Creating Electronic Wedding Invites: A Simple Guide

Wedding invitations are a great way to add a personal touch to your special day. Digital wedding invitations are a modern, stylish, and cost-effective alternative to traditional printed invites. They can save you time and money, and are also more environmentally friendly. In this discussion, we will explore the advantages of electronic wedding invitations and provide a step-by-step guide to creating your own, covering everything from design to distribution. We will also recommend some popular online platforms that offer customizable templates, making it easy for you to craft elegant and unique digital invitations for your big day.

Using a graphic design website

Choose a Graphic Design Website

Start by selecting a reputable graphic design website that offers wedding invitation templates. Some popular options include Canva, Paperless Post, Greenvelope, Greetings Island, and Minted. These websites offer a variety of templates and customization options to choose from.

Select a Template

Browse the website's collection of wedding invitation templates. You can filter your search by style, theme, colour, or layout to find a template that fits your wedding theme and personality. Whether you're having a rustic barn wedding or a modern city celebration, there are templates to suit every taste.

Customize Your Invitation

Once you've chosen a template, it's time to make it your own. Upload your engagement photos, play around with different fonts and colour schemes, and add your personal touch. Include all the essential details such as the full names of the couple, the date, time, and locations of the ceremony and reception, and information on how to RSVP.

Add Additional Information

Take advantage of the digital format by including extra blocks or sections in your invitation. You can provide travel or accommodation details, a schedule of events, and even photos and information about the wedding party. This will give your guests a comprehensive overview of your wedding celebrations.

Finalize and Share

Before sending out your invitations, take the time to proofread and ensure all the information is correct. Then, simply use the website's sharing options to send your invitations via email or share them directly on social media. You can also download your design and attach it to emails or messages.

Creating electronic wedding invitations on a graphic design website is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly option. It allows you to design beautiful, personalized invitations that your guests will love, without the hassle of printing and posting traditional paper invitations.

Downloadable templates

Canva, for example, offers a free wedding invitation maker with a selection of beautiful layouts to create an invitation worthy of the occasion. You can browse hundreds of templates for every theme, including destination, beach, and winter weddings. You can also add your own images, fonts, and colours, and customise your template by uploading photos and changing colour schemes. Canva also offers over 1 million premium images, graphics, and illustrations, many of which are free.

Adobe Express also offers free, customisable wedding invitation templates, with thousands of standout designs to choose from. You can upload your own photos or browse through libraries of free stock images, icons, and designs. You can also edit the text, change the font, adjust the colour, and resize your invitation to share on social media platforms.

Greetings Island offers free, online, editable wedding invitation cards with free download and printable options. They have an international team of stationery designers with hundreds of graphic designs available, and a wide range of themes to choose from, including floral, rustic, boho, and simple black and white. You can also add your own photos and customise fonts and colours.

Etsy also offers downloadable templates for digital wedding invitations, with themed designs and the ability to tweak the dates and text.

Finally, Wedding Chicks offers 35+ wedding invitation templates in a variety of styles, which can be customised with your own text and colour choices. Many of these templates also come with matching templates for RSVP cards, menus, favour tags, and table numbers.

Customising the design

Choose a Theme or Style

Decide on a theme or style that reflects your wedding's overall aesthetic. This could be anything from rustic greenery to celestial magic, enchanting florals, or minimalist elegance. You can also opt for a destination wedding, modern, or classic invitation style.

Colour Palette

Select a colour palette that complements your wedding colours or the overall theme. You can incorporate these colours into your invitation's background, text, and any decorative elements.

Photos and Illustrations

Add a personal touch by including your engagement photos or other images that represent your relationship. You can also utilise illustrations, such as florals, celestial bodies, or rustic elements, to enhance the design.

Fonts and Typography

Experiment with different fonts and typography to create a stylish and cohesive look. You can choose elegant scripts for a classic invitation or modern sans-serif fonts for a contemporary feel. Play around with font sizes, styles, and colours to find the perfect combination.

Customise the Layout

Most electronic invitation platforms offer customisation options for the layout. You can adjust the placement of text, images, and other design elements to create a balanced and visually appealing invitation.

Add Personal Details

Include personal details such as your wedding website, a map of the venue, accommodation options for guests, and any other relevant information. This will make your invitation more informative and help your guests plan their attendance.

Match Your Suite

Consider using the same design or theme for your save-the-dates, invitations, wedding website, and even thank-you cards. This creates a seamless and cohesive experience for your guests and adds a special touch to your wedding stationery.

Remember to have fun with the customisation process and choose a design that reflects your personality and the style of your wedding. By incorporating these customisation tips, you'll be sure to create stunning electronic wedding invitations that will impress your guests.

Sending the invitations

Once you've designed your electronic wedding invitations, it's time to send them out! There are several ways to do this, including email, text message, or through a shareable link. You can also use a specialist website or app to send your invitations, which can make the process easier and more streamlined.

If you're using a website or app, you may be able to upload your contacts and send the invitations in bulk. This can save you time and effort, and some services will even notify you when guests RSVP or comment. You can also schedule event reminders to be sent to your guests in the lead-up to your wedding.

Another advantage of using a specialist service is that you can often customize the digital envelope, adding a virtual liner in anything from glitter to gold. Some services also offer the option to create a link that allows guests to view a virtual envelope addressed to them individually and watch the invitation emerge, creating a special experience for your guests.

If you're sending your invitations via email, simply attach your invitation and press send. This option is ideal if you already have all your guests' email addresses, and it's a quick and easy way to get your invitations out.

For a more personalized touch, you can send your invitations via text message. This option is great if you want to ensure your guests receive the invitation directly on their phones, and it can also be a more informal and fun way to invite your guests.

Finally, if you're worried about any of your guests not having an email address, you can use a downloadable wedding invitation template and print out as many copies as you need for those guests. This way, you can still enjoy the convenience of electronic invitations while accommodating any guests who may not be as tech-savvy.

RSVP tracking

One of the biggest advantages of digital wedding invitations is the ease of RSVP tracking. With online invitations, you can say goodbye to the hassle of managing mailed responses and manually inputting data. Instead, you can utilise the various features offered by digital platforms to streamline the entire process.

Many platforms offer automated RSVP tracking, where responses are instantly recorded and organised in your digital database. This allows you to view real-time updates and see at a glance who has responded and who you are yet to hear from. Some platforms even allow you to require guests to enter their names for any event's RSVP, avoiding potential confusion and keeping things organised.

Custom RSVP forms are another useful feature, enabling you to personalise your questions and collect the information you need from your guests. You can ask about meal choices, song requests, travel plans, and more. This not only simplifies the planning process but also enhances the guest experience by accommodating their preferences and special requests.

Additionally, some platforms provide the functionality to create separate RSVP forms for multiple wedding events, such as the bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, and reception. This unified approach ensures that all responses for every event are consolidated in one place, making it easier to manage and track attendance.

To make the process even more efficient, some platforms offer automated reminder systems. These platforms will send reminders to guests who have not yet responded, saving you the trouble of following up manually. This helps ensure a higher response rate and more accurate attendance tracking.

Frequently asked questions