Email Wedding Invitations: The Knot's Guide To Digital Etiquette

Wedding invitations are a crucial part of wedding planning. While traditional paper invites are still popular, digital wedding invitations are becoming an increasingly common choice for couples. In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of emailing wedding invitations, specifically focusing on using the online wedding planning platform, The Knot. We will discuss the benefits, such as cost-effectiveness and convenience, as well as potential drawbacks, like accessibility concerns and design limitations. By the end of this article, you should have all the information you need to decide if emailing wedding invitations from The Knot is the right choice for your special day.

Pros of digital wedding invitations

There are several advantages to sending digital wedding invitations. Here are some of the most notable pros:

Affordability

Digital wedding invitations are a more affordable option compared to traditional paper invitations. The cost of paper, printing, and postage for traditional invitations can quickly add up, with some couples spending anywhere from $750 to $5000 or more on their wedding invitations. In contrast, digital invitations can be designed and sent online for free or at a significantly lower cost. This makes them a great option for couples on a tight budget or those who prefer to allocate their funds elsewhere, such as towards an open bar at the reception.

Eco-Friendliness

Digital invitations are environmentally friendly as they reduce unnecessary paper waste. This is especially important for couples who are conscious of their wedding's impact on the environment and want to plan a sustainable celebration. By opting for digital invites, couples can rest assured that their invitations are eco-friendly and tree-free.

Convenience and Efficiency

Digital invitations are convenient for both the couple and their guests. They eliminate the need for trips to the post office and make it easier for guests to respond promptly. Additionally, digital platforms often include RSVP tracking features, allowing couples to see who has received, opened, and responded to their invitations at a glance. This streamlines the RSVP process and reduces the time spent chasing late responses.

Reduced Risk of Loss or Damage

When sending traditional invitations through the mail, there is always a chance of them getting lost or damaged during transit. Digital invitations, on the other hand, are delivered directly to the guests' inboxes, reducing the risk of loss or damage and giving the couple one less thing to worry about.

Design Cohesion

With digital wedding invitations, it is easier to create a cohesive design suite that includes save-the-dates, invitations, wedding websites, and even thank-you cards. Couples can incorporate their wedding colors, themes, and overall design concepts into their digital invitations, creating a seamless and impressive package for their guests.

How to send digital wedding invitations

Digital wedding invitations are a great way to save money and time, as well as being more environmentally friendly than traditional paper invites. If you've decided to go digital, here's a step-by-step guide to sending your wedding invitations.

Step 1: Choose a Platform

There are several online platforms that offer digital wedding invitation services, such as Greenvelope, Evite, Paperless Post, Bliss & Bone, and Punchbowl. These sites offer a range of templates and customisation options, as well as RSVP tracking and other features.

Step 2: Design Your Invitation

When designing your digital invitation, consider incorporating your wedding colours, themes, and fonts to create a cohesive package. You can also add virtual envelopes, wax seals, and stamps to give it a more traditional feel. If you're using a site like Etsy, you'll need to download an editable template, tweak the dates and text, and then upload it to your chosen digital invitation platform.

Step 3: Collect Guest Information

Before you can send your invitations, you'll need to gather email addresses for all your guests. This can be more time-consuming than a traditional mailing list, as you'll need an individual email address for each guest, rather than a household.

Step 4: Send Your Invitations

Once you've finalised your guest list and email addresses, it's time to send your invitations. Most digital invitation platforms will allow you to input your guest's email addresses and send the invitations in bulk with a simple click. You can also usually add a subject line and additional text to the email.

Step 5: Manage RSVPs

With digital invitations, managing RSVPs is much easier. Guests can usually click a link to RSVP directly on your wedding website, and you'll instantly have their response. Some platforms also offer RSVP tracking and reminder features for guests who haven't responded.

While digital wedding invitations offer many benefits, it's important to consider any potential drawbacks, such as accessibility for less tech-savvy guests and the lack of a physical keepsake. However, with careful planning and consideration, digital invitations can be a convenient and cost-effective option for your wedding.

Best digital wedding invitation sites

There are many sites that offer digital wedding invitations, each with their own unique designs, features, and pricing plans. Here are some of the best digital wedding invitation sites:

Bliss & Bone

Bliss & Bone offers immersive digital invitations that give the impression of paper. Their designs incorporate shadows, textures, and dimensional objects, creating a dreamy flatlay image for guests to receive. The invitations are sent via email and drive guests to a personal wedding invitation event page, where they can RSVP and access additional information such as maps, hotel notes, and dress code reminders. Pricing starts at $0.90 per recipient for 10 or more recipients.

