Creating A Wedding Invitation Link: A Step-By-Step Guide

Wedding invitations are a great way to give your guests a sneak peek of your special day. While printed wedding invitations were the norm in the past, virtual wedding invitations are now becoming more popular. There are many online platforms that offer customisable digital wedding invitations, such as Canva, Paperless Post, Evite, and My Invitation Link. These platforms offer various templates, designs, and features that allow you to create stylish and elegant invitations that match your wedding theme. You can also include multimedia elements, such as music and photos, to make your invitations more dynamic and personalised. Digital invitations are often more affordable, environmentally friendly, and convenient for both the couple and their guests. They also allow for easier RSVP tracking and can be easily shared via email, text, or social media. Whether you choose printed or digital invitations, they are a wonderful way to invite your loved ones to celebrate your big day.

Choosing a platform

There are many online platforms that allow you to create digital wedding invitations. These services offer a range of features, from customisable templates to RSVP tracking, and can be a more affordable and eco-friendly option than traditional paper invitations. Here are some of the top platforms to consider:

My Invitation Link is an online wedding invitation service that enables users to create dynamic multimedia invites. The invites can include music, pictures, and multiple text slides. The service offers a range of templates with customisable backgrounds, text styles, borders, and default audio. You can also add your own photos, music, and text to personalise your invitation. My Invitation Link allows you to include RSVP, social media buttons, and registry links, and provides a map feature.

Paperless Post offers customisable online wedding invitations from designers such as Oscar de la Renta, Rifle Paper Co., and kate spade new york. You can enhance your invitation with your preferred colours, fonts, and photos, and coordinate with matching bridal shower invitations, bachelorette party invitations, and thank-you cards. Paperless Post allows you to add a photo gallery, registry blocks, and track RSVPs. They also offer printed invitations through Paper Source. The pricing is based on "coins", which are sold in packages, with 25 coins costing $12.

Greenvelope provides a range of designer suites that can be customised or uploaded as a custom design. They offer various styles, including modern, chic, rustic, and vintage, and allow you to edit the background, colours, and text. You can also customise the digital envelope with virtual liners. Pricing starts at $19 for up to 20 people and includes RSVP tracking.

Evite is another popular platform, offering standard email invitations with ads for free, or premium invitations without ads starting at $15.99 for 15 invitations. Evite Premium allows you to add photos, embellishments, and custom designs. You can also schedule event reminders and request that guests send photos taken during the wedding.

Zola provides hundreds of themes, allowing you to match your save-the-dates, thank-you cards, and wedding website. Zola offers customisation options, free guest addressing, and free shipping for printed cards. They also provide a guest list manager to track RSVPs.

Minted offers foil-press, gloss-press, and letter-press designs, as well as "Day of" stationery, including place cards, escort cards, table numbers, seating charts, and wedding signs. They also provide free guest addressing.

Zazzle has a wide range of categories to choose from, such as "floral", "rustic", "modern", and "watercolour". They can create matching products like mugs, t-shirts, and koozies as party favours. Zazzle also offers sales and promotions.

Other platforms to consider include Bliss & Bone, known for their modern and sleek designs, and Etsy, which offers downloadable templates for digital invitations, including classic and rustic options, at affordable prices.

Selecting a template

Theme and Style

The first step is to decide on the theme and style of your wedding invitation. Do you want something classic and elegant, or modern and trendy? Are you going for a rustic or floral theme? Greetings Island offers a wide range of themes, from classic to modern, traditional to minimalist, and floral to rustic. Canva also offers hundreds of editable designs suitable for any wedding theme.

Customization Options

When selecting a template, consider the level of customization options you desire. Some templates allow for full editing, including positioning, font, and colors, while others may have limited customization options. Canva, for example, offers templates with customizable photos, fonts, and color schemes, while Greetings Island allows for custom fonts, colors, stickers, and photos.

Cost

The cost of wedding invitation templates can vary. While some websites offer free templates, others charge a subscription fee or a one-time payment for premium templates. Greetings Island, for instance, offers a subscription plan for $23.40 per year or $1.95 per month, giving you unlimited access to their designs.

Printing Options

Decide whether you want to print the invitations yourself or use a professional printing service. If you plan to print them yourself, ensure you have access to a high-quality printer and enough ink supply. Some websites, like Canva, offer in-house printing for an additional cost, while others, like Greetings Island, allow you to download and print the invitations yourself.

