EInvites: Digital Wedding Invitation Platforms

Digital Wedding Invitations Are Actually Pretty Great Now

So you’re thinking about doing digital invites and honestly yeah, this is something I help couples with all the time now. Back in like 2019 I would’ve said maybe skip it unless you’re doing a super casual thing, but everything changed during 2020-2021 obviously and now the platforms are actually really solid. I had this couple in spring 2023 who were so stressed about their stationery budget – they’d already blown through like $8k on the venue deposit and were looking at another $1200 for printed invitations and I was like… let’s look at digital options because why not.

The main platforms you’re gonna want to look at are Paperless Post, Greenvelope, Joy, Witty Vows, and Evite (yes Evite is still around and they’ve actually upgraded). There’s also Canva which technically works but I’ll get to why that one’s kinda annoying in a sec.

Paperless Post – The Fancy One

This is probably the most well-known and honestly it’s gorgeous. They have designs that look like actual paper invitations, with the whole flap-opening animation thing that makes it feel special. You pay with “coins” which is their weird currency system – basic free designs exist but the really pretty ones cost coins. Usually you’re looking at spending anywhere from $0.50 to $2.50 per invitation depending on the design you pick.

What I like: The tracking is really detailed. You can see exactly who opened their invite, who clicked through, who RSVP’d. They have this thing called “Text Invitation” now where guests get a text message with the invite link which actually gets way better open rates than email. My cat walked across my keyboard while I was setting one of these up for a client once and somehow RSVPed three fake guests and I didn’t notice until we were finalizing the catering count, so uh, maybe lock your computer.

The envelope liners and stamps are customizable. You can match your wedding colors. They also do proper digital save-the-dates that coordinate with your invitation suite.

What’s annoying: That coin system I mentioned? Yeah it’s confusing and you kinda have to do math to figure out your actual budget. Also their premium designs are beautiful but they really do add up if you have a big guest list. For 150 guests with a premium design you might spend $200-300.

Greenvelope – The Eco-Conscious Choice

This one markets itself as the environmental option and honestly the designs are beautiful. Very modern, very elegant. They have this feature where you can see your “environmental impact” – like how many trees you saved, how much water, etc. Some couples really love that messaging.

Pricing is subscription-based which is different. You pay around $300-400 for an annual plan that covers your save-the-dates, invitations, and any other event cards you need. If you’re doing multiple events (engagement party, shower, rehearsal dinner, wedding, maybe a post-wedding brunch) this actually becomes the most cost-effective option.

They have really good customer service – I’ve called them at like 8pm on a weeknight and gotten help. The RSVP management is clean and you can export everything to Excel easily. They also integrate with some wedding websites which is helpful.

One thing though: their design selection is smaller than Paperless Post. If you want something really specific or themed (like a beach wedding with palm trees and sunset colors) you might not find exactly what you’re looking for. The aesthetic is more… minimalist modern.

Joy – The Free Option That’s Actually Good

Okay so Joy is free. Completely free for the basic features. They make money through their registry services and other add-ons but the invitation part doesn’t cost anything. I recommended this to a couple who was DIY-ing most of their wedding in summer 2021 and they were so relieved because they’d already spent their whole budget on postponing from 2020.

The designs are nice – not as fancy as Paperless Post but definitely not cheap-looking. Very clean and modern. What makes Joy really useful is that it’s a whole wedding website platform too, so your invitation links directly to your wedding website where guests can get all the info, see your registry, book hotels, everything.

The RSVP system lets you ask custom questions (meal choices, dietary restrictions, song requests, whatever). You can collect mailing addresses through the platform which is super helpful for thank-you cards later. They also have a guest messaging feature so people can contact you directly through the site.

Downside: Because it’s free, you’re gonna see Joy branding on everything. There’s a “Powered by Joy” at the bottom. For some couples that’s totally fine, for others who want everything to look super custom and high-end… maybe not.

Witty Vows – The Personalization King

This platform is newer and honestly I’m kinda obsessed with their customization options. You can personalize each invitation with the guest’s name (like “Sarah, you’re invited to…”) which sounds small but people actually really love seeing their name. Makes it feel less mass-produced.

They have video invitation options too – you can record a personal message or use their templates. I had a couple do a cute 15-second video of them holding their dog and it was adorable. The open rate on those video invites was like 95% because people were curious.

Pricing is mid-range, around $1-2 per invite depending on features. They have really good analytics and you can send reminder notifications to people who haven’t RSVP’d yet, which honestly saves so much time because you know there’s always those people who just… forget.

The thing that annoyed me about Witty Vows though – and this is so specific but it drove me crazy – is that their mobile preview doesn’t always match what it looks like on desktop. I had a design that looked perfect on my computer and then when guests opened it on their phones the text was weirdly spaced. We fixed it but it took some back and forth with their support team.

Evite – Yes Really, It’s Different Now

I know what you’re thinking. Evite is what your mom used for book club in 2006. But they’ve actually completely redesigned and have a whole premium wedding section now. The free version still exists and still looks kinda basic, but Evite Premium is actually really nice.

Premium costs about $80-120 depending on your guest count and what features you want. The designs are pretty, they have good customization, and the interface is really user-friendly. Like if you’re not super tech-savvy, Evite is probably the easiest to figure out.

They also have really good privacy controls – you can make your event completely private, password-protected, whatever you need. The RSVP tracking is solid and they send automatic reminders.

The main issue is that… it’s still Evite. Some people have a perception that it’s not as “elevated” as other options. If you’re having a black-tie wedding at a historic mansion, maybe Evite doesn’t match the vibe even though technically the premium designs are nice enough.

