When to Send Your Save the Dates for Your Minnesota Wedding
When to Send Save the Dates: Advice from a Minnesota Wedding Venue
There’s something thrilling about the moment you drop those first little envelopes into the mailbox. Save the dates are basically your wedding’s first mic drop—your way of saying yes, it’s happening, clear your calendars, and get ready for a good time.
At Adler Ranch, a privately owned wedding venue just outside Alexandria, MN, we’ve hosted hundreds of weddings over the past six years. We see couples stress over timing, we hear the questions from their families, and we watch the ripple effects of sending save the dates too soon—or too late. Our recommendations aren’t copy-pasted from a wedding magazine; they’re rooted in real Minnesota weddings we’ve lived through, complete with lake season traffic jams, packed resort weekends, and blizzards in April.
The General Rule: 6–8 Months Ahead
Abby Dahlberg Photography
The General Rule: 6–8 Months Ahead
Most wedding experts agree: the golden window for mailing save the dates is 6 to 8 months before your big day. That’s plenty of time for guests to request off work, plan around sports schedules, and—let’s be real—stalk hotel prices before they spike.
From our experience at Adler Ranch, this is the timing sweet spot. Couples who send save the dates in this window almost always see smoother RSVP rates, fewer “we already booked something” conflicts, and less guest confusion. It gives people time to plan, but not so much time they forget. Lear more at Adler Ranch, MN Wedding Venue.
Destination Minnesota Weddings: 8–12 Months
If your wedding is basically a mini-vacation (hello, Alexandria lakes, fall color tours, or any event in peak summer tourism season), you’ll want to send your save the dates 8 to 12 months ahead.
We’ve seen this firsthand: couples who book a July wedding in lake country without an early save the date almost always get panicked texts from guests who can’t find a cabin or a hotel. Minnesota summers are tourism central, and by late spring, lodging is already tight. An early heads-up gives your guests the best chance of making it—and keeps you from scrambling with last-minute “where should we stay?” questions.
Destination Minnesota Weddings: 8–12 Months
Off-Peak Weddings: The Wiggle Room
For cozy winter weddings in Minnesota (think twinkle lights, hot cocoa bars, and a little snow-globe magic), you can sometimes shorten the timeline. Sending save the dates 4–6 months ahead is usually plenty.
We’ve watched this play out: winter couples don’t compete with cabin weekends, fishing trips, or softball tournaments. Instead, they get the perk of lower travel demand and easier guest schedules. The only caveat? Remind guests to plan for possible weather curveballs, because nothing says “Minnesota” like a surprise snowstorm on your wedding week.
Is There Such a Thing as Too Early?
Yup. Believe it or not, there’s a danger in sending save the dates way, way too early. If you fire them off more than a year in advance, guests are likely to tack them to the fridge, ignore them, and then forget completely by the time your invitation arrives.
According to Truly Engaging, the sweet spot for most weddings is 6–10 months, with 12 months reserved for true destination situations. Anything earlier can feel like a homework assignment that gets lost at the bottom of the backpack.
And yes, we’ve seen this play out. Couples who sent save the dates 14 months in advance had guests show up saying, “Oh, I forgot that was THIS year.” Don’t do that to yourself.
Is There Such a Thing as Too Early?
According to Truly Engaging, the sweet spot for most weddings is 6–10 months, with 12 months reserved for true destination situations. Anything earlier can feel like a homework assignment that gets lost at the bottom of the backpack.
What Happens If You Wait Too Long?
On the flip side, dragging your feet is just as risky. If you wait until under 4 months before your wedding, you’ve crossed into “too late” territory. Guests need real notice to arrange childcare, book travel, and maybe even navigate Minnesota’s unpredictable spring weather (yes, April snowstorms are a thing).
We’ve had couples who skipped save the dates altogether—and trust us, their guests struggled. RSVPs trickled in late, hotels filled, and the couple spent way too much energy chasing confirmations instead of enjoying engagement.
