MagnetStreet Wedding Invites: Magnet Save the Date

MagnetStreet’s Magnet Save the Dates Are Actually Really Smart

So MagnetStreet does these magnet save the dates and honestly they’re one of the better options I recommend to couples who want something functional but still nice-looking. The whole concept is simple – instead of a card that gets tossed in a drawer or pinned to a corkboard that nobody looks at, you get an actual magnet that sticks to the fridge where people see it every single day.

I had this couple back in spring 2023 who were super stressed about their guest list because they had family scattered across like eight states and they were worried people wouldn’t remember the date since it was a destination wedding in Colorado. We went with MagnetStreet magnets and I gotta say, it worked perfectly because literally everyone kept them on their fridges and the couple got way fewer “wait when is it again” texts than my other destination wedding clients.

What Makes Them Different From Regular Save the Dates

The magnet backing is the whole point here. You’re not dealing with cardstock that bends in the mail or gets lost in a pile of bills. These are usually printed on a sturdy magnet material – some are flexible magnets and some are harder board magnets with a magnet strip on the back. MagnetStreet does both styles depending on what design you pick.

The practical advantage is huge because think about where people naturally look every day. The fridge. That’s where the grocery list goes, where kids’ artwork ends up, where you stick the dentist appointment card. Your save the date sitting there means your guests are literally seeing your wedding date multiple times a week without even trying.

I’ve noticed that magnet save the dates get kept way longer than paper ones. Like I’ll visit a friend’s house two years after their wedding and their magnet is still on the fridge even though the wedding already happened. There’s something about the utility of it – once it’s on the fridge, nobody bothers to take it down.

Design Options and Customization

MagnetStreet has a ton of templates which is both good and kinda overwhelming. They organize them by style – rustic, modern, photo-based, illustrated, seasonal, all that. You can upload your own photos which most couples do, especially engagement photos.

The photo quality matters more with magnets than regular cards because… I don’t know exactly why but I think it’s because people look at them so much? Make sure you’re uploading high-resolution images. MagnetStreet’s site will usually tell you if your photo is too low-res but sometimes couples try to squeeze by with an Instagram photo and it looks pixelated when it arrives.

You can customize pretty much everything – fonts, colors, layout, wording. Some couples get really creative with the shape too. MagnetStreet offers rectangle magnets (the standard), square magnets, and some specialty shapes like circles or rounded corners. The rectangle ones are most common and honestly the most practical because they use fridge space efficiently.

What Information Actually Needs to Go On There

This is where couples sometimes overthink it. You need: your names, the wedding date, the location (city and state at minimum), and some kind of note that a formal invitation will follow. That’s it.

Some people want to cram their wedding website on there, hotel block info, dress code, their entire love story… nah. Keep it simple. The point of a save the date is literally just to tell people to save the date. All the details come later with the actual invitation.

One thing that annoyed me was when MagnetStreet changed their editor interface sometime in 2022 and it became harder to align text precisely. You used to be able to drag text boxes pixel by pixel and then they updated to this grid system that’s supposed to be easier but actually makes it harder if you want things in specific spots. You can still do it but it takes more clicking around.

The wedding website URL is useful to include if you have one set up, but make sure it’s short and easy to type. Nobody’s gonna type out “www.johnandmary2024summerweddinginmontana.com” from a magnet on their fridge. Use a short URL service if you need to.

Timing and Ordering Process

You want to send save the dates about 6-8 months before the wedding. For destination weddings or holiday weekends, push that to 8-12 months. This gives people time to request time off work, book travel, all that stuff.

MagnetStreet’s ordering process is pretty straightforward. You design online, they show you a proof, you approve it, then they print and ship. The production time is usually around 3-5 business days and then shipping depends on what you choose. I always tell couples to add at least two weeks to whatever timeline they think they need because something always comes up – you’ll want to change the wording, someone will notice a typo, your photographer will send you a better engagement photo.

Order a sample first if you’re unsure about the quality. MagnetStreet lets you order single samples of designs which is smart because you can feel the magnet strength, see the print quality in person, and make sure the colors look how you expected.

Pricing Reality Check

Magnet save the dates cost more than paper ones. Just accept that going in. You’re looking at somewhere between two to four dollars per magnet depending on the design, size, and how many you order. Bulk discounts apply – the more you order, the lower the per-unit cost.

Paper save the dates might run you a dollar or less each. But here’s the thing – magnets have a way better keep rate. If you send 100 paper save the dates and half get thrown away, versus 100 magnets where 90 end up on fridges, you’re getting better value from the magnets even though they cost more.

Watch for sales. MagnetStreet runs promotions pretty regularly – 20% off, 30% off, free shipping over a certain amount. Sign up for their email list and wait for a sale if you’re not in a rush. My cat knocked over my coffee while I was ordering for a client once and I accidentally closed the browser and lost the whole design, so maybe save your work as you go if their system lets you.

The Actual Magnet Quality Thing

Not all magnets are created equal and this matters more than you’d think. Some cheap magnets are so weak they slide down the fridge or fall off entirely. MagnetStreet’s magnets are pretty strong – I haven’t had complaints about them falling off, even on stainless steel fridges which are notoriously bad for magnets.

The flexible magnets are thinner and lighter. They’re less expensive and they work fine for most people. The board magnets with magnet strips are thicker and feel more substantial, kinda like a thick business card with a magnet attached. Those are stronger and feel fancier but they cost more.

If you have guests who you know have stainless steel fridges or who might not have a fridge spot (like elderly relatives who might keep it somewhere else), the board magnets are better because they’re strong enough to hold to most magnetic surfaces and they also stand up better if someone wants to prop it on a shelf.

