Helpful Tips for Your Online Wedding Invitations

If you're reading this, then you may have already decided that you're going digital with your invitations, or maybe you’re still on the fence, and that's OK. We totally get that there are a lot of wedding-related decisions you have to make during the planning process. So, with that being said, we've collated a few hints and tips for your online wedding invitations that will have you sitting at your laptop and creating your awesome-looking invites in no time!

The pluses of creating online wedding invitations

• More affordable. You will definitely save money if you opt for digital invites. The cost of paper invitations, as well as envelopes and stamps, can add up quickly if you are not careful. Taking your invitations online is a very easy way to save some of your wedding budget
• Instant RSVP. With a digital wedding invitation, all your guests need to do is simply click on a link to RSVP. This will allow you to keep track of who will be attending quickly and efficiently
• 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 invitations or taking a trip to the post office to RSVP
• More eco-friendly. Sending out digital invitations will be like giving planet Earth a big hug, and you won’t have to stress about all of the paper that is being used/wasted! This is a very simple way to 'do your bit', forging your way to creating a greener wedding

What to include on your digital wedding invites

Okay, so what kind of information should you include on your online wedding invitations? Well, you’ll probably be delighted to hear that paperless wedding invitations can follow exactly the same format as traditional paper invites. With this in mind, 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

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 when it comes to your invitation wording. If you’re hosting a black-tie wedding, you may want to use formal, traditional wedding invitation wording – but if you’re planning a relaxed garden wedding celebration, keep it light and casual.

When to send digital 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 it's the latter, you’ll need to give your guests much more notice so that they can plan and budget for their trip. With this in mind, we’d suggest sending your save the dates, which can also be in a digita format, 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 6-9 months in advance, with formal invitations sent around 8-12 weeks before the big day.

Collating email addresses

Collecting your guest's contact details, such as their address, phone number, and email, can feel like a laborious task, but with Say I do, you can make it super easy. Simply send your guests your unique contact details form and have them enter their details directly into your database.

Once this is done, you can import your guest list into Say I do's 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 when you need it. Now all that’s left to do is hit the send button – it really is that easy, but don’t forget to do a test run before you press send!

RSVPs

If you're sending traditional paper invitations, then RSVPs can be a whole project within itself. That's why if you're going digital, you should be feeling a little bit smug right now! Together with Say I do's wedding website builder, you can create all your wedding stationery online; save the dates, invites, and thank you cards.

One of the biggest advantages of sending digital invites is that you can track RSVP responses all in one place - no more manually inputting into a spreadsheet! There's even an RSVP reminder feature to gently follow up with guests who may have forgotten about the deadline (so you don’t have to).

Digital wedding invitation etiquette

Now that the practical information is out of the way, is there anything to avoid when sending wedding invites online?

Simply adhere to the same rules as you would for traditional printed wedding invitations when it comes to digital invitation etiquette. 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 including plus-ones, be sure to address your invitations only to the intended recipient
• Be tactful when it comes to 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: ‘We would like our special day to be an adult-only occasion.’

What about elderly wedding guests?

Even for those who might not be very tech-savvy, online wedding invitations are really simple to use. However, you might still choose to print a few traditional invitations for your elderly guests as a middle ground if you know some of your guests simply don't do email. If this is the case, you can give them a helping hand by RSVPing on behalf of these guests so that your online numbers are accurate.

Hopefully, having read this, you'll be feeling confident and ready to roll when it comes to creating and sending online wedding invitations. Or you may already be in the process of creating them, in which case this blog might have reminded you to add a piece of useful information for your guests.

Like everything in the wedding planning process, start early, don't rush into any decisions, and with your invites and your wedding website specifically, make sure you proofread before sharing with the world to avoid any pesky typos!