Wedding Invites And Websites: Matching Or Mismatched Bliss?

Wedding invitations are one of the first impressions that guests will have of your wedding. They set the tone for the wedding and provide guests with important information. While it is not necessary to have your wedding invitations match your wedding website, it can help to elevate the overall experience for your guests and solidify your wedding style. Matching invitations and websites can also boost anticipation for the event. Many companies offer services that allow you to create custom wedding invitations that match your wedding website.

Matching stationery

Before the Wedding:

Engagement Party Invitations:

Although your engagement party invitations do not have to be an exact match to your wedding invitations, it is a good idea to choose stationery that reflects your general wedding concept. This can help build excitement and give guests a sneak peek into the style of your upcoming nuptials.

Save-the-Dates:

Save-the-dates are not mandatory, but if you choose to send them, they can be designed to match your wedding invitations and website. This helps create a cohesive look and feel for your wedding, especially if you include your wedding website URL on the save-the-date cards.

Bridal Shower Invitations:

Traditionally, the bridal party hosts and sends invitations for the bridal shower. However, if you are involved in the planning, you can suggest matching stationery that coordinates with your wedding shower theme.

Bridal Shower Thank-You Cards:

Sending thank-you notes for gifts received at your bridal shower is a thoughtful gesture. While these cards do not have to match your wedding invitations exactly, they can follow a similar theme or colour scheme to maintain consistency.

Bachelor/Bachelorette Party Invitations:

For larger gatherings, sending invitations is a must. You can design these invitations to match your wedding stationery, adding a sense of unity to all the events leading up to your big day.

Rehearsal Dinner Invitations:

If you are including rehearsal dinner invitations in your wedding invitation suite, it is a nice touch to have them match the rest of your wedding stationery. This creates a cohesive presentation when your guests open their invitations.

The Wedding Invitation Suite:

The wedding invitation suite is the star of your wedding stationery and typically includes several matching pieces:

• The Invitation Card: This is the largest and most important card, including essential details such as the host, the couple's names, the date, time, venue, city, and state.
• Reception Card: If your reception is at a different venue, include a reception card with the name and address, and optionally, the time.
• Response Card and Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope: Response cards are for collecting RSVPs and should include a reply-by date and response options.
• Hotel Accommodations Card: If you don't have a wedding website, include an accommodations card with recommended hotels and booking information for out-of-town guests.

Day-of Stationery:

On your wedding day, there are several pieces of matching stationery that can enhance the guest experience and add to the overall aesthetic of your celebration:

• Ceremony Programs: These outline the order of the ceremony and recognise the bridal party and other notable individuals. Matching your ceremony programs to your invitation suite is a lovely way to carry your theme through to the wedding day.
• Escort Cards or Boards: Escort cards or boards direct guests to their assigned tables and can be designed to match your wedding invitations, creating a seamless experience for your guests.
• Place Cards: Place cards designate each guest's seat at their table and are more formal than escort cards. Matching place cards add a touch of elegance to your reception tables.
• Table Numbers: Table numbers help guests find their assigned tables and can be designed to coordinate with your wedding concept, adding to the overall decor.
• Menus: Menu cards give guests an overview of the meal and can be designed to complement your table settings and overall wedding style.
• Guest Books: Although not mandatory, guest books are a wonderful keepsake. Matching the design to your wedding invitations adds a special touch.
• Thank-You Notes: Including a sweet thank-you note at each place setting is a sentimental trend. Matching these notes to your wedding invitations is a thoughtful way to show your gratitude.

After the Wedding:

Thank-You Cards:

After the wedding, it is customary to send thank-you cards to guests who attended and/or gave gifts. While these can be designed separately, matching them to your wedding invitations creates a cohesive conclusion to your wedding stationery story.

Online vs. paper invites

When it comes to wedding invites, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The best method for you will depend on your personal preferences, budget, time constraints, and the needs of your guest list.

