Email Wedding Invitations - Yay or Nay?
Tuesday June 9, 2009
I got an email yesterday from a reader who's planning a wedding. As his friends are scattered all over the world, he wanted to know if I had a sample email wedding invitation. I don't.
I've always held that if you are asking your wedding guests to come to the most important event of your life, especially if they have to travel, you should take the time to send printed invitations. In recent years, as brides and grooms have become increasingly aware of ecological impacts and green weddings, environmental advocates have suggested that you use email wedding invitations. And sure, printing and mailing 150 invitations has an environmental impact, but you canuse recycled paper and non-toxic inks. And it would make a bigger difference to eliminate the junk mail that comes to your house or reuse your printer paper than to sacrifice your wedding invitations. On the otherhand, if you already live completely green in your daily life, then your wedding will only be your own if you also make your wedding completely green.
What do you readers think? Would you take an emailed wedding invitation seriously? Is it too hard on the environment to send printed invitations?
I've always held that if you are asking your wedding guests to come to the most important event of your life, especially if they have to travel, you should take the time to send printed invitations. In recent years, as brides and grooms have become increasingly aware of ecological impacts and green weddings, environmental advocates have suggested that you use email wedding invitations. And sure, printing and mailing 150 invitations has an environmental impact, but you canuse recycled paper and non-toxic inks. And it would make a bigger difference to eliminate the junk mail that comes to your house or reuse your printer paper than to sacrifice your wedding invitations. On the otherhand, if you already live completely green in your daily life, then your wedding will only be your own if you also make your wedding completely green.
What do you readers think? Would you take an emailed wedding invitation seriously? Is it too hard on the environment to send printed invitations?
Comments
Done tastefully, email wedding invitations can be just as classy as a nice paper invitation. What is it that people like so much about paper invitations? Is it the picture? Is it the raised lettering? Is it that they can hold it in their hands? The right email invitation can carry so much emotion. It can really tell a story of love. Multiple pictures, music and text all done in a classy way, make email the choice of so many brides. And it is not just the “kids” anymore. It is couples getting married later in life and second time “wedders”. We live in an age where even our grandparents are connected. One bride who sent an email invitation told me, “It was so beautiful my aunt called me right away and said it made her cry”. Email wedding invitations should not be dismissed without first looking at companies who are doing it right.
I think it really depends on two things. How formal the wedding is, and how internet savvy are the guests. If I get an email invite, I’m not going to expect a super formal ceremony and reception. Also, I’d expect to see something other than the average garden variety wedding. Personally, I’m not against emailing invitations, but I can think of a few family members who wouldn’t know how to even rsvp to that type of invitation. Also, some folks may want to keep the invitation as keepsakes.
It’s ok to email a “save the date” but I don’t believe that wedding invitations should be emailed. First of all, I don’t think some people will take an emailed invitation seriously. Secondly, the invitations could end up going into the recipients spam folder.
I recently received a wedding invite that only has an RSVP by email. I can’t attend because it is on the West coast, but wish I didn’t have to explain it in an email. I must be getting old, b/c their invitation had the email rsvp and included their website…or maybe I am more traditional than I thought I was!
To me, physical invitations are a sign of care and respect. These people are going to travel and purchase you gifts, take time and $ from themselves for you, and you should put more effort in than an email. I guess I haven’t seen any really nice ones, but in general, the idea horrifies me. I think adding info cards with email rsvp OPTIONS (but also a paper rsvp) and website info are fine.
I guess I liken it to a friend emailing to say: “hey, we’re doing something on this day, stop over if you want” to a friend coming over to tell me : “we’re beginning our lives together, and would love it if you, our cherished friend, would come share the day with us!”
@Party Invitations: Given your screen name, no surprise you prefer paper invitations.
@T: RSVP means if you don’t want to go, you needn’t respond. If you are close enough to the bride or groom that you feel obligated to respond, you don’t have to send an email. You can call or write.
@ml: You said “These people are going to travel and purchase you gifts, take time and $ from themselves for you, and you should put more effort in than an email.” As someone who is planning a wedding now, I’ll tell you that the effort (and “time and $” as you say) is being put in to make sure you have a nice dinner with plenty to drink, and entertainment afterwards. All that and you’re “horrified” that the bride and groom wants to lessen the burden of getting addresses for 300+ people who are scattered across multiple countries, then mailing them all invitations? You realize that by accepting an email invitation, you’re helping the bride and groom save over a thousand dollars, and ten or more hours of work, right?
Seems to me that you can have both.
Where i come from, weddings tend to be rather large affairs. Our families are large and tend to be included. Weddings with 500+ people are fairly common though as times change this may change a little bit. Over here, it is not easy to hear anyone say, “i have no family”.
In 2003, for my brother Robert’s wedding, my IT savvy brother Chris got the soft copy of the invitation card and made a truly beautiful e-card. This way, Robert & Annemarie were saved having to print a large number of cards. As siblings, cousins, close friends, we got the e-card with permission to email to an approved list of friends. This meant that the parents had enough cards to send out.
I see no reason not to take the couple’s invite seriously just because it came on email. Would it be taken seriously if they called? how about if they sent a text message. What would be preferred especially if it is a cost-cutting measure or if they are just going green?
Consider this, in emailing the card, the couple have taken the time and they have thought of you. They could just as easily have ommitted to send anything to you and blamed the postal system (maybe not where you are but over here, possible) ;o(
Having had a view about the couple, i wonder if the nay-sayers are speaking from the stands where those who play the most perfect game hang-out…
When in action on the court, it is a whole ‘nother ball-game. ;o)