Additional Features

Consider any additional features you may want, such as RSVP tracking, envelope and liner options, or the ability to add photos and monograms. Paperless Post, for example, offers RSVP tracking and the ability to add photos and monograms.

By considering these factors, you can select a template that aligns with your vision, budget, and desired level of customization for your wedding invitation.

Adding photos and music

Choosing Photos

You can add a personal touch to your wedding invitation by including photos of you and your partner. Consider using an engagement photo or a monogram for a polished look. You can also create a slideshow or collage of photos that tell your love story. If you don't have any suitable photos, you can make use of stock images from the platform's library or consider a graphic design.

Selecting Music

Music can add a special touch to your wedding invitation. Opt for romantic and enchanting music to match the biggest event of your life. You can choose from royalty-free music libraries offered by some platforms, or upload your own songs. Consider the following when selecting your music:

• The genre and mood of the music: Choose something that fits the occasion, such as romantic or cheerful.
• The length of the music: Ensure the music is an appropriate length for the invitation.
• The volume and tempo: Pick songs with a volume and tempo that are easy to listen to and don't overpower the other elements of the invitation.

Customising with Photos and Music

When customising your wedding invitation, you can add photos and music to enhance the overall design. Here are some ideas on how to incorporate them:

• Background or backdrop: Use a photo or a slideshow of photos as the background of your invitation. You can also add music to play in the background while guests view the invitation.
• Slideshow or gallery: Create a dedicated section for your photos and music within the invitation. This can be a slideshow or gallery that guests can click through.
• Transition or animation: Use photos and music as transitions between different sections of your invitation. For example, you could have a photo fade-in or slide-in animation accompanied by music.
• Custom stamps or liners: Some platforms offer the ability to add custom stamps or envelope liners. You can use photos or music notes as part of these designs.

Platforms with Photo and Music Options

When choosing a platform to create your wedding invitation link, consider the following options that offer photo and music customisation:

• Smilebox: Allows you to add photos from your device or social media accounts, and offers a vast collection of tunes or the option to upload your own songs.
• FlexClip: Features a large music library and the ability to add your own songs. It also offers dynamic text animations and elegant templates.
• Animaker: Provides the option to drag and drop your own photos and music, as well as a library of visuals and tracks. It also offers 100+ royalty-free music tracks to choose from.
• Paperless Post: Enables you to enhance your invitation with photos and offers customisable envelope liners.

Creating text slides

To create text slides, you'll first need to select a template that suits your wedding theme and style. Once you've chosen a template, you can start editing the text.

When editing the text, consider the key information you want to include, such as the request for attendance, the names of the couple, the date, time, and location of the wedding, and any additional details like the wedding website or gift registry information.

You can also customize the text slides by changing the font style, size, and colour to match your wedding theme and your personal preferences. Play around with different combinations to see what works best with your template and text content.

Some platforms, like My Invitation Link, offer dynamic multimedia invites where you can embed music and pictures along with text slides. You can either upload your own music or choose from their existing audio library to create a rich and engaging invitation.

Remember to proofread your text slides carefully to ensure all the information is accurate and there are no typos or errors. Once you're happy with the content and design, you can save and download your invitation to send out to your guests via email or shareable links.

Sending the invites

Now that you've designed your wedding invitations, it's time to send them out! The method you choose—digital or print—will determine the next steps you need to take.

If you've opted for digital invites, you'll need to decide on a website or platform to host your invitations. There are many options available, including Paperless Post, Evite, Greenvelope, Bliss & Bone, and Canva, which offer a range of features to suit your needs. Some sites allow you to create customizable URLs, add photo galleries and registry blocks, and track RSVPs. Others offer a variety of design templates to choose from, ensuring your invitation matches your wedding's theme and style.

Once you've selected a platform, you'll need to create an account and input your guest's contact information. This is a straightforward process, and most platforms will guide you through the steps. After that, you can send your invitations with just a few clicks!

If you prefer printed invitations, you'll need to purchase envelopes and stamps. This option can be more time-consuming, as you'll need to address and stuff each envelope by hand. However, it may be a better choice if you have older guests who may not be comfortable with digital invitations. It's also a more traditional option, creating a keepsake for you and your guests.

Whether you choose digital or printed invitations, be sure to include all the necessary information, such as the date, time, and location of the wedding, as well as any additional details like dress code or accommodation options for guests.

Remember to send your invitations with plenty of time to spare. For a local wedding, six to eight weeks in advance is standard, while destination weddings may require a longer lead time of four to six months.

Frequently asked questions