Paper Invitations

Paper invitations are a traditional, tangible souvenir of your big day. They are often weighty cards with elegant calligraphy and embossed details, and can be designed with luxe features such as gold foil flourishes or watercolour artwork. They are more expensive than digital invitations, but they allow you to support small creative businesses and set the tone for your wedding.

From a practical standpoint, paper invites require you to collect everyone's address, which can be time-consuming. They also need to be designed, printed, and posted, which can cause delays. You may also need to purchase extra postage for heavier invitations or international guests.

Digital Invitations

Digital wedding invitations are a more modern approach, often costing less than paper invites, with no postage fees. They can be sent instantly, and your guests can RSVP instantly too, which is convenient for both parties. Digital invites are also a more sustainable option, reducing paper waste.

However, digital invites may not be accessible to less tech-savvy relatives or guests. You will need to collect everyone's email address, which can be more labour-intensive than physical addresses, especially if multiple guests share an inbox. Digital invites may also lack the bespoke, sentimental feel of a physical invitation.

Combining Both Approaches

You can also opt for a combination of paper and digital invites. This could mean including online RSVP instructions on your paper invites, or sending paper invites to older guests and digital invites to everyone else.

Some websites offer matching paper and digital stationery, including save-the-date cards, invitations, menus, RSVP cards, and thank-you notes, so you can maintain a cohesive theme.

Ultimately, the decision of whether to go with paper or digital invites is a personal one, and there is no right or wrong answer.

RSVP methods

There are several RSVP methods to choose from when it comes to wedding invitations. The most traditional method is to include a printed RSVP card with the invitation, which guests fill out and return by mail. This card usually includes a space for the guest's name(s), their response (accepting or declining), the number of guests attending, and any dietary restrictions or other special requests. It's also common to include a stamped, pre-addressed envelope for guests to send their responses back in.

Another option is to include a “details” card with the invitation, which provides information about the wedding website where guests can RSVP online. This method allows guests to respond electronically and can make it easier for the couple to track responses and manage their guest list. Some couples may also choose to include their wedding website URL on the invitation itself, rather than on a separate card.

For couples who prefer a more informal approach, it's also possible to ask guests to RSVP via email or phone. In this case, it's important to provide clear instructions on how to respond and a deadline for responses.

Regardless of the RSVP method chosen, it's important to give guests enough time to respond and to set a deadline for responses, usually about two to four weeks before the wedding date. This will allow the couple and their vendors to finalise the guest count and make any necessary arrangements, such as food and drink orders.

Registry information

Wedding websites are valuable tools for wedding planning. They are destinations for all the essential details for your big day, including how to RSVP, venue details, dress codes, and registry information.

If you're looking for a website to design your wedding invitations, you might want to consider using a website that also offers wedding website services, so that your invitations and website seamlessly match. Here are some options:

Zola

Zola is an all-inclusive site for registering gifts, with great registry features. It is also a one-stop wedding shop with an extensive collection of invitation designs. There are over 1,000 choices, so there's an option to suit every style and taste, from classic and formal to fun and whimsical designs. Zola also offers unique designs for elopements and vow renewals. You can get five samples for free, as well as free envelopes and addressing.

Artifact Uprising

Artifact Uprising offers a sample kit with a selection of designs and themes across several types of paper goods and three different printing styles: digital, foil-stamped, and custom-engraved. There are almost 20 different invite designs to choose from, and all the paper used is thick, archival, and Forest Stewardship Council-certified, manufactured using wind power to minimize any environmental impact.

Zazzle

Zazzle is a digital design site where you can get your wedding invitations, as well as other fun personalised wedding favours. The website makes it easy to narrow down options by filtering according to various themes, such as "modern", "destination", or "rustic and backyard", as well as a "budget" category for the cost-conscious. There are also digital invitation options if you want to go paperless.

Shutterfly

Shutterfly offers beautiful, photo-featured designs, but also plenty of other choices across a wide range of styles. A handy tool pops your photo into several different designs with just a few clicks, making it easy to compare and contrast. Shutterfly also offers a variety of invitation formats, ranging from 3 x 5 inches to 6 x 8 inches, and available as flat, gate-fold, trifold, and even magnets.

