2025 Save-The-Date Trends for your Photos and Stationery

Often when I work with couples to photograph their engagement, one goal is to create an image for a Save-The-Date card sent out months before the formal invitation to announce the wedding date so friends and family can prepare and block their calendars. Here I am offering you an overview of 2025 Save-The-Date trends for your photo session and stationery to help you prepare for your engagement session and what to do with the images after.

With or without a photo, here’s some design inspiration for your Save-The-Date!

Most use a photo from their proposal or engagement session as a highlight in their card, but hand-drawn illustrations and non-photo options are also very popular. Whatever your preference, below are some trendy options from the card designs and services I offer to designs on Etsy and Minted!

Note: I may earn a very small commission from products purchased at Etsy links at no additional cost to you.

2025 Photo Trends For Save-The Dates and The Engagement Session

Incorporating inspiration from popular wedding magazines such as The Knot, Vogue, and Brides, spark your creativity with these photo ideas to create imagery for your Save-The-Date, invites, and wedding website, and reflect your truest selves. Personalization, and adding a piece of your everyday life and unique story, is at the heart of all of these concepts.

The Casual Place

Hold your photo session in an unexpected location, like the coffee shop, library, a train station, the ice rink, and wherever you might spend your time as a couple. This includes where you had your first date, or a place that feels original and meaningful to you.

Dressed-down Attire

Keep it casual. This is the other piece of the trend listed above. Some couples are wanting to be documented for this specific occasion as they are, reaching for jeans and t-shirts instead of a dress and polished Chinos.

Less Emphasis on “The Perfect Light”

This may be a hard one for me to let go of since the light before sunset is my favorite, however, it can feel limiting. Embracing afternoon light, blue hour (after sunset), and even photos after dusks (hello, city lights) can add a fresh take on your session. I am game to be pushed to the limit if you are!

Documentary and Lifestyle Approach

Every couple I speak with wants a candid and natural approach to photographing their wedding day and engagement session. I truly understand and agree that these images with authentic vibes are the best way to photograph your love story. There will, of course, still be a few of the timeless ones where you are neatly posted and looking at the camera, but I too cherish the images where couples are engaged with each other. With the goal for you to look carefree and natural in your images, I provide the comfort of gentle direction and prompting. Most of the time this is achieved through movement and looking at each other throughout the session and looking away from the camera.

2025 Stationery Trends

Calligraphy! It’s a return to a timeless tradition. But had we ever departed from this beautiful art form?! IMO, there’s not a better way to elevate your invitation than these two staples: calligraphy and letterpress. For boutique, full-service offerings, I suggest checking out Gus & Ruby!

A Few options here on Etsy for custom calligraphy and venue art:

Hand-drawn Illustrations, Doodles, and Venue Art. I’m seeing these styles all over Etsy, (in fact here are Etsy’s curated top pics!) and have even begun to take to my notebook myself. Everything from bows to floral motifs to champagne glasses, these sweet designs are everywhere. Also perfect for DIY, you can download some great designs online to print on your own. I love seeing and photographing the beautiful watercolor art that is sometimes included in stationery products. This artwork is a keepsake from any location where you plan to marry.

Editable Digital Templates from New England designers on Etsy below:

Coquette and Whimsy. From handwritten text to bows and framing ribbons, to lace and embroidery, think: very cutesy, very demure…. you get it. This “sweet” style is in.

Whimsical / Minted.com

Retro. Think Polaroid picture, vintage paper and textures, as a style direction and way to frame your photo on your Save-The-Date or invites.

Editorial vibes and the unpolished. Again, riffing off the casual and real portrayal of your lives in photography, your Save-The-Dates and invitations set the stage for your occasion and are ultimately reflecting you as a couple. We are seeing this unstyle—for lack of a better term—in stationery, too.

How I can Help

• Minted.com: Ask me to upload your favorite images to Minted. You will receive an email where you can connect this image gallery to your account to easily create cards, AND receive at least 20% off or more depending on current Minted.com promotions.
• In-gallery Card Designs: NEW! Moving forward this season I am offering these card designs as in-person gallery products. Not just for weddings, but for all occasions.
• Artifact Uprising Discounts: Use code COURTNEYCANIA15 for 15% off.
• Let’s collaborate on an engagement session that’s unique to you!

Stationery Trend Resources

The Knot: https://www.theknot.com/content/wedding-invitation-trends
The Wed: https://thewed.com/magazine/wedding-stationery-trends-for-2025
Minted: https://www.minted.com/wedding
Cotton & Bow: https://cottonandbow.com/wedding-invitation-trends/