Unique Save the Dates for Weddings That Break the Mould

A Guide to Gothic & Alternative Wedding Save the Dates

Choosing your stationery is the first real step in bringing your wedding vision to life. Your save the dates are what set the tone for the entire wedding; they give your guests a glimpse of exactly what to expect on your big day. I think that is so important.

If I were to open an envelope and receive a black, tarot-inspired, unique save the date with gothic elements and alternative imagery, I’d know immediately that I was attending a wedding that breaks the mould. Our designs aren't your classic, floral white stationery. They are beautiful, and they are right for certain people, but for myself and our customers, we are creating artwork and designs which speak to the alternative.

These pieces are a glimpse into weddings that might not follow classic traditions. That is what makes our customers stand out, we are creating something that defies the norm. I think that’s incredibly exciting, and I know that if I were a guest to receive one of these in the post, I would be hyped. Explore our full collection of tarot-inspired and alternative designs below to find the perfect match for your big day.

Ace of Cups tarot save the date card with rounded corners, A6 size, matte finish for alternative weddings

A hand displays a luxury circular save the date card with gold foiling, showcasing a gothic romantic anatomical heart design.

Luxury gothic save the date card with illustrated ghosts, black checkered backdrop, gold foil leaves, wood accents, and boho branches.

Dusk and Dawn celestial save the date card with sun and moon illustration on matte card for bohemian weddings

Crystal Ball Tarot save the date card with witchy tarot design on matte card for bohemian weddings

Star-Crossed Lovers Save the Date card with gothic crossed swords and bleeding heart illustration on matte card

Gothic rose tarot save the date card with dark floral design on matte card

Luxury foiled save the date card featuring interlocking gold rings on black, with dried florals; dramatic, romantic UK wedding stationery.

Save the Date Examples from Birdhouse197

See a selection of standout examples above. Our designs are crafted on luxury card stock, with selected collections available in metallic foil finishes, and every piece personalised to your exact wording.

Luxury UK wedding stationery Save the Date card with vintage stag and deer illustration, laurel border, on plaid with ring and envelope.

Your Save the Date Guide | Everything You Need to Know

When to Send Your Save the Dates

6 to 12 months before your wedding date
Earlier if you have a destination wedding or bank holiday date, people book up early!
Earlier still if guests are travelling from overseas

Your save the date is your guests' first glimpse of your day... it sets the tone before anything else does so make it count!

What to Include

Your names, Your wedding date, Your venue or general location
A note that a full invitation will follow, if that's the plan.

Remember, only order one per household, not one per guest!

Lead Times & Ordering

Our current lead time is 4 to 5 weeks from order to delivery, but foiling can take longer.
We recommend ordering at least six to eight weeks before you need them
Working to a tighter timeline? Just get in touch and we will do our best

How It Works

Place your order and add your wording in the personalisation box
Receive a full digital proof by email within seven days
Request any changes and approve your final design
We print, pack and dispatch with full tracking

You'll work directly with George and Joshua throughout, so we can guide you as needed!

A hand presents a luxury celestial folding Save the Date with maroon and white origami design, styled amid dried florals and rustic wood.

Luxury Tarot Card Wedding Save the Dates

All of our save the dates can be printed in a huge range of colours and gradients.

While it’s always exciting when a customer chooses a unique colour scheme I’ve never seen before, my personal favourite has to be the sage green card. Every piece of text is fully customisable; I create a digital mock-up for you first so you can check every detail and approve the spelling before we move to the printing stage.

Our designs are deeply inspired by the classic tarot card aesthetic, taking direct inspiration from iconic imagery like The Lovers and adding my own interpretation, which often features alternative elements like skeletons and spider webs.

Macro shot of luxury hand-pressed gold foil on high-quality velvet texture black cardstock.

Gold Foiled Victorian Gothic Stationery

To truly elevate your stationery, we offer a personal favorite of mine: luxury foiling. Available in gold, copper, rose gold, silver, and a multi-colored iridescent finish, our special foiling technique is printed onto velvet paper to beautifully capture the light. It’s a luxury element that really sets the tone and vibe for your event.

