A Paperless Wedding: Is It Possible?

Planning a wedding can be a tedious task, and with the world going digital, it is only natural to wonder if you can do a paperless wedding. The answer is yes! Paperless weddings are not only possible but also sustainable, cost-effective, and convenient. From digital wedding invitations to wedding websites, you can plan your entire wedding without using any paper. Digital wedding invitations can be customized with your preferred colours, fonts, photos, and more. They are also more reliable in terms of delivery and make it easier to track responses. Paperless weddings are environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and a great way to express your unique style.

Digital wedding invitations: pros and cons

Digital wedding invitations are becoming an increasingly popular option for couples. They can be a great choice for those who are environmentally conscious, on a budget, or planning their wedding at the last minute. However, there are also some drawbacks to this modern approach. Here is a detailed list of pros and cons to help you decide if digital wedding invitations are right for your big day.

Pros of Digital Wedding Invitations:

• Affordability: Digital invitations are typically much cheaper than traditional paper invitations, which can cost anywhere from $750 to $1500 or more. Digital options can be designed and sent for free or at a low cost, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars.
• Eco-Friendliness: Digital invites are environmentally friendly as they reduce unnecessary paper waste. If planning a sustainable wedding is important to you, this is a great option.
• Convenience: Digital invitations are convenient for both the couple and their guests. They can be designed, sent, and responded to instantly, making the RSVP process much quicker and easier.
• Reliability: Digital invitations eliminate the risk of your invites getting lost or damaged in the mail, giving you one less thing to worry about.
• Tracking: Many digital invitation platforms offer tracking features, allowing you to see who has received, opened, and responded to your invitation. This helps streamline the RSVP process and reduces the need to chase down late responses.

Cons of Digital Wedding Invitations:

• Lack of Tradition: Digital invitations are less traditional and may not be considered as special or formal as receiving a physical invitation. If you want to set a more formal tone for your wedding, digital invites may not be the best option.
• Inaccessibility: Some guests, particularly older guests, may not be comfortable with digital invitations or may not have an email address. You may need to consider printing paper invitations for these guests or communicating with them over the phone.
• No Physical Keepsake: Digital invitations don't provide a physical keepsake, which some couples may want to frame or include in a scrapbook.
• Design Options: There are fewer bespoke design options available for digital invitations compared to traditional paper invitations, especially if you want a custom design created by a professional.
• Potential Inaccessibility: There is a risk of digital invitations ending up in spam folders or being inaccessible to less tech-savvy recipients.
• Extra Work: You will need to put in extra effort to collect each guest's email address, and sending multiple invites to the same household could be more costly and complicated.

So, while digital wedding invitations offer convenience, affordability, and eco-friendliness, they may lack the formality and sentimentality of traditional paper invitations. Ultimately, the decision depends on your personal preferences, guest list, and wedding style.

Paperless wedding invites: design ideas

Classic or Modern?

If you're after a more traditional aesthetic, opt for elegant cursive fonts and graceful floral or gilded accents. For a modern look, choose bold minimalist fonts, stylized graphics, and geometric details.

Cool or Warm Tones?

Cool colours like blues, greens, and greys create a sense of serenity, while warm colours like reds, oranges, and yellows evoke passion and romance.

Rustic or Romantic?

For a rustic vibe, think sunflowers, orchard trees, and a cosy farmhouse feel. For a romantic theme, incorporate soft blush tones, fresh flowers, and gilded centrepieces.

Boho or Celestial?

Boho-inspired invites often include wildflowers and playful colour patterns, while celestial invitations lean into inky hues, luminous metallic accents, and cosmic imagery.

Minimalist or Maximalist?

Minimalist invites focus on simplicity, with metallics, solid backdrops, uncomplicated fonts, and crisp lines. Maximalist invites, on the other hand, layer colours, textures, and lavish patterns.

Customise with a Photo or Illustration

Add a personal touch with an engagement photo or a treasured snapshot from the early days of your relationship. If you're having a destination wedding, include a photo of the beach or surroundings.

Choose Your Font

Experiment with different fonts to suit the tone of your wedding. For a classic, formal vibe, choose calligraphy or cursive script. Modern invitations often feature bold, crisp fonts.

Add a Personal Touch

Add depth and texture to your digital invites with wood grain, precious metals, watercolours, or embossed finishes.

Seal with a Monogram

Add flair and a personal touch with a seal or monogram on your digital envelope.