Evite

Evite is a well-known platform that offers a range of free and premium options for digital wedding invitations. They have sophisticated and casual designs to suit different wedding themes. Evite Premium allows for further customisation, including adding photos, embellishments, and custom designs. Evite also offers the option to send invitations in a digital envelope without advertisements. Pricing for premium invitations starts at $15.99 for 15 invitations.

Greenvelope

Greenvelope offers a range of designer suites that can be customised to match your wedding style, from modern and chic to rustic and vintage. You can edit the background, colours, text, and even add a virtual liner to the digital envelope. Greenvelope also includes RSVP tracking, allowing you to easily manage guest responses, send reminders, and make last-minute updates. Pricing starts at $19 for up to 20 people.

Paperless Post

Paperless Post offers a wide array of beautiful digital wedding invitation designs from popular designers such as Kate Spade New York, Rifle Paper Co., and Oscar de la Renta. You can also upload your own design or collaborate with their Personal Design Services team for custom invitations. Paperless Post provides helpful event management tools such as guest communication, RSVP tracking, and mailing address collection. Pricing starts at 2 coins per guest, with coins sold in packages starting at $12 for 25 coins.

The Knot

The Knot is a well-known digital wedding brand that offers printed and paperless stationery. They have a collection of wedding invitation designs in various styles, including vintage, modern, boho, and industrial. You can personalise the colour schemes, fonts, and include coordinating cards. The Knot's invitations tend to be on the more expensive side, but they offer options to fit most budgets. Pricing starts at around $199 per 100 invitations.

Cost of digital wedding invitations

Digital wedding invitations are a great way to save money and cut down on the time and effort spent on sending out physical invites. They are also more environmentally friendly and can be a good option if you're planning your wedding at short notice.

The cost of digital wedding invitations can vary depending on several factors, including the supplier, level of customisation, and the number of guests. Here's a breakdown of the costs you can expect:

Online Wedding Invitation Services:

• Paperless Post: This service offers a wide range of designs, including exclusive and rustic options. The cost is determined by the number of "Coins" purchased, which are used to buy and send invitations. Coins are sold in packages, with each Coin costing less when bought in bulk. For example, a package of 25 Coins costs $12, while 1,000 Coins cost $120.
• Etsy: Etsy offers downloadable templates for digital wedding invitations, with prices set by individual sellers. Downloads can start as low as $2, but you'll also need to factor in the cost of sending out the invitations through another provider.
• Evite: Evite offers both standard and premium digital invitations. The premium option starts at $15.99 for 15 invitations and includes additional features like photo and embellishment options.
• Greenvelope: Greenvelope invitations are priced based on the number of guests, with costs starting at $19 for up to 20 people. This includes RSVP tracking.
• Bliss & Bone: Invitations are priced per recipient and start at $0.90 per person. They offer modern and sleek designs with features like texture and shadowing to mimic the look and feel of traditional paper invitations.

DIY Digital Wedding Invitations:

Creating your own digital wedding invitations can be a more affordable option, but it will require more time and effort. You can design your own invitations using online tools or downloadable software and then send them out yourself via email or text. The cost will depend on the software or tools you use, as well as the number of guests you're inviting.

Comparison to Physical Wedding Invitations:

Digital wedding invitations are typically much more affordable than physical invitations. Physical invitations can cost anywhere between $5,000 and $8,000 on average, while digital invitations rarely exceed $100. Additionally, digital invitations save you from the additional costs of postage, envelopes, and other stationery items.

Cons of digital wedding invitations

While digital wedding invitations are a great option for many couples, there are a few drawbacks to consider before committing to this option.

Firstly, digital wedding invitations may be inaccessible to less tech-savvy recipients, particularly older guests who are not as familiar with digital communication. There is also the risk of your email invitation landing in the junk mail folder. To avoid this, you could consider sending paper invitations to older guests or those who prefer a more traditional approach.

Secondly, creating and sending digital invitations requires gathering the email addresses of all your intended guests. This can be more time-consuming and labour-intensive than sending physical invitations, especially if members of the same household do not share an email address. Sending multiple invitations to the same household could also result in additional costs and may feel odd if you are equally close to both members of a couple.

Another drawback is the limited design options available for digital wedding invitations. There is something special about receiving a beautifully crafted, bespoke paper invitation designed by a professional. Paper invitations also allow for customisation and rush print and delivery services, ensuring that your invitation suits your unique style and arrives on time.

Lastly, digital wedding invitations may lack the sentimentality and gravitas of a traditional paper invitation. Some guests may prefer the sentimentality of a paper invitation that they can keep as a memento. Additionally, there have been instances of guest confusion surrounding digital invitations, where guests assume a paper invitation will follow, or that the digital invitation is an informal precursor to the main event.

Frequently asked questions