While the foiling is featured on the front to add a glamorous notch to the design, the reverse includes our high-quality standard printing. Beyond the classic tarot card shape that sparked this entire collection, we also offer unique arched and circular cards for couples looking for something a bit extra. My goal was to create an invitation that isn't just an invite, but a genuine piece of artwork.

Luxury black and white wedding stationery set featuring gothic skeleton illustration, envelope, save-the-date card on a vintage backdrop.

Alternative Wedding Stationery & Luxury Envelopes

Every save the date comes with standard white envelopes made from beautiful, textured paper. If you fancy something a bit more bold, we offer black envelopes for most designs as an optional add-on at checkout. We can also provide craft brown envelopes or potentially other colors upon request, just pop us a message to see what we have available!

While we don’t offer direct printing on the envelopes, I personally believe that handwriting them is an essential part of the wedding guest experience. It adds that authentic, personal touch before they’ve even seen the card inside.

Luxury foiled save the date with gothic, romantic motifs amid candles, crystals, and vintage dark decor; premium UK wedding stationery.

The Lovers Tarot Save The Date card with gothic illustration on matte paper for alternative weddings

Luxury celestial circular save the date card with gothic compass, sun and moon design, rune accents and botanical details on textured paper.

The Lovers Tarot arched save the date card with gothic illustration and arched top design on matte card for alternative weddings

The Lovers arched foiled save the date card featuring gothic skeleton couple illustration on velvet soft-touch paper

Crystal ball foiled tarot save the date card with bohemian witchy design on velvet soft-touch card

A6 luxury gothic save the date card with a skeleton couple and crescent moon, featuring romantic celestial design on premium UK card.

Luxury UK wedding stationery featuring green celestial tarot-inspired save the date cards with mystical cosmic designs and vintage keys.

Save the Date Ideas for the Alternative Wedding

Not every couple wants a magnet with a photo on it. If your wedding has a theme, a mood, or an aesthetic, your save the date should reflect that from the start. Tarot imagery, skeleton motifs, celestial illustration, gothic typography. These are save the date ideas that actually say something about who you are. From vintage romantic designs with heart padlocks and skeleton keys, to bold gothic tarot imagery, there is something here for every couple who wants their stationery to feel like it means something.

Whimsical artistic shot of wedding invitaitons which a vintage heart illustration.

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Luxury celestial wedding stationery suite with foil accents, styled with boho florals, stones, and vintage tray on dark textured fabrics.

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Save the Dates - Frequently Asked Questions

When should I send my save the dates?

We recommend sending save the dates six to twelve months before your wedding date, or earlier if you are planning a destination wedding or marrying on a bank holiday weekend.

What information goes on a save the date?

Your names, the wedding date, the venue or general location, and a note that a full invitation will follow.

Some couples also include their wedding website. We include everything you add in the personalisation box and show it all in your digital proof before printing.

Can I get matching wedding invitations?

Yes. Most of our save the date designs have matching wedding invitation suites available. Browse by collection to find your full stationery range. Explore our Wedding Invitations.

Can I order save the dates as evening invitations?

Yes. Every single card save the date can be ordered as an evening reception invitation instead. Select Evening Reception Invitation at checkout and add your evening wording in the personalisation box. Explore our Evening Wedding Invitations.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes. Complimentary worldwide shipping on all bespoke orders, with full tracking on all dispatched orders.

What is the lead time?

Four to five weeks from order to delivery, including your digital proof and any revisions. Please contact us for rush orders.

George & Joshua

You'll be working with us directly to achieve the perfect stationery for your big day

Digital proofs

See a full digital mock-up of your order before it's printed

Unlimited Revisions

To ensure your design is perfect before arrival

Complimentary Worldwide Shipping on All Bespoke Orders

Tracking details provided on dispatch