Designing Your Own E-Wedding Card: A Step-By-Step Guide

Planning a wedding can be stressful, and creating wedding invitations can be a tedious task. A fun and fuss-free alternative to traditional paper invites is to create e-invites. There are many mobile apps available to help you create e-invites, such as Canvas, which has over 100+ wedding invitation templates to choose from, and Wedding Invitation Cards Maker by VCSAPPS, which provides tons of customisation options. You can also create video wedding invitations using online platforms such as SeeMyMarriage.

Choosing a design platform

The first step in creating an e-wedding card is choosing a design platform. There are many options available, each with its own unique features and benefits. Here are some popular choices:

Canva: Canva is a well-known design platform that offers a wide range of templates, including over 100 wedding invitation templates. It has both free and premium versions, allowing you to unlock more features with a paid subscription. Canva also allows you to save your designs in your account and download them in various formats such as PNG, JPEG, or PDF.

Desgyner: Desgyner is a free Android app that offers numerous templates for wedding invitations and other graphic design projects. You can easily edit the text and change the background to customise your invitation. Additionally, Desgyner provides features like Duplicate, Layers, and Opacity for more design flexibility.

Evite: Evite is a user-friendly graphic design app with a vast selection of wedding invitation templates. It is perfect for non-professionals or first-timers looking to create elegant e-invites with minimal fuss. Evite requires you to create a free account to use their services.

Wedding Invitation Cards Maker by VCSAPPS: This Android app offers a simple and customisable way to create wedding e-invites. You can add optional details such as greetings, location, and RSVP information. It provides a variety of backgrounds and editing options, including stickers, quotes, signatures, and photo effects. The free version includes ads and in-app purchases for additional features.

Invitation Maker by Greetings Island: This app has a clean and simple user interface, allowing you to create invitations and cards for various occasions, including weddings. While it doesn't support adding your own images, you can edit the preloaded text and add new text and stickers to personalise your e-invite.

Invitation Card Maker App from Clear Coast LTD: This iOS-exclusive app offers a simple and elegant solution for creating e-invites. It provides a wide range of professionally crafted designs and templates, along with light and dark themes and attractive fonts. You can either print your e-invite or share it directly on social media with your friends and family.

When choosing a design platform, consider your specific needs, the level of customisation required, and the features offered by each platform. Some platforms may also offer additional benefits, such as printing services or the ability to share your designs directly on social media.

Adding personal touches

Photos and Illustrations

Add a personal touch by including photos or illustrations of you and your partner. This could be a recent picture or a collection of images from over the years. You could even create adorable cartoon-like invites with hand-drawn illustrations of you and your partner or your venue. If you're feeling creative, you can design a monogram of your initials to use on your e-wedding card and other wedding stationery.

Quotes and References

If you and your partner bonded over a particular book, movie, or song, you could include quotes or lyrics in your e-wedding card. This adds a personal touch and gives your guests an insight into something you both love.

Colours and Themes

Choose colours and themes that reflect your interests and personalities. If you're both avid travellers, you could incorporate elements from your favourite destinations, such as vintage postcards or photos. You could also use a colour palette that matches your wedding theme or a colour that is special to you.

Custom Fonts and Typography

Play around with different fonts and typography to add a unique touch to your e-wedding card. You can even stylise your font to fit your wedding theme. For example, if you're having a rustic wedding, you could use a handwritten or script font, while a more modern wedding might call for a sleek and minimalist font.

Personalised Message

Write a personalised message to your guests, sharing your excitement for the big day. This could be a heartfelt note or a fun and lighthearted message. You could even include a favourite quote or poem that reflects your relationship.

Creative Design Elements

Use design elements that are meaningful to you and your partner. This could be anything from a hand-drawn illustration of your venue to a custom map of your favourite places. You can also add decorative elements like florals, graphics, or even a monogram of your initials.

Remember, your e-wedding card is a chance to showcase your personalities and give your guests a sneak peek into what makes your relationship special. So, feel free to get creative and have fun with it!

