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Kelly
Savvy October 2021

Paperless Save The Dates and Invitations?

Kelly, on February 16, 2021 at 10:15 AM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 26
Hey Everyone! I just wanted to get insight from those who have sent their save the dates and invitations electronically. Based on my research it saves time, money and it’s less wasteful. The idea of paying so much money for something that’s gonna be thrown away after the wedding is stressful! Lol


I also think it helps you to accurately track everything, which makes the planning process SOOO much easier. I will probably print out some physical copies for the older people on my guest list.
Is it a better options? Anyone that did physical invitations/save the dates, do you wish you did everything digitally? What are your thoughts?

26 Comments

Latest activity by Fred, on March 5, 2021 at 9:47 AM
  • Samantha
    VIP October 2022
    Samantha ·
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    It’s a know your crowd thing I imagine. While all of my guests know how to use email, some are of the generation that an online invitation is too casual and they would easily not realize it was actually a formal event requiring notice. I’m older, though.
    Plus I love paper and am excitingly thinking about rag count, finish, printing style, etc.
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  • Kelly
    Savvy October 2021
    Kelly ·
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    Thanks Samantha! I honestly didn’t think about that. Sending an email is kinda casual and things can easily get overlooked via email. My crowd is younger, mostly college friends and work colleagues. I’m considering doing save the dates electronically and physical invitations just to get the best of both worlds.
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  • Biaani
    Expert May 2021
    Biaani ·
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    Although I love everything digital, we did magnet STDs and are doing paper invites. We are having a very formal wedding so it just looks best if we do a formal invitation. And it's nice getting something like that in the mail.

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  • Samantha
    VIP October 2022
    Samantha ·
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    I’m old LOL so your friends may totally have no issues at all!
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  • M
    Legend June 2019
    Melle ·
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    I did electronic and paper. Paper just for the older less tech savvy folks
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  • Meghan
    Expert September 2021
    Meghan ·
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    I was going to do electronic and then paper save the dates for some people but figured it would be easier to keep track of RSVPs with one form. Also read some invites can go to spam/junk so didn’t want to worry about that. I ended up getting 175 STD on Shutterfly for $100 when they were on sale. Honestly didn’t care if they were super formal or fancy. I went with ones on sale and they still came out beautifully. As mentioned above too, many people will see the event as more casual but could also depend on who you’re inviting.
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  • Kelly
    Savvy October 2021
    Kelly ·
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    You are not old at all!! Smiley smile I appreciate your insight- it was very helpful!
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  • Kelly
    Savvy October 2021
    Kelly ·
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    Thanks Biaani! You definitely have a point. Our wedding is black tie and more formal. My wedding planner (also my friend) jokingly called me tacky for wanting to do digital invites for a formal event lol So I’m thinking he might have a point! Thanks for your feedback Smiley smile
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  • Kelly
    Savvy October 2021
    Kelly ·
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    Thanks Melle! Has it been easier for you in the planning process since you did both? Any issues with guests not getting them or overlooking the invitations in their email? Or has everything gone smoothly?
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  • Nicole
    Devoted August 2022
    Nicole ·
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    What I'm doing is a mix of both: physical Save the Dates with a link to our website containing info about our wedding and nearby hotels, and then physical invitations with a link to the website again for online RSVP. This way all the RSVPs are automated and organized, and we save on info cards, RSVP cards, postage, etc.
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  • Kelly
    Savvy October 2021
    Kelly ·
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    Thanks Meghan! I didn’t even think about the junk folder 🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️. $100 isn’t bad at all! Are you thinking of doing paper invitations as well?
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  • Kelly
    Savvy October 2021
    Kelly ·
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    Nicole- you are literally a genius! Lol thank you! I honestly think I’ll do the same. Planning is already stressful in itself so trying to track people down to Mail in their RSVP cards is a nightmare I don’t want to deal with 🤦🏾‍♀️ Based on the other comments and since my event is more formal, physical invites seem better. With your idea I can incorporate both, still save money and stay organized. Def a win- win! Thanks for your insight!
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  • Meghan
    Expert September 2021
    Meghan ·
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    I didn’t either lol! Yeah I’m also going to look for deals on invitations because I don’t want to spend a lot, but do feel that it does let your guests know that the wedding will be formal. Idk if you’ve heard of the app Rakuten, but it’s a free cashback app. You go into this AND THEN search the store you want to shop, like Shutterfly. You have to go through the app or it won’t work. Then you can qualify for % being offered at the time of order. So I got my STD on sale and then an extra 2% back. It wasn’t much but it’s still some savings. I also did this for davids bridal and other stores.


    https://www.rakuten.com/r/MEGHAN9698?eeid=44971

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  • Meghan
    Master October 2019
    Meghan ·
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    We did online RSVP's and it was very nice. I did not have to keep up with anything and we did not have to pay for RSVP cards or postage. However, we did send physical save the dates and invitations. If you are having a casual, back yard style wedding, digital is probably fine. But just remember, your invitations set the precedence for your wedding. If you are having a nicer, more formal wedding, I would send physical invites.

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  • Hanna
    VIP June 2019
    Hanna ·
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    I think it depends on your crowd and even more so on the formality of your wedding. I wouldn't think twice to receive an electronic invitation to super casual backyard BBQ wedding, but anything semi-formal and above I think you'd need a paper invite. If your wedding is semi-formal then you can certainly get away with doing online RSVPs. If your wedding is formal or black tie then you'd definitely want to have both paper invites and paper RSVPs to be sent back in the mail.

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  • Michelle
    Champion December 2022
    Michelle ·
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    I agree with this. We're having online rsvps (in addition to paper and call/text). But we are having paper invites so guests take it seriously, given the formality.

    Friend of fiance sent out paperless online invites to a fairly formal wedding and hardly anyone attended because they didn't think it was a real event. They are tech savvy but were expecting paper invites that never came.

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  • Kelly
    Savvy October 2021
    Kelly ·
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    Thanks so much for the tip. Yes- saving anywhere I can is the goal, for sure! Lol I appreciate your help and will check them out Smiley smile
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  • Kelly
    Savvy October 2021
    Kelly ·
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    Thanks Meghan! You’re absolutely right and I’m glad everyone is bringing that up. It didn’t even cross my mind to think about how the guests would interpret an E-invite. I would hate to give mixed signals so I think staying with the formal invitation for the formal wedding would make the most sense Smiley smile
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  • Kelly
    Savvy October 2021
    Kelly ·
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    Great point, Hanna! I appreciate the insight. I figured doing everything digitally would take the stress out of RSVPS, but didn’t think it could inadvertently cause confusion with the style/formality of the event. Thanks for your thoughts!
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  • Kelly
    Savvy October 2021
    Kelly ·
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    Omg! So sorry for your fiancé’s friend- I would have freaked out! But I agree- I figured since the majority of friends/family on my guest list are tech savvy going paperless would be the best option. But based on your comment and others, it needs to be a more deliberate decision to avoid causing confusion. I appreciate your thoughts on this!
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