Crafting The Perfect Digital Wedding Invitation: Tips And Tricks

Digital wedding invitations are a great way to save time and money, be environmentally friendly, and seamlessly incorporate your wedding colours and themes. When it comes to what to write in a digital wedding invitation, the content won't differ much from a traditional paper invitation. However, you will need to compose an email subject line and additional text. Here's a standard template you can follow:

Subject Line: You're invited to our wedding

Together with their families, [Bride] & [Groom] invite you to celebrate their marriage [Date] at [Time] at [Venue Name and Address]. Dinner and dancing to follow.

The request to come to the wedding

"We request the honour of your presence at our wedding as we exchange our vows and begin our journey as a married couple. We would be delighted and feel deeply honoured if you could join us on this special day and celebrate with us."

"You are cordially invited to witness the union of [Bride] and [Groom] and share in our joy as we exchange our wedding vows. Your presence at our wedding would bring us immense happiness, and we kindly request the pleasure of your company for this memorable occasion."

"It would mean the world to us if you could attend our wedding ceremony and be a part of this significant moment in our lives. We kindly request the honour of your presence as we celebrate our love and commitment to each other. We hope you will join us and be a part of this joyful day."

"We invite you to join us at our wedding and be a witness to the love that has brought us together. We would be deeply grateful for your presence as we celebrate this special day and begin our new life together as a married couple. We request the honour of your company at our wedding ceremony and reception."

"Your support and presence at our wedding would mean so much to us as we embark on this new chapter of our lives together. We kindly request the pleasure of your company to celebrate our union and share in our happiness. We hope you will be able to join us and be a part of this memorable occasion."

The names of the couple

Traditionally, the bride's name comes first, followed by the groom's full name and title. However, this tradition is not set in stone, and same-sex couples may choose to list names alphabetically or based on what looks best with the invitation design.

If the bride's parents' names are listed at the top of the invite, the bride's name can be her first and middle name, without her last name. In this case, the groom's name is either listed in full or with his first and middle names followed by "Son of Mr. & Mrs..."

For informal invites, first names only are fine.

• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Talia Camila Flores and Stephen Anthony Byrne"
• "Talia Flores and Stephen Byrne invite you to a celebration of their love and commitment"
• "Together with their parents, Talia Flores and Stephen Byrne invite you to share in their joy as they tie the knot"
• "Mr. & Mrs. Jon Flores request the honour of your company at the marriage of their daughter Talia Camila Flores to Stephen Anthony Byrne"
• "Mr. & Mrs. Tom Byrne request the honour of your company at the marriage of Talia Camila Flores to their son, Stephen Anthony Byrne"
• "Talia Camila Flores and Stephen Anthony Byrne request the honour of your company at the celebration of their union"

Reception information

The reception information can be included on a separate card if you are going for a very formal invitation. Otherwise, it can be included on the invitation itself if there is room. If the ceremony and reception are in the same location, you can write "and afterward at the reception" or "reception immediately following". If the reception is elsewhere, it goes on a separate line.

Include the time if the wedding reception is not immediately following the ceremony.

If you are including the dress code on the invitation, it is usually placed in the lower right-hand corner. If you don't include a note on attire, the invitation itself will indicate the dress code. For example, if the invitation is very fancy, guests will likely be anticipating a formal, black-tie affair. Conversely, a simpler invitation indicates a more casual dress code.

You can also include a separate response card for guests to fill out and return, or you can have them RSVP via your wedding website.

Date, time and location of the wedding

The date, time, and location of the wedding are essential details that should be included in any wedding invitation. Here are some tips and examples to help you craft this section of your digital wedding invitation:

Providing the Date and Time:

• Formal invitations use a written-out format, such as "Saturday, the ninth of October, two thousand twenty-one at five o'clock in the evening."
• For casual weddings, using numerals is acceptable, e.g., "Saturday, 10/09/2021, 5:00 pm."
• If desired, you can omit the year, as the assumption is that the wedding will take place on the nearest date.
• Specify the time of day using "o'clock" or "half after five o'clock." The use of a.m. or p.m. is optional.

Sharing the Location Details:

• Include the name and address of the venue(s). The street address may be omitted if its omission won't cause confusion or if the wedding is held at the host's home.
• For very formal invitations, provide the reception information on a separate card. Otherwise, you can include it on the invitation itself if there is room.
• If the ceremony and reception are in the same location, you can write, "and afterward at the reception" or "reception immediately following."
• When the reception is held elsewhere, list the location on a separate line.
• Include the time if the wedding reception is not immediately after the ceremony.

Example 1:

"Together with their families, Emma and Jax request the pleasure of your company to celebrate their marriage on Saturday, the twelfth of June, two thousand twenty-three, at four o'clock in the afternoon, at The Garden Villa, 123 Main Street, Anytown, USA. Reception to follow at the same location."

Example 2:

"You are cordially invited to celebrate the marriage of Chloe and Matthew on Saturday, the twenty-fifth of August, at three o'clock in the afternoon, at St. Patrick's Cathedral, 456 Cathedral Lane, Dublin, Ireland. Dinner and dancing will follow at the Country Club, 789 Country Club Drive."

Example 3:

"Please join us for the wedding celebration of Grace and Travis on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at five o'clock in the evening, at The Ritz-Carlton, 987 Lake Shore Drive, St. Louis, Missouri. Merriment and festivities will continue at the same location immediately following the ceremony."

Remember to include all the necessary details clearly and accurately so your guests can plan accordingly.

How to RSVP

When it comes to RSVPs, there are a few different options to choose from. You can include a separate response card for guests to fill out and return by mail, or you can opt for a more modern approach and have guests RSVP via your wedding website. If you choose to use a wedding website for RSVPs, be sure to include the website address on a separate card, just as you would with a traditional response card. This will make it easy for your guests to know where to go to respond to your invitation.

If you're using a wedding website for RSVPs, it's important to choose a site that offers RSVP tracking. This will make it easy for you to keep track of who has responded and will help you stay organised. Some sites also offer the ability to send event reminders to your guests in the days leading up to your wedding, which can be helpful for keeping track of your guest list.

When it comes to the deadline for RSVPs, it's generally recommended to set the date three to four weeks before your wedding. This will give you enough time to follow up on any missing responses and finalise your guest list before providing final numbers to your vendors.

To make the RSVP process as smooth as possible for your guests, be sure to include all the necessary information in your invitation. This includes the full names of the couple, the date and time of the ceremony and reception, the names and locations of the wedding venues, and clear instructions on how to RSVP. You may also want to include the deadline for responses, especially if you're using a digital RSVP system.

"To RSVP, please visit our wedding website at [website URL] and let us know if you can join us. The deadline for responses is [date]."

By including all the necessary information and providing clear instructions, you can ensure that your guests will have no trouble RSVPing to your digital wedding invitation.

Frequently asked questions