The importance of save-the-date etiquette cannot be overstated. The most critical step before sending out save the dates is to establish your guest list. The "save the date" card serves as a pre-announcement to your guests, informing them that they will be invited to the wedding. You cannot uninvite a visitor once they have received a save the date card. Once you have created and sent out your invitees' first copies of the save the date card, you are free to include others if you like. For example, you might send a second card to friends or family who did not receive an invitation but would like more information about the wedding. Be sure to include enough space on the front of each card for the recipient to write a personal message. You should also include a return address for privacy reasons. When mailing cards, it is appropriate to use wedding postage. It is recommended that you send out your first set of save the dates four to six months prior to your wedding day. This gives everyone time to respond and allows you to follow up with those who may not have responded initially. It is important to note that no one else can send out save the dates on your behalf without your permission. If you give someone your address book, for example, they could send out all your invitations at once! When you send out your invites, you should include two sets of cards: one set for weddings and one set for other events such as birthday parties or vacations.