# What's the deal with save the date cards?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-save-the-date-cards/628862>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 20, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-save-the-date-cards/628862 "2012-07-20T15:43:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-save-the-date-cards/628862/41 "2012-07-25T12:51:21Z")

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> [@Zsofia](#):
>
> On the wedsite, small and discreet.

If this is a typo, I love it. If not, I love it.

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**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-save-the-date-cards/628862/42 "2012-07-26T20:06:50Z")

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Another reason why STDs are useful is because weddings and other life-cycle events often come in waves. Sending out STD cards tells others in the same circle not to choose that same date because someone else has already chosen it and it’s set in stone (or may as well be, anyway).

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**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-save-the-date-cards/628862/43 "2012-07-27T01:49:29Z")

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could you use a better contraction please?

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**Author:** ![apollonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2bfe46/32.png) [@apollonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/apollonia)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-save-the-date-cards/628862/44 "2012-07-27T03:38:09Z")

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STD is the standard wedding-industry and wedding-speak contraction for “save the date.” It just is.

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**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-save-the-date-cards/628862/45 "2012-07-27T03:42:42Z")

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> [@apollonia](#):
>
> No, it’s because for some people the wedding ceremony is a small, private affair and the reception is a big party bash. In that case, maybe only immediate family and very close friends would be invited to the ceremony, but the reception would be for extended family, more friends, and so on. Or if the wedding ceremony is religious, some denominations may not allow observers who weren’t of the faith, but the couple would want to have their friends and family celebrate with them.

> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#):
>
> I interpreted the quote the other way-invite to ceremony and not reception. I see it can be read either way, and that makes sense. I certainly am familiar with the scenario you described, just didnt read the quote to mean that. I’m sure that’s exactly what they meant!

In the [past](http://www.bartleby.com/95/21.html) it wasn’t unusual to invite some guests to “church only” and reserve invitations for the reception (then as now more expensive than the actual wedding) to closer friends & relations/VIPs. In really large homes with full staffs servants would be invited to the wedding proper (sitting either at the back of the church or in a balcony), then have to return home to serve the reception in conjunction with the caterers.

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