There's no going back once your save-the-dates are in the mail. So only send them to those who you are certain will attend. (Even those who have verbally confirmed their participation, such as bridesmaids and family members.) And while it's not common practice, some couples choose to send out save-the-dates but not wedding invitations. This allows them more freedom regarding availability and interest without being too restrictive. Save-the-dates are sent well in advance of the wedding to give guests time to plan their attendance. Often, they are included with other invitation types such as birthday invites or holiday cards. Wedding invitations are used to confirm attendance at the wedding and generally include the date and time of the ceremony and reception. Guests who cannot make it on the day of the wedding can usually attend partway through the celebration or wait until the next day for another event or party. The traditional form of a wedding invitation is an engraved card that is mailed to guests. These days, there are many different ways to communicate the important information about the wedding, including online dating sites, social media, and text messages. Invitations may also be given out at community events like open houses or church functions. In fact, this is the most common method of distribution for weddings outside of marriage licenses issued by states where all marriages must be registered.