What to Include on Your Save the Date
The Banquet Barn at Adler Ranch Wedding Venue near Alexandria MN
What to Include on Your Save the Date
Save the dates aren’t meant to be mini novels. Keep it simple and essential:
Your names (obvious, but don’t assume)
The date (the whole point)
The city + state (so people know whether to pack boots or swimsuits)
“Formal invitation to follow” (because Aunt Linda will ask)
Optional but smart extras:
Hotel block info if you already have it (huge in lake country)
Wedding website link so guests can get the scoop without blowing up your phone
We’ve noticed that couples who include even one or two of these extras get fewer panicked texts from guests. Think of your save the date as the first step in managing expectations.
Lighted Sign Collection at Adler Ranch Wedding & Event Venue near Alexandria MN
Digital vs. Printed Save the Dates
Should you go old-school paper or quick and easy digital? Honestly, both work—it depends on your style.
Printed cards feel classic and give guests something tangible to stick on the fridge. They’re also a keepsake for grandma.
Digital save the dates (emails, wedding websites, even video messages) are convenient, fast, and impossible to lose—assuming your guests actually check their email.
Pro tip from Adler Ranch couples: a hybrid approach works best. Print for family, mail for traditionalists, and send a digital backup to friends who live on their phones.
Why Couples at Adler Ranch Love Getting Their Save the Dates Right
Here’s the thing: at Adler Ranch, we’ve hosted weddings for couples with family coming in from Fargo, Minneapolis, St. Cloud, and even out of state. The couples who nail their save the date timeline? Their weddings run smoother, their guests show up relaxed, and their weekends feel celebratory instead of chaotic.
We once had a couple who sent save the dates for their July wedding almost a year in advance—but they included lodging details and a link to their wedding webite. Their guests still talk about how stress-free the whole trip felt. Contrast that with another couple who waited until three months out—half their family had to stay 45 minutes away. Timing matters.
That’s the kind of behind-the-scenes perspective we bring: not theory, not fluff—real-life Minnesota weddings, real people, real lessons learned.
At Adler Ranch, we’ve hosted weddings for couples with family coming in from Fargo, Minneapolis, St. Cloud, and of state.
The couples who nail their save the date timeline?
Their weddings run smoother, their guests show up relaxed, and their weekends feel celebratory instead of chaotic.
Bottom Line
For a Minnesota wedding, the save-the-date timeline is pretty simple:
6–8 months ahead for most weddings.
8–12 months if it’s a travel-heavy or lakeside summer wedding.
4–6 months for winter weddings or quieter seasons.
Never more than a year out, never less than 4 months.
Your save the dates don’t have to be fancy. They just need to do their job: get your people in the right place, at the right time, ready to celebrate.
👉 Planning your Minnesota wedding? At Adler Ranch, we love helping couples create celebrations that feel unforgettable from the very first save the date. Schedule a tour and let’s make your wedding one for the history books.
At Adler Ranch, we’re proud to be an independently owned and operated wedding venue tucked in the scenic lakes region just outside Alexandria, MN. When you celebrate with us, you’ll experience the kind of care, hospitality, and attention to detail that only a family-run venue can deliver. We host a limited number of weddings each season so every couple receives our full focus—and every moment feels intentional, not rushed.
What truly sets Adler Ranch apart is our unmatched collection of original vintage signs—treasures we’ve been collecting for over 35 years. These authentic pieces add history, personality, and a glow you simply won’t find anywhere else. The result? A backdrop that elevates your entire wedding day and turns your photos into timeless keepsakes.
For more wedding inspiration, planning tips, and engagement advice, be sure to follow Adler Ranch on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok. Let’s make your dream day a reality! 💕Thanks for stopping by! ~Marlys
Adler Ranch Wedding Venue, located two hours from Minneapolis / St Paul MN and Fargo ND, near Alexandria MN
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