Do you need to send save the dates and wedding invitations, or can you just send invitations?

Save the dates are a courtesy, not a requirement. If your wedding is within six months, or if most guests live nearby, you can skip them and send invitations directly. Invitations alone are perfectly fine and save you time and money. However, save the dates are very useful when guests need to book travel or accommodation, when you are marrying abroad, or when your wedding falls on a busy weekend like a bank holiday. They also help guests who need to arrange childcare or time off work. If you decide to send both, remember the invitation is the formal request. The save the date is just a heads up. Some couples send an email save the date and then a printed invitation, which is a good balance. If you skip save the dates, send your invitations a little earlier, about 12 weeks before, to give guests enough notice. For a legal ceremony in England or Wales, remember you need two witnesses, but that does not affect your stationery choices.