Wording and etiquette

The wording of your e-wedding card will depend on a few factors: your relationship to the couple, their personalities and interests, the formality of the wedding, and their religious beliefs. Here are some tips and examples to help you craft the perfect message.

Guests Attending the Wedding

If you are attending the wedding, bring your card with you and leave it at the dedicated table, area, or box for cards and presents at the reception. Your message should be congratulatory and thank the couple for hosting a great day. Include a personal link or an inside joke. If you are giving money as a gift, arrange this separately through official channels set up by the couple.

The salutation should use the couple's first names, e.g., "Dear Ginny and Harry". The sign-off can be something heartfelt, such as "Wishing you a lifetime of happiness" or "With all our best wishes on your special day". For the envelope, use the couple's first names, their new married style (e.g., Mr. and Mrs. Potter), or address them as "The Newlyweds".

Guests Unable to Attend the Wedding

If you are unable to attend, you can still send a wedding card to the couple, in addition to your invitation reply. Cards can be sent in advance or after the wedding day. If sent in advance, wish the couple luck and best wishes, and express your disappointment at not being able to attend. Cards sent after the wedding should include heartfelt congratulations and good wishes.

The salutation and sign-off can be the same as for guests attending. For cards sent in advance, use an unmarried joint form of address, such as "Mr. H. Potter and Ms. G. Weasley". For cards sent after the wedding, use the new married style if names have been changed, e.g., "Mr. and Mrs. Potter".

Formal Wedding Wishes

If you've been invited to a formal wedding or have chosen a timeless and romantic card, a formal message is appropriate. These wishes will add a touch of sophistication to your card. Here are some examples:

• "Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness."
• "Your wedding day will come and go, but may your love forever grow."
• "Best wishes on this wonderful journey as you build your new lives together."
• "May the years ahead be filled with lasting joy."
• "May the true love you share today grow stronger as you grow old together."

Casual Wedding Wishes

If you prefer a more casual tone, go with something short, sweet, and relaxed. Here are some ideas:

• "Wishing you lots of love and a lifetime of happiness."
• "We love you. Congrats!"
• "Lots of love today and beyond."
• "Here's to a long and happy married life!"
• "So happy to celebrate this special day with you both!"

Funny Wedding Wishes

Writing a funny message can be a great way to make the couple laugh, but be careful. Avoid jokes that are sarcastic, insulting, or imply that one of them is the "better half". Also, stay away from divorce jokes and only wish the couple a happy married life. Here are some examples to get you started:

• "Thanks for inviting us to eat and drink while you get married. Congrats!"
• "Our marriage advice: Love, honour, and... scrub the toilet!"
• "Congratulations—your wedding successfully made me sob like a baby."
• "Is someone cutting onions? No, they're just my happy tears."
• "Wow, you two know how to throw a party! Thanks for having us, and congrats on a beautiful day."

Inspirational Wedding Wishes

Inspirational wishes should get the couple excited about their future together and reflect on how special your relationship with them is. Here are some ideas:

• "Your love inspires me—here's to my favourite couple."
• "You've come so far, and your future together is so bright. Happy wedding day."
• "I can't wait to see how the rest of your love story unfolds."
• "May every day together see your love grow deeper."
• "Today is just the beginning; it gets even better."

Religious Wedding Wishes

If the couple is religious, you can include religious elements in your message. Mention God, share your prayers, or include bible verses about love and marriage. Be sure to consider the couple's beliefs and practices and customize your message accordingly. Here are some examples:

• "May your marriage be blessed!"
• "Wishing you a marriage as strong as your faith."
• "Sending you prayers for unending love and happiness."
• "Love is the greatest blessing."
• "God bless you both on this day with a lifetime of shared love and joy."

Wedding Wishes for Friends

When writing a wedding card for a friend, you can go classic or get specific and personal. Consider your relationship and how funny, serious, personal, or sentimental you want your message to be. Here are some ideas:

• "I'm so happy to call you both my friends. Congratulations!"
• "Of all the big life events we've celebrated, today tops the list. Congrats!"
• "Thank you for inviting me to share this day with you and your family. Best wishes."
• "So thrilled to celebrate this wonderful day with you both."
• "May you bring each other as much happiness as your friendship has brought to my life—and more!"

