If you’re recently engaged it might be time to start thinking about your save-the-dates! Think of your save-the-dates as an opportunity to really have some fun. Save-the-dates are typically less formal than the official wedding invitations, so why not have a little fun with it? These save-the-date ideas are not only personal and reflect a sense-of-humor, but are also interactive and a fun way for guests to get a taste of the wedding details!

Viewmaster Save-The-Date

Photo: Courtesy of Image 3D

The original Instagram, tell your guests about the wedding details through photos! Plus this favorite toy makes the perfect keepsake.

Temporary Tattoo Save-The-Date

Photo: Courtesy of 26 Sorts

The catch? You can’t read the date of the wedding until you put it on! Everyone will be walking around proudly wearing your wedding date. Don’t forget to save some for the after-party!

A Popup Save-the-Date

Photo: PoundingMillPress.com

Your favorite books to read as a kid were the popups then you’ll love this grown up version. Lasercutting creates this 3D effect that’s so cool, guests won’t believe their eyes.

Walnut Save-The-Date (yes, you read that right)

Photo: Etsy.com/shop/NuttyMesages

Insert nut pun here. This interactive save-the-date requires guests to crack open a walnut to get to the message inside. Your friends and family definitely won’t suspect a save-the-date if it comes in nut, surprise!

Comic Book Save-the-Date

Photo: SwissCottageDesigns.com

What better way to show the story of your love than through pop art?

Cootie Catcher Save-The-Date

Photo: OneLittleM.com

Cootie catchers are right up there with M*A*S*H in terms of your favorite middle-school game. Instead of a fortune, put in wedding details like the date and location!

Plane Ticket Save-the-Date

Photo: CeciNewYork.com

Having a destination wedding? Then prepare your guests to jet-set with these “ticket to paradise” save-the-dates that look just like paper plane tickets!

Want more? Watch our video with more creative save-the-date ideas! 

> 9 unique save-the-dates

> 100+ gorgeous save-the-dates

> Watch: A stop-motion video save-the-date

Here at The Knot we get some pretty cool opportunities like sneak peaks at new bridal designers, floral concepts and even stationery lines. This time around we got an insider’s look at Minted.com‘s newest save-the-date contest. (They actually source all their products from contests voted on by viewers!) So, which one is your favorite? Tell me below or tweet @amanda__black!

> Want more unique save-the-dates? Here are 9 of them!

> Shop for your stationery!

> Trends we’re seeing in wedding stationery.

I’ve been engaged for almost a year (story below!) and I’m so excited to start blogging for TheKnot.com! But here’s the funny thing: I work at TheKnot.com.

Yes that’s right; I work at TheKnot.com as a Public Relations Manager. It’s truly a dream job and I love every single second of it. But how has it affected my planning? Has my insider information been a lifesaver or a burden? Thus far, it’s been a bit of both and I’ll be sharing some stories. Some truly wonderful things have happened, like finding my perfect dress in our fashion closet (more on that down the road)! However, consuming so much wedding porn day in and day out has definitely taken its toll — I may work at The Knot, but I don’t have the unlimited budget to do every single pretty thing I see here (wouldn’t that be fab?!).

So to begin today’s post, I’ll start at the beginning. This is the story of the night we got engaged…

I’ll start by telling you that my fiancé Oren is just perfect. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a man and so so so much more. I know every girl in love and about to get married says stuff like this and it’s cliché, but that doesn’t make it any less true. What makes Oren so perfect in this instance is just how much he considered what would make me happy when he proposed (other than that he was proposing, of course).

The date: September 24, 2011. The place: Oren’s house.

My parents and sister were in town visiting and we were going to Oren’s house so our families could meet each other for the first time. Serious business. As we all sat down to eat, Oren’s mom realized she forgot something and asked Oren to go grab it. He handed me a serving spoon, put on oven mitts and brought a casserole dish to the trivet next to me on the table.

After that, he just kind of looked at me and I thought that he couldn’t grip the knob with the oven mitts. After quickly touching the top, I realized the pot wasn’t hot. Cue my sister’s favorite way to make fun of me: I even said out loud “It’s not even hot!” At this point, Oren just decided to lift the lid himself (I found out later, I was supposed to have lifted it).

Inside was a ring box! It took me quite a while to process exactly what was going on. But my mom says once I realized I turned bright red like a tomato (I do that often), and all I could say was “Seriously?” until finally Oren’s mom said “Yes, seriously!”

Back to my original thought about how perfect Oren is. He really considered that I would want to celebrate with my parents and sister immediately, so he chose a night that would be special for both of our families. To top it off, the casserole dish has a special meaning – it belonged to his grandmother and now sits proudly on our bookshelf. So yea, he’s a keeper.

Over the next few months, I’ll share some of my favorite wedding details and probably even more of them after the wedding – don’t want to ruin the surprise! For now, I’ll also share the link to our wedding website: www.orenandsteph.com. Also, our save the date video was such fun for us to film and shoot this past winter, you can view it below and on our website too! Both were created by the fabulous Oren. Not only can he plan a fantastic proposal – he can also create brilliant websites and videos!

Gorgeous fashion accessories, flower arrangements, wedding cakes and stationery cross our desks every day here in our New York City office. In our new regular blog feature, “Prettiest Thing in Our Office This Week,” we’ll take you behind the scenes and show you our favorite item each Friday.

Just in time for our inaugural post, we were lucky enough receive these charming cookies from Modern Bite in the mail. They came in the form of edible save-the-dates, calligraphed escort cards and mini favors — each finished with a pretty geometric design. And after snapping this photo, some of the other editors and I dove in for a mid-afternoon snack…and let’s just say these buttery shortbread cookies didn’t last long.

> Browse 250+ wedding favor ideas

> See our complete guide to save-the-dates