Paperless wedding invites: etiquette

While paperless wedding invitations are less formal than printed invitations, they are still considered appropriate and aligned with proper etiquette. These are modern approaches to wedding stationery, but the same etiquette rules still apply.

• Hosts' names: Start the invitation by sharing who is hosting the event. Traditionally, this has been the bride's parents, but it can also be the wedding couple themselves.
• Hosts' request: The hosts can request "the pleasure of your company" or "the honour of your presence", depending on the venue. If the ceremony is at a place of worship, you'll go with the latter.
• Names of the wedding couple: It's common to write out the bride's first and middle name and leave out her last name, especially if her parents are hosting and they share the same last name. After that, you'll write "to" followed by the groom's title and full name. This wording may not align with every couple or situation, so write out your names as you and your partner prefer.
• Date, time, and location: Include the date, time, venue name, and venue address. If the reception is held somewhere else, make this clear for your guests.
• Requested attire: Think about how you'd like your guests to dress and detail it on your paperless wedding invitation. The most popular attire styles are black tie, formal, and cocktail attire.
• RSVP details: Clarify how you want your guests to RSVP. For paperless invites, this will usually be via a form on your wedding website.

Your wedding should reflect your and your partner's personalities, and sometimes that doesn't work with standard etiquette rules – and that's okay! The most important thing is to ensure your guests have all the information about your wedding and that you and your partner are happy with the language used. Review your paperless wedding invitation proofs carefully during the design process and double-check everything to ensure you're both happy with the details and language used.

Paperless wedding invites: cost

Digital wedding invitations are a great way to save money, protect the environment and promote sustainability. They are also a more reliable way to deliver invites, as you can receive return receipts to let you know when your guests have received and read the invite.

The cost of paperless wedding invites varies depending on the supplier, level of customisation, and the number of guests.

Paperless Post

Paperless Post offers a range of online wedding invitation designs, including rustic wedding invitations and templates from partners like Rifle Paper Co. The price of each invitation depends on the number of premium design elements included, such as backdrops, custom stamps, and envelope liners. Paperless Post uses a digital credit system called Coins, which can be purchased in packages. The more Coins you buy, the less each one costs. To determine the total cost, multiply the number of guests by the cost of each invitation.

Bliss & Bone

Bliss & Bone offers custom paperless wedding invitations with a range of design options, such as floral themes, tropical themes, and modern minimalist styles. Their pricing is in line with the average, with invitations costing around $0.90 each, depending on the quantity.

Evite

Evite offers both free and premium digital wedding invitation options. Premium packages are priced according to the number of guests, ranging from $17.99 to $99.99. They also offer an Evite Pro yearly subscription for $249.99.

Greenvelope

Greenvelope allows you to customise all aspects of your online invitations, including text, colours, patterns, and envelopes. Prices start at $19 for a single mailing occasion or $125 per year for unlimited mailing occasions.

Etsy

Etsy offers a wide range of unique and customisable digital wedding invitation designs from independent creators. Prices vary by seller, but typically, you pay a flat fee for a digital download that you can customise and send to your guests.

The Knot

The Knot offers digital wedding invitations and is a good option if you're looking for a more traditional paper invitation style. They offer a range of designs and charge a flat fee for a digital download.

Overall, paperless wedding invitations are a cost-effective option, typically costing under $2 per invite, and sometimes even free. They are a great way to reduce costs and allocate your budget to other aspects of your wedding.

Paperless wedding invites: when to send

Paperless wedding invites are a great way to communicate with your guests while also being environmentally conscious and saving money. When planning a wedding, it is important to send out your invitations with enough time to spare. This will ensure that your guests can plan their schedules and make any necessary travel arrangements.

For paperless wedding invites, your guests should receive them around six to eight weeks before the wedding. This lead time allows your guests to have all the necessary details about the ceremony and reception. It is also a good idea to send out ''Save the Dates' before the invitations, especially if you anticipate that many of your guests will need to travel. 'Save the Dates' are usually sent out six months to a year in advance and include basic information such as the date and location of the wedding.

After sending out your paperless wedding invites, it is recommended that guests submit their RSVPs by about two to three weeks before the wedding. This will give you enough time to finalise details with your vendors and make any last-minute adjustments. It is also important to reach out to any guests who have not yet replied to confirm their attendance.

By following these timelines, you can ensure that your paperless wedding invitations are sent out and responded to in a timely manner, allowing you to focus on the other aspects of your wedding planning.

Frequently asked questions