Email is probably a staple part of your life and one of the key ways you have to communicate with others. There is no doubt that communicating via email is often more efficient than using ‘snail mail’ but how appropriate is it for a wedding? The thing about weddings is that they have stuck rigidly to tradition which includes the invitations and associated etiquette. So should couples stick to the traditional, formal invite sent by post or should they embrace the modern age and go for email wedding invitations instead?
• No – definitely not, never ever, email is too informal and impolite……
There is something about traditional, printed wedding invitations that is so special. Whether you go for formal flat cards or modern envelope style invites with inclusions, they are an integral part of your wedding planning and are a key indicator to your guests of the theme of your day.
Whilst having invitations printed can be expensive they do form a special keepsake of the day and are more likely to be preserved than other elements of your day. There is something about receiving the box of finished invites from the printer that makes the whole thing seem more real and as the mailbox begins to overflow with RSVP’s your excitement will begin to build. This is something you cannot hope to recreate with email invites.
One final issue with sending email wedding invitations is the possibility of them landing in the wrong inbox, never being delivered or being seen as spam. And then there is the chance that your intended guest will not recognize the email and simply delete it without even opening it! Lastly, what do you do about all those guests who do not have email?
• Yes – of course you can use email invitations, why not? We are living in the 21st century after all!
In the other camp are those who think email invitations are a great idea. Not only are they instant but they can save a fortune in printing and postage costs. There are number of email invite services available all of which offer various templates to make your invitations look special and more ‘weddingy’! Coupled with this are optional services to manage RSVP’s and show who has opened their email invite and when.
Although not conventional in wedding terms, for couples who want to add a modern vibe to their wedding celebrations, email invites are a good choice. Their will also be no waiting long periods for RSVPs to come through the mailbox as guests can reply the instant they receive their invite. You will of course still need to order printed invites for those guests who do not have email but the cost of your stationery will be significantly reduced.
Some companies offer free email services, whilst others will charge a fee or offer packages to suit your needs. Free services may not actually offer you very much whilst paid services will still be cheaper than ordering traditional wedding invitations.
I think we are a still a long way from seeing email wedding invitations become the norm. Most brides love to design and order their invitations; it forms an integral part of their wedding planning and theme of their day. As technology becomes more integrated into our lives the take up for email invites could increase, but personally I think you will loose a special part of your pre-wedding build up by choose the electronic route. What do you think?
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