export a digital image to text or post, plus a 300-DPI print-ready PDF in 5×7 and 4×6.
Everything you need to announce the date
Beautiful, print-ready cards — without the design software.
Use your own photo
Drop in an engagement, family, or event photo and reposition it to fit the card perfectly.
Designer templates
Start from a polished layout — classic, full-photo, minimal, or polaroid — and make it yours.
Print-ready PDF
Download a 300-DPI PDF in 5×7 or 4×6, with bleed and a safe zone, ready for any print shop.
Shareable image
Export a digital PNG to text to guests or post on social — no printing required.
Your photo stays private
Everything happens in your browser. We never upload or store your photo unless you ask us to email it.
Free & no sign-up
Design and download as many save-the-dates as you like — completely free, no account needed.
What is a save-the-date?
A save-the-date is a short, early announcement that asks guests to reserve your event day before the formal invitation goes out. It carries just the essentials — who, the date, and roughly where — so people can plan ahead, request time off, and book travel. Think of it as a friendly heads-up: the full details come later on the invitation.
Save-the-dates are a wedding staple, but they’re just as useful for milestone birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers, graduations, family reunions, and any destination or holiday-weekend event where guests need extra lead time.
When should you send save-the-dates?
Local weddings & events
Send roughly 6–8 months ahead. That gives guests time to plan without it feeling too early.
Destination or holiday-weekend events
Send 8–12 months ahead so guests can book flights, hotels, and time off.
Smaller local gatherings
A shorter 6–10 week heads-up is usually plenty for birthdays, showers, and reunions.
Once you’ve sent a save-the-date, follow up with a formal invitation about 6–8 weeks before the event — that’s when you collect RSVPs and share the finer details.
What to put on a save-the-date
Keep it short and visual. A great save-the-date includes:
- The hosts’ or couple’s names
- The event date (and city or venue, if you know it)
- A short line like “formal invitation to follow”
- A photo that sets the tone (optional, but lovely)
Leave the rest — exact time, registry, dress code, and RSVP instructions — for the invitation. The save-the-date’s only job is to get the day on the calendar.
Save-the-dates for every occasion
Tips, timing, and a head start for your event — pick your occasion to begin.
Ready to collect RSVPs?
When the date gets closer, set up a free ScanRSVP page to gather and track RSVPs — a QR code guests scan, an automatic guest list, and reminders, all in one place. No spreadsheets, no chasing.
Frequently asked questions
What is a save-the-date?
A save-the-date is a short, early announcement that tells guests the date and rough location of your event so they can hold the day before the formal invitation arrives. It's most common for weddings but is also used for milestone birthdays, anniversaries, showers, reunions, and destination events.
When should you send save-the-dates?
For most weddings, send save-the-dates 6 to 8 months before the date. For destination weddings or events over a holiday, send them 8 to 12 months ahead so guests can book travel. For smaller local events, 6 to 10 weeks is usually enough.
Is the save the date maker free?
Yes. Designing and downloading your save-the-date is completely free, with no account required.
Does my photo get uploaded?
No. Your photo is processed entirely in your browser and never uploaded to our servers — unless you choose to have us email you the print-ready PDF.
Can I print my save-the-date?
Yes. Download a 300-DPI print-ready PDF in 5×7 or 4×6 inches, with bleed and a safe zone, plus a digital image for texting or social media.
What should a save-the-date include?
Keep it simple: the hosts' names, the event date, the city or venue, and a line like 'formal invitation to follow.' Full details such as time, registry, and RSVP instructions belong on the invitation, not the save-the-date.
Make your save-the-date
Add a photo, pick a template, and download a print-ready card in minutes.
Start designing — freeNo sign-up required • Your photo never leaves your device