December calendars fill up fast. Work parties, school concerts, family visits, and travel plans compete for every weekend. If your Christmas party matters to you, send a save the date in November so guests block the evening before anything else claims it. This landscape 7 x 5 inch card does it beautifully: a pale sage background, a fir branch in the corner, Save the date in red and green script, and a real December 2026 calendar on a white card with the party date circled in red.
Why Send a Save the Date?
Save the dates are common for weddings, but they are just as useful for Christmas parties, especially large ones, office parties, family reunions, and parties that guests travel for. A save the date gives guests early notice of the date and the general plan, without needing every detail. The formal invitation follows later, with the time, address, menu, and RSVP. Sending a save the date in early or mid November is ideal for a mid December party.
A Real Calendar on the Card
The calendar on the right is the editor’s built-in Calendar object, not a drawing. It shows December 2026 with day names in red, weekdays in dark grey and weekends in green, on a white card with a red header band reading DECEMBER 2026. Because it is a real calendar, you can select it, open Calendar Options, and change the month or year, and it rebuilds itself with the correct dates. A red circle sits around the 12th, the sample party date, which falls on a Saturday. The circle is a separate shape, so after changing the date or month, drag it onto your party day.
The Rest of the Design
On the left, a fir branch with red berries and a pine cone reaches in from the top left corner. Save is written in large red Great Vibes script and the date in green, slightly offset to create a flowing rhythm. OUR CHRISTMAS PARTY sits in spaced capitals below, followed by a short line with the date, a note that the invitation will follow, and the hosts’ name and town. The brand mark sits small at the bottom left.
Moving the Red Circle to Your Date
If your party is on a different day, select the red circle and drag it over the correct date on the calendar. Use the arrow keys for fine adjustments. If you change the month, check that the calendar has the same number of week rows, because months that span six weeks make the calendar slightly taller; adjust the circle accordingly. You can also change the circle’s colour or replace it with a small heart or star from the Elements panel.
Wording a Christmas Save the Date
A save the date needs only a few pieces of information: what the event is, the date, a note that an invitation will follow, and who is hosting. The sample says Saturday, December 12, Invitation to follow, The Thompsons, Burlington, VT. You might add a hint of the plan, such as Dinner and dancing, or a dress theme to give guests time to prepare. Keep it short; the calendar does most of the talking.
Editing the Calendar Colours
In Calendar Options, you can change the calendar’s colours, fonts and week start day. The sample uses white cells with no visible borders, red day names and green weekends, so it blends into the white card. If you change the card colour, update the calendar’s cell background to match. You can also change the week to start on Monday for regions that prefer it.
Timing Save the Dates and Invitations
A typical timeline for a December party is a save the date in early November, the full invitation three to four weeks before the party, an RSVP deadline about ten days before, and a reminder a few days before. For office parties with venues booked months ahead, a save the date in October is not too early.
Printing the Save the Date
Download the PDF and print at 7 x 5 inches on matte card. The light sage background prints well at home. A save the date can also be sent as a postcard; add a second page with Add Page for the address side. Pair printed cards with green or red envelopes.
Sending the Save the Date by Email
Download a JPG and send it by email or message. Ask guests to add the date to their calendar, and follow up with a calendar invite if it is a work event.
Matching the Invitation
For a consistent look, use the same colours and fonts on the full invitation. The modern minimalist invitation and the Christmas party digital invitation in this collection pair well with this save the date.
Save the Date Questions
Can I show a different month?
Yes. Select the calendar, open Calendar Options, and choose another month or year.
Why is the circle separate?
The calendar rebuilds itself when you change it, so markers are separate shapes you position on the right day.
Is December 12, 2026 a Saturday?
Yes, which makes it a popular date for Christmas parties that year.
Save the Dates for Office Parties
For a company party, a save the date helps colleagues plan childcare, travel, and leave. Change OUR CHRISTMAS PARTY to the company name and HOLIDAY PARTY, and replace the hosts’ line with the venue city or the words Venue to be announced. Send it by email to all staff and add a calendar placeholder so the date is blocked in everyone’s diary. When the full invitation follows, colleagues already have the evening free.
Using the Calendar for Other Events
Because the calendar is the editor’s own calendar object, this design adapts easily to other occasions. Change the month to November for a Friendsgiving save the date, or to any month for a birthday, reunion, or anniversary. Move the red circle to the new date and update the title.
Claim the Date Early
Circle your party date, add your names, and send the card in November. Your guests will pencil you in before December gets busy.
