Considering Digital Wedding Invitations? Here's What You Need to Know

After you've booked your wedding venue and finalized your guest list, the next step is sending out your invites. Regardless of whether you decide to send save-the-dates or not, wedding invitations are a necessity in order to alert your loved ones to all of the details associated with your big day. Yet before you send them out, you'll need to choose between paper and digital invitations. And while you may assume that paper invitations are the only way to create a stunning suite, modern digital versions can be just as show-stopping.

As the introduction to your wedding's aesthetic, you'll want to consider the vision you have for your big day when designing a digital invitation. Unlike paper invites, digital sites often include a number of features that can incorporate many of the details associated with your celebration into the invite itself. For example, you may choose a color palette, work in a signature pattern, or identify a font that will also appear at your nuptials. Using a digital invite also allows guests to fill out their RSVP card online.

Unsure of whether digital wedding invitations are the right choice for you? Here, we'll explain their many advantages (they make RSVPs a breeze!) and walk you through how to send these e-vites successfully. Plus, we share several of our favorite online digital platforms to consider for your wedding—from Paperless Post to Riley & Gray. Read on for more.

Is It Okay to Send Digital Wedding Invitations?

Yes. Many modern couples decide to send digital wedding invitations instead of a paper option. "It’s eco-friendly, affordable, and won’t get lost in the mail," Diane Gottsman, the owner of The Protocol School of Texas and author of Modern Etiquette previously told BRIDES.

4 Benefits of Digital Wedding Invitations

Digital wedding invitations serve the same purpose as paper ones: requesting the presence of your loved ones at your celebration. However, there are some unique benefits to the former. Below, we break down a few to know.

You'll Save Time and Money

For a wedding of 100 guests, you'll typically need to pay more than $500 for physical wedding invitations. And if you opt for a lot of add-ons, such as foil stamps, wax seals, and edging, your invites could be thousands of dollars. However, digital wedding invitations typically cost no more than $100. In addition to saving money, you'll also save a lot of time. Just imagine it: no envelopes to close, no stamps to secure, and no writing addresses in your best cursive until your hand cramps.

They're Environmentally Friendly

If you're an environmentally-conscious couple or concerned with the waste associated with your big day, digital wedding invitations eliminate the need for paper, allowing you to do your part for the planet.

You'll Create a Cohesive Design

With digital wedding invitations, it's incredibly easy to make your save-the-dates, invitations, wedding website, and even thank-you cards all part of the same design suite. This leads to a more cohesive package from start to finish—something your guests will surely notice.

RSVPs Are Easier for Everyone

With an online invitation service, RSVPs are so simple—for both the couple and their guests. Rather than having everyone fill out an RSVP card and mail it back, family and friends will be directed to your wedding website, where they can immediately check yes or no. Instead of anxiously checking the mailbox every day, you'll be able to see real-time notifications on your website.

Where to Buy Digital Wedding Invitations

If you're convinced that digital wedding invitations are the way to go, there are a few sites you should check out. The following online services are affordable, intuitive, and offer tons of templates.

Greenvelope

Whether you upload your own custom design or tailor one of Greenvelope's designer suites, the entire process is straightforward from start to finish. You'll find every style of design—from modern and chic to rustic and vintage. Whatever you choose, you're able to edit the background, the colors, and, of course, the text. You can even customize the digital envelope by adding a virtual liner in anything from glitter to gold.

Pricing: Packages start at $19 (for up to 20 people) and include RSVP tracking.

Evite

Evite allows you to important your contacts directly onto their platform, making the invitation process simple and easy. After sending your invites, you'll be notified as soon as your guests RSVP or comment on your event. You can also schedule event reminders in the days leading up to your nuptials—and even select an option that will ask your invited guests to email any photos they take during your big day.

With Evite Premium, you can further tailor your invitation by adding photos and embellishments or uploading your own custom designs with the "Design Your Own" option. Plus, as an added bonus, the invitation will be sent in a digital envelope without advertisements.

Pricing: Premium invitations begin at $17.99 for 12 invitations. (You can also set up standard email invitations that do not include the ability to RSVP and have ads; some of these are free.)

Paperless Post

Paperless Post prides itself on being a "pretty and practical" solution for couples. With designs from Kate Spade New York, Rifle Paper Co., Oscar de la Renta, and Mr. Boddington's Studio, you're sure to fall in love with one of their beautiful invitation templates. Nothing catching your interest? Bring your vision to life by uploading your own design. Plus, Paperless Post will track delivery, collect RSVPs, and message guests, so you don't have to.

Pricing: Customers need to purchase "coins" from the site in order to pay for their purchases. Coins are sold in various packages.

Bliss & Bone

Modern and sleek, Bliss & Bone's digital offerings are about as close to in-real-life paper as it gets, thanks to unique features like texture and shadowing. If you're searching for a modern digital-wedding invitation, this is the spot for you; you'll fall in love with the company's straightforward sans serif fonts and neutral colorways. As for how it works? The digital suites are sent via email, which drive to your personal wedding invitation event page. You'll be able to collect RSVPs and direct guests to your wedding website (which Bliss & Bone also hosts) for additional information.

Pricing: Invites are priced per recipient. If you're planning to invite between 10 and 300 guests, your cost per card will be $0.90.

Etsy

While you may be familiar with Etsy's downloadable templates for physical wedding invitations, many of the site's vendors also offer digital invites. Download an editable design, tweak the dates and the text, and then upload it to your platform of choice. If you're looking for something themed, quick, and affordable, this is the perfect option for you.

Pricing: Prices vary per seller, but we've seen downloads for as low as $2. However, know that you'll be paying again when you send out the design via a different digital wedding invitation provider.

Riley & Grey

While Riley & Grey specializes in creating unique, luxury wedding websites, the company also offers save-the-dates and wedding invitations (online or physical) that are part of the same design suite as your wedding website. Every season, they release a new collection of designs and have a large catalog of their previous work. You can also collaborate with them to create a one-of-a-kind design.

Pricing: Prices begin at $39 per month for site hosting, which will include a digital invitation design, and go up to $299 for an entire year of hosting.