Paperless Wedding Invitations: Pros and Cons

Traditionally, wedding invitations are printed on special cardstock with beautiful designs and sent via the USPS. However, modern times have led to more modern methods, and digital wedding invitations have started to appear in the wedding industry.

There are many benefits to using paperless invitations, but there are also downsides to consider. Thinking through the paperless invitations pros and cons can help you make a concrete decision on the issue of whether or not you should print paper invitations for your wedding.

Pros of Digital Wedding Invitations

Digital wedding e-vites are sent via email, which offers several benefits to both the wedding planner and the guests. These top reasons to go for paperless wedding invitations might help you make the choice.

Less Expensive

The most beneficial part of sending a digital wedding invitation is the cost savings. Online invitations are much less expensive than traditional paper invites sent by mail.

Not only do you have to pay for the paper on which the invitations are printed, but you also have to pay for postage. Even more so, if you decide to use a service that mails the paper wedding invitations for you, there will be an additional fee for that.

The average cost of wedding invitations can be as much as $400, depending on what service you use, how many you order, and whether or not you include an RSVP to return.

Eco-Friendly

It’s safe to say that most people don’t hold onto the wedding invitations that they receive. These invitations get tossed in the trash, or best case, the recycling. Either way, that’s a lot of paper being used and thrown out.

When you send invitations online, there’s no physical footprint. Digital invites are the greener, more eco friendly option and eliminate the need for paper across invites, save the dates, envelopes, and inserts.

No Mail Delay or Losses

Though it’s not super common for mail to get lost these days, your wedding invitations are probably not the best way to test your luck. Imagine how devastating it would be if your favorite aunt never got the invite!

Using electronic, digital invitations ensures that all of your invites get delivered. It also helps you avoid any delays with the printing company you’re using. It never hurts to be extra sure.

Online RSVPs

Keeping track of RSVPs can be quite the hassle, especially amid all the other wedding details. When you send your wedding invitations electronically, people can respond digitally. You can track your RSVPs in one place automatically, too.

People also often forget to send back RSVPs or end up just shooting a text anyway, so this makes it easier for your friends and family to RSVP.

Cons of Paperless Wedding Invitations

While there are plenty of reasons to go with digital invitations for your wedding, you may still be wondering if it’s the right choice for you. There are some cons to going the paperless route that are worth mentioning.

Less Traditional

When all is said and done, sometimes the more traditional way of doing things remains classic for a reason. Paper invitations that come in the mail are a timeless tradition. People enjoy tradition, and they enjoy getting mail sent specially to them.

Guests may view online invitations as classless, cheesy, and tacky. You can never go wrong with a paper invitation. There is a certain elegance to mailing  formal wedding invitations.

You Can’t Keep it

Lots of people like to hold onto their wedding invitation. Even if your guests don’t keep them, you can take one and put it in a scrapbook or a picture frame as a memory.

Plus, some guests do like to keep your wedding invitation on their fridge! Invitations and save the dates are typically beautifully designed and can feature elegant pictures of the bride and groom, so they deserve to be displayed.

Older Guests May Not be Tech Savvy

Think about your grandmother, your great-aunt, or even your parents. Are they tech-savvy? Do they even use email? These are fair considerations, as some of your older guests may not know how to navigate a digital invitation.

If you’re concerned about someone like your grandfather missing out on an e-vite, you might consider going the traditional route. On the other hand, you can always consider putting together a small list of older folks to send traditional invitations to.

Spam Filters

The wonderful world of technology can save us a lot of headaches by filtering out the spam that gets sent to our email every day, but like all technology, it isn’t perfect.

Someone’s email may not recognize the website that your invites are coming from, so it could potentially file the invitation under spam. Not many people check their spam folders, so you risk the chance of someone missing your wedding invite altogether when you go digital.

Guests May Confuse Who is Included in the Invite

When you send an invite to a physical address, you get to write the name of the guests on the envelope. This makes it crystal clear who is invited – whether it’s just the parents of a family or the parents plus their kids. Whoever is addressed on the envelope is invited to the event.

An online invite will only be sent to one email address, so it may get confusing who is included in that invite. This is also true for older guests who can’t comprehend technology as well as others.

It can also lead to some awkward conversations when people need to clarify if they can bring their children or not.

With the paperless invitation pros and cons weighed out, it’s ultimately up to you whether you send online invitations or traditional paper invites. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, so you must decide what’s important to you when it comes to budget, effort, and the look of paperless vs. paper invitations.