Save the Date
From the moment you say “I DO” to your venue, you can let guests know the date! Having a Save the Date is not always necessary, you can skip straight to an invitation, but it’s a fun way to announce your celebration, while also giving guests key information to lock it into their calendars.
Save the Dates can be either printed or mailed, whichever suits your budget or the method by which you hope to collect information. Online save the dates are great because you can ask for mailing addresses if doing a printed invitation (more on that later!) and you can also direct guests to a wedding website right away with any other general details you wish to share at that time.
The Invitation
Online versus printed wedding invitations - a tale as old as time. We love both, and they both come with pros and cons that all can be weighed by the couple’s needs, wants or vision for their day. There is no right or wrong answer - just your personal preference! Here are some pros and cons of online and printed invitations!
Cost-Effective & Eco-Friendly, but Limited Design & Personalization
Having an online invitation means no printing costs and no traditional postage costs. And of course, no hassle with the mail system! It also means you are reducing your impact on the environment from paper to carbon footprint with delivery implications, which is a huge factor for many couples. However, often using online invitation websites or platforms can limit your ability to add some key personal touches, or design your invitation to its fullest. Some websites allow you to upload your pre-designed image, but not always. Some websites also have digital postage fees for sending out your invitation so it’s something to keep in mind.. Physical invitations also can hold sentimental value and lots of guests treasure them, hold on to them, or frame them to keep them.
Convenient, but maybe too convenient
Online invitations are convenient - your guests get them instantly to their email inbox, with no hassle or waiting for print shops, mail systems or delivery. Online is easy to access, and you can get instant responses from your guests, as many online systems include immediate RSVP options. However, online invitations can sometimes get missed in an email inbox, end up in someone’s spam box or a guest may have already unsubscribed from the platform you’re using, eliminating some of the efficiency perks of the site. It can also be too convenient in the ability to respond right away, that some guests might put it off and cause a delay.
Couples also sometimes comment that online invitations reduce the feeling of exclusivity, or an ability to represent them as a couple. Having a printed version often achieves just this, which is why it can be such a popular option.
Having a mailed invitation, while a tangible memory, is also exciting - who doesn’t love getting a beautiful envelope addressed to them!? In a technology-focused world, it is so nice sometimes to receive a hard copy of something, personalized to the guest from the couple. Though slower, receiving a printed invitation is always worth it.
Easy to Share, Quick to Update but only if Guests are Tech-Savvy
Online invitations are easy to update, revise, change, etc. and often have message broadcasting services on the back end, making it easy to communicate with your guests should there be a major change to your wedding day. They also can embed an RSVP option, which is then tracked on the back end in a seamless online, exported document.
On the flip side, some of your guests may not be tech-savvy or unfamiliar with the digital tools, causing them to struggle to access the information you're providing. Or, if someone lives abroad or in a remote area, online access may be limited which leaves them unable to respond in the time you’d like them to. Some guests may also have privacy concerns, or not feel comfortable using an online system.
A common compromise? Having a dual system - the majority of your guests receive an online invitation, while select guests, or older guests, receive a printed version to either be mailed or hand-delivered by the couple themselves. Having Trouble Hearing Back from Vendors
In the beginning, give them grace. A lot of vendors spend a lot of time working outside their emails, especially during a busy wedding season! Monday is our Sunday! However, if you are consistently not hearing back from them, politely explain that you would like more communication and provide them the opportunity to explain their work style, hours and response times.
However, before getting to this place, it is important to set these expectations early and have these conversations! We all work hard, and things can be crazy busy, but be sure to protect what you’re expecting based on details outlined in the contract.
The Day-of Signage
Welcome Sign
A welcome sign greets your guests as they arrive, and also helps as directional signage should you be somewhere that has multiple weddings, or multiple locations.
Directional Signs
Often used on private property weddings or in venues where there are multiple events happening, this helps direct guests to the various areas they need to go to during a wedding day, especially if the property is larger or there aren’t staff there to direct
