Have you ever faced that situation where you completely forgot about a bumchum's birthday party or missed a close friend's baby shower because you forgot to note the date down in your daily planner or organizer? Join the club. This particular memory lapse with dates due to the busy lives we lead is a problem mankind has faced since the beginning of time (well, at least the century). Your wedding day will probably be the biggest day of your life, and you'll want the people you love to be a part of it. So to ensure that there are limited no-shows at your wedding, be sure to give your guests proper notice and have them save the date of your big day.

Time it to a T

Save-the-date cards are a fun and casual way of informing your potential wedding guests that your D-day is in the looming and that they should block their calendars for it. However, it's extremely important that these cards be timed perfectly so they are most effective. Waiting till the last quarter before your wedding to send these love notes would defeat their purpose as you would ideally be sending out your formal wedding invitation by then. On the other hand, sending save-the-date cards out a year (or more) in advance would prove disastrous if you happened to change the date or venue or some other unforeseen issue was to arise. Only consider the year-long reminder if you plan on a destination wedding and your guests will have to make arrangements to fly in.

Leave no man behind

Remember that save-the-date cards are a fun reminder sent for the benefit of your guests, so don't deprive anyone of these quirky little nudges. Most people have this notion that only out-of-towners or people they're not really in touch with regularly need save-the-date cards. Well, don't go by this folk tale if you want to avoid confusion when planning your guest list. Send these prompts out to every single person on the list, including close friends and family, and make sure they have your date highlighted in their planners.

Do it with style

Save-the-date cards are supposed to be creative and fun and unlike the formal wedding invitation you will send out. So let your imagination run wild and come up with an out-of-the-box idea to customize these little containers of joy. You can send out a quirky card, a cool-looking magnet, a cute little box of trinkets (including a His & Hers figurine), a playful make-it-yourself set (such as paper dolls or spinner cards), a creative bookmark, a bag of potpourri, or a humble postcard. Whatever you do, make sure there's a little bit of you in it.

Word it with care

Just as you'll put great thought into how the card will look, you'll want to customize the wording on it too. Whether you go traditional or unconventional, there are a few points you must remember to add. Be sure to have your and your spouse's name on the card, and mention the date and venue of the wedding (obviously). If you're having a destination wedding, include an itinerary of the functions and parties; information regarding airfare, hotels and car rentals; hotspots for sightseeing (so your guests can make a trip of it), and other fun knowledge. The more detailed your card is, the bigger the sense of excitement it will generate!

Save-the-date cards are the first official announcement of your wedding, so put your heart into making these snippets of detail a joyous occasion for yourself and all your guests. Most importantly, don't forget to have a blast!