Break out of the routine and tradition when it comes to your special event. Whether it be a wedding, a birthday party, a bridal shower for your sister, a baby shower for your best friend, or any other type of party, who's to say that you need to use standard save the date cards to announce it? Instead, choose for a very creative save the date photo card. Use an actual photo as an adornment on the save the date card! The photo can be of anyone or anything, but of course it would be best if the photo somehow tied in to the event at hand.
The photo that you use on your save the date photo card should definitely work right into the theme and purpose of the party. You wouldn't want to use a photo of a dog on a save the date photo card that is announcing a birthday party for your two year old cousin. Likewise, you would want to use a photo of your husband to tell people about his upcoming birthday party! Choose a high quality photo that doesn't depict anything that isn't relevant to the event that is being announced. Use full color or black and white, and make sure that the photo doesn't have any busy backgrounds or items in the background.
A save the date photo card serves one purpose, and one purpose only: to let people know of an event in the near or distant future, and to tell them exactly when that event is, so that they can reserve that date on their calendar. A save the date photo card does not take the place of an invitation. It is sent in addition to and well ahead of the invitation, and includes the day, date and time of the event, a brief description of the event itself, and the location of where the event is being held at.
A save the date photo card should be mailed six to nine months ahead of whatever event it is that you are planning a party or get together for. This ensures that all of the guests who are attending will be able to arrange their schedules and make plans for childcare, traveling and hotel accommodations, if need be.