Is there anything that can quite replicate the excitement we feel when we receive physical mail? That moment of pure joy when we realize it’s not just a bunch of bills or junk mail that the postal carrier delivered today but something that was intentionally created just for you?

For years, humans have been sending written messages back and forth to one another in various forms. Today, a lot of that written communication now takes place in the digital space, be it texting or email. But just because things have shifted towards an electronic conduit, does that mean that print invitations are going to cease to exist in the near future?

The answer might surprise you.

A History of the Invitation

Did you know that written invitations to formal events started back in the Middle Ages? During this time, illiteracy was so common that the practice of sending written invitations emerged as a trend amongst the nobility. Those with the extra funds would commission monks who were highly skilled in the art of calligraphy to handcraft these invites.

From there, we see messages being transmitted via carefully handwritten papyrus scrolls and parchment paper, hand-delivered by messengers on horseback — and even carrier pigeons for a time. It’s hard to beat that excitement — we know we aren’t alone on that feeling — looking at you, Game of Thrones fans!

Since the turn of the 21st century and the corresponding rise of the digital revolution that we find ourselves in these days, there has been a shift for written communication to be conducted online. While there are certain events for which physical invitations are still the primary correspondence (namely wedding invitations), the transition to digital eCards and online invites (with a handy RSVP form or RSVP link) has become increasingly popular in recent years.

After all, in a day and age where we’re trying to find new ways to save on waste and implement sustainable living practices, paper products are typically the first to go.

Today, digital invitations enable you to infuse a personal touch — photos, illustrations, and videos are all available options! There are plenty of event RSVP websites that allow for customization and interactive digital invitations. Plus, thanks to the immediacy of the online world, your guests can indicate whether they can join (or regretfully decline) in real-time, saving the hassle of having to chase down Aunt Carole, who is notorious for never mailing back RSVP cards. Catch Aunt Carole when she is looking at your RSVP email before she gets distracted!

So, how do you know which type of invitation works for your specific situation?

Weighing the Pros & Cons of Digital Versus Print Invitations

Let’s talk about the benefits and drawbacks of each form of invitation to determine what would work best for you.

Pros & Cons of Print Invites

We’ve already established that there’s nothing quite as personal as receiving a handwritten or physical card — the experience as a whole is unparalleled. But what if we just reserved this for special occasions — like weddings?

After all, the cost of a print invitation can be pretty hefty. Based on The Knot’s recent study, printed invitations can cost upwards of $510! And that doesn’t even factor in the cost of stamps and shipping fees that are associated with getting those invites into the right mailboxes, sure to get especially high if you have to mail internationally.

And then there’s the environmental cost to consider. Traditional paper-based invites bring with them a ton of ecological implications that must be considered. Deforestation and carbon emissions are just a few places to start.

With these factors at play, it’s safe to say that physical invitations are the perfect option for really special occasions where a digital one just won’t have the same impact.

Pros & Cons of Digital Invites

RSVP online invitations open up a new world of possibilities. Whether you’re trying to gain the attention of a wider audience or looking to invite someone new to your event, you can easily promote your event through a bunch of digital channels — social media platforms, website promo, and email campaigns.

Digital invites can often be sent for free, too, cutting down on the hefty cost that physical paper ones bring with them. However, it’s important to note that digital invitations could accidentally get lost in the shuffle of someone’s email inbox, so following up to ensure they received it (especially if you don’t get a yes or no response) will be another thing to add to your to-do list.

But it all boils down to knowing your audience here. If you’re sending a personal, private invitation, you’re likely not going to want to advertise it across the great wide web. And, if your recipients prefer to stay away from technology altogether or aren’t as technologically advanced, then this definitely isn’t the right channel for you.

Otherwise, a digital invitation is an awesome way to promote an upcoming event!

Best Practices for Sending Impactful Digital Invitations

You’ve decided to use a digital invitation this time around. Now what?

First, you’ll need to figure out how you’re planning to send these invitations out. There are a ton of options at your fingertips, but it’s smart to think about a few things before you decide on your channel of communication.

What’s your goal for this invitation? Raising awareness? Collecting RSVPs online?

Who are you sending this to? Directly to specific potential attendees? Or are you promoting it to a wider audience?

Once you’ve determined these two things, you can start to formulate your plan.

Create an Invitation or Landing Page

You’ll need a place to outline your event details and give your interested attendees something to add to their calendars. AddEvent makes it simple by offering an add to calendar button or add to calendar link for your RSVP website and RSVP emails. Plus, you can collect RSVPs online with our RSVP forms to prepare for who will be attending. You can do this by adding an event RSVP form to your invitation when you create the event page.

Once your event page is live, it’s time to share your RSVP website!

Promote on Different Channels

It’s time to start sharing your events and getting them on people’s calendars by directing them to your shiny new RSVP website.

Social media is a great place to start promoting your event to a wider audience. Link your event page on your Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter pages, and watch the RSVPs pour in!

You can also set up email campaigns to share your RSVP link via email with platforms like Mailchimp, AWeber, and Hubspot since you will have your your add to calendar links at the ready.

→ AddEvent Pro Tip: See how Zapier’s integrations with more than 6,000 apps and services can increase your next event’s total visibility!

Is It Time to Set Up Your AddEvent Account?

Try AddEvent for yourself and set up a free account to test before sending your next set of invitations out! Save yourself the hassle of looking for the right event registration software and get started with AddEvent today!

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