Wedding Invitations Print vs Digital

Audience

Traditional is still the best way of reaching all targeted guests. Everyone has a physical/ mailing address

Not everyone has an email/ fluency/ access with online systems.  *Think of grandparents or overseas guests where certain apps may be blocked or restricted or unsupported

Tangible / Memorable / Excitement

Having the invitation in hand is an experience. It is special. It stands out. It is a newsworthy event (especially in today's world where 'real mail' is few and far between). A special invitation is newsworthy. We see it, feel it, share it with a friend, put it on the fridge. It is special. It is an honor. It occupies your attention fully. 

It creates excitement to see a fancy envelope – anticipation, who is it from, what is it for, when is it, show me the card...

It is an experience – opening the envelope, pulling it out, reading it, holding it, admiring it, saving it. 

Think of your personal experience – do you like to get personalized, individualized, beautiful invitations inviting you to a once in a lifetime event? 

In South Asian culture, not too long ago hosts hand-deliver invites. If you were handing this to someone, would you be proud to do so? Does it represent the couple and the event? 

We are bombarded with messages online. Receiving one more digital message easily gets lost in the mix. 

Digital – easier to forget, or worse, ignore, can get lost in ‘space trash’ the flood of email we receive everyday

Opening a digital invite is a solo experience, access to it is only through one 'id'

The invite becomes transient - now you see it, now you don't

What it Represents

​A wedding takes something that exists only in the abstract – a relationship – and brings it to the forefront – puts it in writing, in words, in action, in public, in photos, on the radar of your respected divinity. This is your opportunity to put your new relationship status in writing. 

Importance

It’s more private, personal 

Shows you put effort in, indicating to others you are putting effort into the event, and subtly encourages guests to say ‘yes’ in their RSVP

They’re stylish, elegant and make the event feel more exclusive immediately. (Do you think Vogue sends a digital invite to celebrities and models of their upcoming event or do you think they create and send beautifully designed and printed invitation that highlights the exclusivity of their event?)

Paper invites elevate an event

They set the tone for the event - they are the first impression of what your event will be like. 

Easy to ignore.

Easy to forget. 

Easy to lose - Many emails go into that dark hole of the universe, never to be seen again. The importance of your wedding day communication may end up like space trash circling the galaxy.
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The sentimentality is lost, and it becomes just another email among the thousands they receive.

​A digital invitation lowers the importance of your wedding (making more in line with an evite potluck party or email bill reminder) 

Environment

Reduce your carbon footprint.

Remember who is Talking

​Digital invitations are virtually free for online retailers to produce, and that is why they market them to you. They tell you a digital invitation is perfectly and socially acceptable because they do not have to produce a tangible product, which means they do it for pure profit. They do not care if you have a lasting memory to mark the most important day of your life.

Keepsake

There are few tangibles that you take with you for your 10 year anniversary... wedding rings, photos. And perhaps a printed save the date and wedding invitation.  You spent thousands of dollars on fragrant flowers you will never smell again, on a delicious dinner you will never taste again, on an outfit you will never wear again. The invitation can serve as a moment of your event for years to come. 

It's amazing to visit a friend's house and see your wedding invite or 'save the date' on their fridge or at their desk - it becomes something they see often, think of you, wish you well, and designates it as an event they are looking forward to. 

Efficiency

Handy, easy, fast, received by guests immediately

Guests can respond immediately

Easy to update/ change

Self Expression

Carry your theme through with our stationery printing services. 

Design your cards to represent you and your event - play with shapes, cuts, shine, layers, colors, paper thickness, integrate photos, quotes, religious symbols, wedding logo/motif

Cost

Paper invites require printing, postage, paper and design. 

Digital are free, or nearly free. 

Ease of Use

A paper invite can be addressed to a family ('The Patels'), a couple ('Vijay Patel and guest'), or a single person (Vijay Patel)

It’s more private. Sending a physical invitation has less of a risk of being hacked, exposed, forwarded to an uninvited guests who might feel slighted.

Online invitations are addressed to a single profile or email address. For invites to spouses, children or unknown “plus ones,” there’s often no easy way to make that clear. (Although I'd expect that tech will be developing soon enough)