Canva – DIY But Make It Complicated

Okay so Canva isn’t technically a wedding invitation platform but so many couples try to use it because they already know Canva and it’s cheap. You can design something beautiful in Canva for sure – they have tons of templates and you can customize everything.

But here’s where it gets annoying and this is the thing that legitimately frustrates me: Canva doesn’t have built-in RSVP management or tracking. You design your invite, download it as a PDF or image, and then… you have to figure out how to send it and collect RSVPs separately. Some people email the PDF and ask guests to reply by email (nightmare to track). Others use Canva for the design and then upload it to another platform (extra steps).

If you’re gonna use Canva, pair it with a Google Form for RSVPs or use a platform like Zola or The Knot that lets you upload custom designs. Don’t just send out a pretty PDF and hope people email you back because they won’t and you’ll be texting everyone individually two weeks before the wedding asking if they’re coming.

Actually Setting This Stuff Up

So once you pick your platform – and honestly just pick the one that has designs you like in your budget, they all basically work fine – here’s what you gotta do.

Timing

Send save-the-dates 6-8 months before the wedding (or earlier for destination weddings). Send the actual invitation 8-12 weeks before. Digital invites can go out a bit closer to the date than paper ones since there’s no mail time, but don’t push it. People still need time to plan.

Set your RSVP deadline for at least 3-4 weeks before the wedding. You need time to give final counts to your caterer and make seating charts and all that.

What Information To Include

This is where people either include way too much or not enough. You need: your names (obviously), date and time, venue name and address, dress code, and where to RSVP. That’s the basic invite.

Then on your wedding website (which should be linked from the invite) you put: full schedule, accommodations, registry, directions, parking info, FAQ section. Don’t try to cram all of that onto the invitation itself – it’s too much and people won’t read it.

For the RSVP form, ask: will you attend (yes/no), number of guests, meal choice if you’re doing plated dinner, and dietary restrictions. You can add one fun question like song requests but don’t go overboard. I’ve seen couples ask like 10 questions and then wonder why people didn’t finish the RSVP.

The Guest List Import

Most platforms let you import your guest list from a spreadsheet which is way easier than entering everyone manually. Set up your Excel or Google Sheet with columns for: first name, last name, email address, plus-one status, and maybe a notes column.

Make sure your email addresses are correct – I cannot stress this enough. I had a situation where a couple had like 15 invalid email addresses and those guests never got their invites and it became this whole thing where we had to track people down through Facebook. Double-check everything.

The Wording Thing

Digital invites can be slightly less formal than paper ones, but you still want to sound like yourself. If you’re having a formal wedding, keep the wording traditional (“request the honor of your presence” etc). If it’s casual, you can be more relaxed (“We’re getting married! Come party with us”).

One thing about digital invites is that you can include your wedding website link right there, so you can keep the invite text shorter and put details on the website. I actually prefer this because then you can update information (like if weather changes your outdoor ceremony location) without having to resend invites.

The Awkward Etiquette Questions

People always ask me if digital invitations are “tacky” or if older relatives will be offended. Honestly? Most people don’t care anymore. During the pandemic everyone got used to digital everything and it normalized what was already becoming more common anyway.

That said, if you have elderly grandparents who don’t use email or aren’t tech-savvy, you might want to send them a printed version. Most digital platforms let you create a PDF that you can print at home or at a print shop. Send those few paper copies to whoever needs them.

The other question is about gifts – some people worry that digital invites seem less “serious” and guests won’t give gifts. Nah, that’s not really how it works. People give gifts based on their relationship with you and their budget, not based on whether you spent money on paper invites.

Following Up With Non-Responders

This is where digital invites are actually way better than paper. You can see exactly who hasn’t opened their invite or hasn’t RSVP’d. Most platforms let you send reminder messages.

About two weeks after sending invites, nudge anyone who hasn’t opened theirs – maybe their email went to spam. Then a week before your RSVP deadline, send a friendly reminder to everyone who hasn’t responded. The platforms usually have templates for this so you don’t have to write it from scratch.

And honestly some people still won’t respond and you’ll have to text them. That’s just how it is. There are always those guests who ignore every form of communication until you personally contact them.

Money Stuff

Let’s talk actual costs because this is probably why you’re considering digital in the first place. Traditional paper invitations with envelopes, printing, and postage run anywhere from $3-8 per invite (and that’s for basic ones – fancy letterpress or foil can be $15-20 each). For 150 guests you’re looking at $450-1200 minimum.

Digital platforms range from free (Joy) to about $300-400 (Greenvelope annual plan) to $2-3 per invite (Paperless Post premium designs). Even at the high end you’re spending way less than paper.

Plus you save on postage which is not nothing – stamps are expensive now and if you’re sending save-the-dates and invitations that’s two rounds of postage. You also save time because you’re not stuffing envelopes or going to the post office or dealing with returned mail from wrong addresses.

Some couples do a hybrid approach – digital save-the-dates and paper invitations, or digital for most guests and paper for specific people. That works too if you want some physical stationery but need to watch your budget.

The Technical Stuff You Should Know

Make sure your design looks good on mobile because most people will open it on their phone. Preview it on both iPhone and Android if possible – sometimes things display differently.

Send yourself and a few friends test invitations before sending to your whole guest list. Check that all the links work, the RSVP form functions correctly, and everything displays properly. I learned this the hard way when a couple sent 200 invites and then realized their venue address link went to the wrong location on Google Maps.

Most platforms have scheduling features so you can set up everything in advance and have it send at a specific date and time. This is great if you’re organized and want to get it done early, or if you want your invites to arrive on a specific day (like a Saturday morning when people are more likely to check email leisurely).

Check your spam folder regularly after sending because sometimes guests’ replies end up there. Also some platforms send notifications to your email when someone RSVPs so make sure those are going to an email you actually check.