Wedding Wishes for Family

When writing a wedding card for a family member, you have the flexibility to go very general or very personal. Here are some messages that work for various familial relationships:

• "Congratulations on your marriage and welcome to the family!"
• "We're so happy to welcome a new family member. Best wishes to you both!"
• "We're so happy [name] has found the one. Welcome to the family!"
• "We're delighted to share this day with you both."
• "May your love story continue with each passing year."
• "Today, we added one more member to our family, and we couldn't be happier. Best wishes in this next chapter."

Sending out the invites

Now that you've designed your e-wedding card, it's time to send out the invites. This is when all your hard work pays off! Here are some simple steps to follow when sending out your e-invites:

• Finalise your guest list: Before sending out the invites, make sure you have a finalised guest list. Go through it with your partner and families to ensure no one is missed out.
• Collect email addresses: As you will be sending out e-invites, make sure you have the correct email addresses for all your guests. You could also collect their phone numbers as a backup, in case they don't check their emails regularly.
• Test your e-invite: Before sending it out, test your e-invite by sending it to yourself and your partner. Make sure all the links work, and the formatting looks good. You could also send it to a small group of people to get some initial feedback.
• Add a personal message: When sending out the invites, you could add a personal message to each guest or group of guests. This adds a nice touch and makes the invite more special.
• Send the invites: Now, it's time to press send! Send out your e-invites to all your guests. Make sure you do this in advance, so they have enough time to RSVP.
• Follow up: After sending out the invites, some guests might need a gentle reminder to RSVP. Follow up with them via email or text message to ensure you get their response.
• Update your guest list: As the RSVPs start coming in, update your guest list accordingly. This will help you keep track of who is attending and plan accordingly.
• Send reminders: Closer to the date of your wedding, send out reminders to your guests with all the necessary information they need, such as the address of the venue and the schedule for the day.

By following these simple steps, sending out your e-wedding invites will be a smooth and enjoyable process!

Following up

Now that you've designed your e-wedding card, it's time to follow up. Here are some essential steps to ensure everything runs smoothly after sending out your invitations:

• Create a wedding website: While this is optional, it can be incredibly helpful for sharing additional information with your guests. A wedding website is especially useful if you want to include details that you may not want to put on your invitations, such as an adults-only wedding or gift registry information. This can be a one-stop shop for all the necessary information your guests may need.
• Set an RSVP deadline: Give your guests a clear deadline for responding to your invitation. This will help you get a more accurate headcount for catering and seating arrangements. Typically, the RSVP deadline should be set for 3-4 weeks before the wedding.
• Keep track of responses: It's important to follow up on missing responses as you get closer to the RSVP deadline. This will help you finalize your guest list and ensure that everyone who wants to attend can be accommodated.
• Update your guest list regularly: As responses come in, update your guest list accordingly. This will help you keep track of who is attending and make it easier to plan seating arrangements and other logistics.
• Communicate with your vendors: Share your final guest count with your caterers and any other vendors who need this information. This will help them prepare and ensure that they have enough supplies and staff for your event.
• Prepare any additional items: If you're including any additional items with your invitations, such as response cards, maps, or accommodation information, ensure that these are ready to go and included with your e-wedding cards.
• Test your e-wedding card: Before sending out your e-wedding card, test it on different devices and email providers to ensure that it displays correctly and that all the links work properly. This will help you avoid any last-minute technical glitches.
• Send reminders: As your wedding date approaches, send gentle reminders to your guests about the upcoming event. This is especially important for destination weddings or if many of your guests are travelling from out of town. A simple email or text message reminder a week before the wedding will help ensure that everyone arrives on time and ready to celebrate!
• Enjoy your special day: With all the planning and preparation complete, it's time to relax and enjoy your wedding day, surrounded by your loved ones!

By following these steps, you can ensure that your e-wedding card process runs smoothly and that you're well-prepared for your big day.

Frequently asked questions