Digital Wedding Invitation Ideas and Etiquette

Sending digital wedding invitations to your guests is the most up to date and organised way to keep them up to speed with all the important details surrounding your big day. Planning and creating your e invites, either by yourself or with your wedding planner, is an integral part of the wedding planning process. There's no doubt about it: digital wedding invitations are a great way to save money, they're the best when it comes to RSVP tracking, they save you time and they're more eco-friendly than your traditional paper invitations. But how do you know when to send your digital wedding invitations and what is the best wedding invitation etiquette? Keep reading for some helpful ideas and handy tips when it comes to digital invitations as well as some guidance on proper wedding invitation etiquette. Because whilst you want your wedding stationery to be modern and a reflection of your wedding style, your paperless wedding invitations also need to include all the correct information and details to help inform your guests.

When to create your digital wedding invitation?

There are many important details to consider when planning your digital invitation, but it is a good idea to start by figuring out when you will need to send your wedding invitations to your guests. Just because you are using a wedding website to send your digital invitations, doesn't mean you can leave sending your save the dates and wedding invitations to the last minute - especially if you're planning a destination wedding! We would advise a good 6 - 12 months before the wedding to get those invitations sent, giving your guests plenty of time to reply and return their RSVP card. Some wedding websites such as Say I do may even have RSVP tracking, helping you to stay super organised when it comes to organising your digital wedding invitations. If you have time we'd recommend sending your save the dates first, basically as soon as the date has been set, so that your guests have as much notice as possible in case they need to book time off work / make childcare arrangements etc to attend your wedding.

Digital wedding invitation details

It can be really easy to get carried away with your wedding e invite, focusing on your custom design and where the swirling calligraphy should go, but the most important details are found in the basics, including the wedding invitation wording. You can use a wide range of free templates (which are also beautifully designed) to help you with your wedding website and digital wedding invitation design, which will end up helping you save time and money. If you are planning a traditional wedding your e invite and save the dates should include formal wording, whereas a more informal, relaxed wedding might include semi formal wording. Simple! So maybe avoid using abbreviations and urban language if you are going for the more traditional vibe. On your digital wedding invitations, remember to include both your names, the wedding date, the wedding location, a map if necessary, and an order of the day (or weekend). If you would like your digital invitations to be formal, the best wedding invitation etiquette is to include the names of the bride's parents too. Whilst you might be super excited to share your beautiful digital invitation design, just remember that functionality is key.

Collecting RSVPs

As you'll be sending digital wedding invitations, guests may need advising on how they can RSVP to your wedding. Providing this information will save you time having to chase your entire guest list for their reply and save you the confusion of collecting RSVP responses from here, there and everywhere, in the weeks prior to your wedding day. Your Say I do wedding website will handily track your guests' responses and provide you with a list of who is coming and who is not. If you have elderly family members who may not be able to access online services or view your digital wedding invitation then it is always a polite idea to send out paper invitations and RSVP cards to those who may not be able to, or want to go online.

What's the dress code!?

This is one of those popular questions that could end up getting asked over and over again by your guest list during the wedding planning process. A great way to avoid this problem and share your requested attire is by including the information as an FAQ on your wedding website, or even better - simply pop the dress code on on your digital wedding invitations! You can mention if you are having a formal wedding and requesting cocktail attire by simply saying 'black tie optional.'

Are you having a child-free wedding?

Online wedding invitations are sometimes considered to be slightly less personal than paper invitations, but they really don't have to be. Sensitive subjects such as planning a child-free wedding can potentially hit a nerve with some folk so it is best to be as sensitive as possible with this subject and your choice of wording. Saying that, perhaps you just don't want anyone's screaming, whining kids at your beautiful celebration of love! To address this you could say something along the lines of, 'We love your children, but we are choosing to have a day for grown ups since you all deserve some rest and recreation.' Remember, this is your wedding day and your wedding celebration so you can arrange this special day however you wish.

Gift registry information

Including your gifting wishes and / or link to your chosen gift registry couldn't be easier than with online invitations. If you're concerned about coming across as rude you can always add the link discreetly to the bottom of the invitation, or simply choose your wording carefully so that your guests understand why it's there. Whether it's a wishing well, a charity donation or a gift list that you've curated yourself - let them know! This gives your guests the option to take a look at the link or it can open the conversation up if they'd like to gift something else or support you in other ways. Wedding websites will often have the option to include a gift registry link so you may think it's unnecessary to add this to your digital wedding invitation too, it really depends on how comfortable you feel. If you decide to send paperless wedding invitations you can be safe in the knowledge that you are contributing to a cleaner environment by reducing traditional stationery and opting for digital wedding invitations. It's likely that you are also going to save money which can be crucial when planning potentially one of the most expensive days of your life! Wedding e invites can include all the love and personal sentiment of printed wedding invitations whilst saving you valuable time by minimising the admin through collecting RSVPs. These are your digital wedding invitations, created with your special day in mind so as long as they include all the essential information and help make both yours and your guests' lives a little less stressful, go ahead and enjoy designing your bespoke wedding website and complementary wedding invitations.