Greenvelope

If sustainability and zero waste are a priority in your wedding planning, Greenvelope is a good option. Their online e-vites are chic and special, with over 400 designs created by independent artists. There are also convenient features such as guest messaging, auto-reminders for guests, and survey questions. Greenvelope is also all about giving back, donating a percentage of every sale to Mountains to Sound, a nonprofit organisation that maintains forests.

The Knot

The Knot offers a variety of features, including building a wedding website. You can sort by colour, style, and season, and choose from hundreds of templates with a variety of colour themes to make it your own. Navigation is simple throughout the platform, and it's easy to add in all of your important day-of information, from sharing your story as a couple to adding photos and wedding party details. You can choose a custom Knot URL for free, or customise a full domain for an additional fee of $20. A wedding registry can also be built through The Knot Registry Store and can be integrated into your website’s registry page.

Minted

Minted is a good option not only for its easy access to wedding stationery like invitations, save-the-dates, and escort cards but also because it offers free wedding websites. You can set up your own site or pay $49 to have a team member build it for you; they will help upload your wedding details to the site and create a custom URL. The internal interface allows you to create an address book to keep your guest information organised and even includes an RSVP form that can be used for multiple events.

Riley & Grey

Riley & Grey offers several bespoke designs for your wedding website, with various stunning templates with matching invitations, which can be edited to add your information. There is also an option to ship paper samples to your door before ordering a complete set. The interface is simple, making it easy to add information and graphics. The scrolling design also allows you to fill in an “About” section and details regarding your venue, wedding party, and travel plans. Couples can also integrate links to their registry and create a quick and simple RSVP form for their guests to fill out.

Bliss & Bone

Bliss & Bone offers beautifully designed wedding invitations and websites to match through a one-stop shop. You can shop by collection, which includes designs with matching save-the-dates and invitations. Then, build a wedding website to match the aesthetic for guests to receive and view details seamlessly. To begin using this platform, users must set up a subscription, which is free for the first seven days for you to trial.

Wix

Wix is a free website builder that is useful for portfolios, businesses, and weddings. It offers hundreds of templates, with over 25 specific to wedding websites. While you can start from scratch to create a fully custom site, those unfamiliar with website design may have to go through a brief learning curve due to Wix's many features and options. Once you’re used to the interface, you can edit fonts, colours, links, and even add photos of you and your partner. Custom domains are also possible, but a paid upgrade to a higher-tiered plan is required. Wix also allows you to collect RSVPs using a simple form.

Website and invitation etiquette

Wedding invitations are one of the first impressions that guests will have of your big day. The type and style of invitation can set the tone for the wedding and provide guests with important information.

When it comes to matching your wedding invitations to your wedding website, it is not a necessity, but it can help to elevate the overall experience for your guests. Matching invitations and websites can help solidify your wedding style and boost anticipation for the event.

If you are looking to create a cohesive look, consider using the same fonts, colours, and artwork across your website and invitations. Many websites offer matching stationery, including save-the-date cards, invitations, menus, RSVP cards, and thank-you notes.

When creating your wedding invitations, it is important to include all the necessary information in a clear and legible manner. This information can include the date, time, and location of the wedding, as well as any other relevant details such as dress code or travel information.

In terms of etiquette, it is generally advised to share your wedding website with guests via your invitation or save-the-date cards. This can be done by adding the website URL or a QR code to the invitation or by including a separate enclosure card with the website information. It is also common to collect RSVPs and share registry information through your wedding website.

• Consider the production time for your invitations, especially if you are using a digital design service or printing them yourself.
• Choose a style and design that reflects your personality and the theme of your wedding.
• Proofread your invitations carefully to avoid any errors.
• Order extra invitations in case of last-minute guest additions or mistakes.
• Send your invitations 6-8 weeks before the wedding date to give guests enough time to plan.

Remember, your wedding invitations are a reflection of your special day, so have fun with the design process and choose options that speak uniquely to you as a couple.

Frequently asked questions