Thinking about going paperless with your wedding invitations? Online wedding invitations are a great way to save money, streamline the RSVP process and set the tone for your upcoming party.
If you’re wondering where to begin with digital wedding invitations, you’re in the right place. Read on as we explain exactly how to create and send online invitations for your wedding, including timelines, RSVPs, etiquette tips and more.
Is It Okay to Send Wedding Invitations Online?
Online wedding invitations (also known as ecards or evites) are quickly emerging as a popular alternative to traditional mailing methods. In today’s digital age, it’s completely acceptable to send your wedding invitations online – and in fact, your guests may even prefer it!
Here are just a few reasons to consider going digital for your wedding invitations:
- It’s affordable. Traditional wedding invitations can take an unexpected chunk out of your wedding budget, with the average couple spending anywhere between $750 – $1500+ on their invitation design, printing and postage. On the flip side, digital wedding invitations can be created for free or just a tiny fraction of that cost.
- It’s eco-friendly. Save paper by taking your wedding invitations online and reducing unnecessary waste. You can be sure that no trees were harmed in the process!
- It’s convenient. Online wedding invitations are a hassle-free option for both you and your guests. You don’t need to worry about addressing and stamping envelopes, and your guests don’t need to worry about misplacing their invitation or taking a trip to the post office to RSVP.
- It streamlines the RSVP process. Speaking of RSVPs, opting for online invitations means your guests can respond quickly in the click of a button. Using an online RSVP system also allows you to easily track your responses and see who’s attending, who’s declined and who is yet to RSVP.
- Create a cohesive design suite. You can use matching designs for your save-the-dates, wedding invitations and wedding website to create a beautiful, cohesive experience.
What About Elderly Guests?
Online wedding invitations are incredibly easy to use – even for those guests who may not be entirely tech-savvy! However, if you’re concerned about some of your elderly guests, you may decide to print a handful of traditional invitations for them as a happy medium.
Which Website is Best For Sending Online Wedding Invitations?
Once you’ve decided to go digital with your wedding invitations, the next step will be finding the right platform to create and send your evites.
There are several different websites that provide digital invitations, so you’ll need to do some research to find the right platform for your needs.
We’d recommend creating a list of “must-have” features to help you narrow down your options. For example: are you happy with a premade template, or would you like the option to customise it or even upload your own design? Do you want to be able to track RSVPs through the platform and send group updates to your guest list? Do you want a matching wedding website? Do you want a completely free option, or are you happy to spend a little more to get all of the bells and whistles?
You can check out our guide to the best websites for sending online wedding invitations here, where we weigh up the pros and cons of each option for you.
How to Collect Email Addresses For Your Wedding Invitations
In order to send online wedding invitations, you’ll need to collect email addresses from all of your guests. This can seem like an overwhelming task, but here at WedSites, we have a special form you can send your loved ones to quickly collect their address, email and phone number. This list will also come in super handy for sending thank you cards after the day.
Once this is done, you can import your guest list into our digital database. Couples, families and singles with plus-ones can be grouped into households, allowing them to RSVP together.
Next, you can customise your invitation design and create an RSVP form to grab all of the necessary information from your guests. Now all that’s left to do is hit the send button – it’s really that easy!
What to Include in Digital Wedding Invitations
Okay, so what kind of information should you include on your online wedding invitations?
Digital wedding invitations can follow exactly the same format as traditional paper invites. You’ll want to include:
- The names of you and your partner
- A request to attend your wedding
- The wedding date, time and location
- The reception details
- The RSVP date and method
- Your wedding website link (if relevant)
An example of this would be:
Harry and Sally
invite you to celebrate with them on their wedding day.
9th October 2022
at 3pm
Botanic Gardens, Pleasantville
Reception to follow.
Please RSVP by 15th September: (wedding website link)
Additional details (such as dress code, accommodation and transport information) can then be included on your wedding website.
Remember, your wedding invitations will ultimately set the tone for your event, so keep this in mind with your invitation wording. If you’re hosting a black-tie wedding, you may want to use formal, traditional wording – but if you’re planning a relaxed garden party, you can keep it light and casual. You can find our ultimate wedding invitation wording guide here to see some examples in action!
When to Send Online Wedding Invitations
Now, let’s talk about timelines for your paperless invites. When should you think about sending online invitations for your wedding?
This really depends on whether you’re planning a local or destination wedding. If you’re planning a destination wedding, you’ll need to give your guests more notice so they can plan and budget for their trip. With this in mind, we’d suggest sending your save-the-dates as soon as possible (ideally, at least 9-12 months before the wedding), with formal invitations to follow around 4-6 months before the day.
If you’re not planning a destination wedding, your timeline can be a little shorter. You don’t want to send your invitations too early, or guests may procrastinate on their RSVPs. For a local wedding, save-the-dates are traditionally sent anywhere between 6-8 months in advance, with formal invitations sent around 8 weeks before the big day.
How Much Time Should You Give Guests to RSVP to a Wedding?
Getting RSVPs back for your wedding can be notoriously difficult, so setting the right RSVP deadline is essential.
Around 3-4 weeks prior to your day is usually the sweet spot for RSVPs. This will give you enough time to confirm a final headcount with your venue and create a seating plan for the day – plus, some buffer room to chase down any last-minute guests.
Online Wedding Invitation Etiquette
Okay, so that’s the practical stuff out of the way – but are there any faux pas to avoid when sending online wedding invitations?
When it comes to digital invitation etiquette, simply follow the same rules as you would for traditional paper invites. For example:
- Don’t include your gift registry on your wedding invitations. It’s best to add this to your wedding website, instead.
- If you’re not offering plus-ones, be sure to address your invitations only to the intended recipient.
- Be tactful about kids. If you’re planning a child-free wedding, it’s best to include a short and sweet statement on your invitations or wedding website to let your guests know. For example: “Although we love your little ones, please note our wedding reception will be an adult-only affair.”
Send Wedding Invitations Online with WedSites
We have a bunch of clever features here at WedSites to help you effortlessly create, send and manage your online invitations!
Together with our wedding website builder, you can collect mailing addresses, send digital invitations and track RSVP responses all in one place. We even have an RSVP reminder feature to gently follow up with guests who may have forgotten about the deadline (so you don’t have to). Along with sending digital cards and invitations, you can also send group updates and announcements for any last-minute changes to your wedding schedule.
Learn more about our paperless wedding invitations here, or explore our range of beautiful wedding website templates to get started!