Wording Examples That Actually Work

People get weird about wording and honestly it doesn’t matter as much as you think. Here’s what works:

Simple version: “Save the Date / Jessica and Ryan / June 14, 2025 / Nashville, Tennessee / Invitation to Follow”

Slightly fancier: “Please Save the Date / for the wedding of / Jessica Marie Thompson and Ryan James Anderson / 06.14.2025 / Nashville, TN / Formal invitation to follow”

Casual version: “Save the Date! / Jess & Ryan are getting married / June 14, 2025 / Nashville / More details coming soon”

You don’t need to include the time on a save the date because that’s what the invitation is for. You don’t need the venue name necessarily, just the city. If it’s a really small town, you might want to include the nearest major city too like “Ojai, California (near Los Angeles)” so out-of-town guests know where they’re heading.

Addressing and Mailing Logistics

Magnets are heavier than regular cards so postage costs more. A standard rectangular magnet usually needs extra postage – not a regular Forever stamp but not a full large envelope rate either. Go to the post office with one completed magnet in its envelope and have them weigh it to tell you exact postage. This will save you from having a bunch returned for insufficient postage which is super embarrassing.

Use envelopes that fit the magnets properly. MagnetStreet usually sells matching envelopes or you can source your own. Make sure the envelope is sturdy enough that the magnet doesn’t bend it weird or poke through.

Some couples worry about magnets damaging other mail or messing with credit cards in the same mailbox but honestly I’ve never heard of this being an actual problem. The magnets aren’t that strong. They’re not industrial-strength rare earth magnets, they’re fridge magnets.

The Guest List Coordination Nobody Tells You About

Here’s something that trips people up – you need your guest list finalized before you order save the dates. Not your seating chart, not your meal counts, but you need to know who’s invited to the wedding. Because once you send a save the date, that person is invited. You can’t send someone a save the date and then not invite them to the wedding. That’s a huge etiquette no-no.

So if you’re on the fence about inviting your dad’s coworker or your college roommate you haven’t talked to in five years, decide before ordering save the dates. I had a couple who sent save the dates to 150 people and then decided they wanted a smaller wedding of 100 and it was a whole mess trying to navigate who got uninvited basically.

Also decide how you’re handling plus-ones for save the dates. If someone’s in a serious relationship, their partner’s name should be on the save the date. If you’re giving someone a generic plus-one, you can address it to “Sarah Jones and Guest” but that feels kinda impersonal for a save the date honestly… I usually recommend just addressing it to the person and then making it clear on the formal invitation whether they get a plus-one.

Design Mistakes I See All The Time

Too much text. The magnet is small. You can’t fit a novel on there. Keep it to essential information only and make sure the font is readable. I’ve seen couples use these gorgeous scripty fonts that look beautiful on a computer screen but are impossible to read at actual size.

Photos that are too busy. If your engagement photo has a super cluttered background, it’s gonna look chaotic on a magnet. Choose photos with simple backgrounds or use MagnetStreet’s templates that have photo frames or overlays to simplify the look.

Not enough contrast. If you use light text on a light photo or dark text on a dark photo, nobody can read it. Make sure there’s enough contrast or use the templates that put text on solid color blocks.

Forgetting to proofread. I cannot stress this enough – proofread everything three times and have someone else proofread it too. I’ve seen magnets go out with the wrong date, misspelled names, wrong venue city… once someone put “June 31st” which doesn’t exist and nobody caught it until after they mailed 120 magnets.

Alternative Uses For Leftover Magnets

You’ll probably order extras in case you need them and then you’ll have leftovers. Some couples keep them as mementos which is fine I guess. Some people have used extras as part of their wedding welcome bags for out-of-town guests which is actually kinda smart because it reminds people of the schedule.

You could also use them as actual wedding favors if you’re doing a casual wedding, though that feels a little weird giving someone a magnet with your face on it as a thank-you gift. But I’ve seen it done.

When Magnets Maybe Aren’t The Best Choice

If you’re having a super formal black-tie wedding, magnet save the dates might feel too casual. They’re practical and fun but they don’t scream formal elegance. For really formal weddings, traditional engraved or letterpress save the dates might be more appropriate.

If a huge portion of your guest list is elderly and might not have easy fridge access or might find magnets confusing (I know that sounds weird but I’ve had elderly guests who didn’t realize it was a magnet and just kept it in the envelope), you might want to reconsider or at least include a note.

If you’re planning to send your save the dates internationally, be aware that shipping costs for magnets can get expensive and some countries have weird postal restrictions about magnets. Paper might be simpler for international guests.

Also if you’re trying to do a very specific color match for your wedding colors, keep in mind that printing can vary slightly from what you see on screen. MagnetStreet’s colors are generally pretty accurate but if you need an exact Pantone match or something, magnets might not give you that level of precision.

Working With MagnetStreet’s Customer Service

Their customer service is generally helpful if you run into issues. You can chat with them online or call. They’re good about fixing mistakes if the error was on their end – like if colors printed way off or if there’s a printing defect. If the mistake was your error (you approved a proof with a typo), they’ll usually offer to reprint at a discount but you’re still paying for the reprint.

Save all your order confirmations and proof approvals. If something goes wrong, you’ll need that documentation. Take screenshots of your final design before you approve it too, just in case.

The online design tool can be glitchy sometimes – I’ve had it freeze or not save changes properly. Design in short sessions and save frequently if that’s an option, or design when you have good internet connection and nobody’s streaming Netflix in the background slowing everything down.