Wedding invitations and registries

Do you remember when we discussed the evolution of wedding invitations?

After reading through your comments, and discussing the idea with friends and family, we decided that the wedding website route was perfect for us.

And here's why:

1) Everyone we were inviting to the wedding used email (even Derek's grandmother is on facebook);
2) I had some extra information I wanted to provide about our wedding events, and to do it all via paper invites would have been bulky/expensive;
3) I love blogging, and for me, putting together the website was like working on a second blog!

Since I agree with the fact that it's fun to receive something other than a bill or flyer in the mail we did send postcard style save the dates to our wedding guests.  We used one of our favourite engagement shoot photos and purchased them save the dates through an Etsy vendor, Wedding Paper Genie for about $100 plus the postage.

We were very happy with how they turned out.  The message was simple and to the point.  I think having the calendar on the back helped remind people that our wedding would take place on a Monday night, which was a detail people tended not to think about.  

Although it may not have been extremely obvious, we included our wedding website at the bottom, indicating that it was where you could find the "formal" invitation.  Most people got it.

Feel free to check out our website.  I am really happy with the way it turned out.  It was super fun to put our "love story" into writing, and share some details about our friends and family members in the wedding party.  I even slightly hinted to guests about a dress code.  And like I said before, everyone looked smashing!

You can also visit the honeyfund registry we put together which was our gift registry towards the honeymoon.  I think everyone enjoyed looking through the items to see where we were staying and things we were planning on doing in Hawaii.  I especially liked that I could include links so that when guests clicked on the item they were re-directed to the actual hotel/restaurant/snorkel rental website.

As for my feedback on wedding.com; I found it very user friendly.  I was able to track the RSVPs easily and send follow-up emails through the website.  I received positive comments from our wedding guests and only had to follow-up on a few RSVPs, which I hear is normal anyways.

I was happy we skipped the formal paper invites and thankful we decided to send the postcard save the dates so that people had something to hold on to as a "keep sake".

We also had really great success with honeyfund.com.  Although it wasn't free, like our wedding website, since we paid the $40 to upgrade our site with pretty pictures, it was still worth it.  

I would highly recommend both sites to anyone interested in putting together a wedding website or setting-up a honeymoon registry.

So what are your thoughts on wedding invitations?  Do you prefer the more traditional invitation or are you getting on board with the online trend?  

The evolution of wedding invitations

Since we have set our wedding date (oh, did I mention we booked our venue?)....ok, I will fill you in on some of the details:

• Date: New Year's Eve, 2012
• Location: the fraser café

That’s all you get for now J  Now back to the topic – wedding invitations.  

I have recently received 3 wedding invitations and 1 save-the-date.  The first wedding invite was put together beautifully on card stock with a lovely picture of the glowing couple.  The save-the-date was printed in black and white, styled like a postcard, and the information was also written over top of a picture of the bride and groom.  The last 2 wedding invitations came to my email in-box and both directed me to a customized wedding website put together by the couple.

I really enjoyed receiving all of these announcements, whether they came to my in-box or via snail mail.  I love weddings and am so excited for my friends to be getting married, so for the most part I am just excited I got the invite!  

I must say that it was great to open up the mail box and see envelopes that were clearly not bills or flyers.  There is also something nice about holding the invitation in your hand, and having the option to display it on the bulletin board or fridge.  With paper invitations you have the opportunity to add details such as ribbons or jewels and really provide the first glimpse of your wedding style and them.

This creative invitation package featured on The Knot did a really great job showcasing the wedding's theme and provided loads of details for guests.  I love the hand made admission tickets!

I will admit, however, that I have misplaced invitations in the past, therefore loosing pertinent event information.  And if I don't get the RSVP card in the mail the instant I receive it, this all-important task might be forgotten.  Now these mishaps are definitely not the fault of the invitation, I take full responsibility, but I'm sure I'm not the only one that this has happened to.

Check out the little cloth bag that came along with this pretty invite.  Just lovely.  (also featured on The Knot)

On the same note, it was also a nice treat to receive the 2 wedding invitations by email - I have no shortage of junk mail coming to my inbox!  I immediately checked out the wedding websites which were actually both designed by the same website.  There, I was able to view pictures of the happy couple, read their love story and all about the proposal.  There were no shortage of links to information about the ceremony and reception venues as well as maps, accommodation and attractions for those coming from out of town.  Some other fun aspects of the websites included places for guests to give music suggestions, a whole page dedicated to getting to know the wedding party, a place to sign the guest book as well as RSVP to the wedding and different events.

This cute wedding website is actually designed by Vera Wang.  

I was able to RSVP with the click of a button and immediately saved their sites to my favourites.  Since then, I will admit, I have browsed through their pictures and stories a couple more times and have really enjoyed it!  

This website was created at Wix.com.  I love all of the photos and how they are laid out on the homepage.

Creating my own wedding website was really starting to appeal to me.  I began checking out different designs and templates I could choose from and was really excited about the options.  There are hundreds of themes and styles to go with as well as numerous ways to personalize your own site.  Then I started to realize that this basically meant I could put together a second blog...totally dedicated to our wedding!!!  I WAS SO IN!

I know that email invitations and wedding websites are definitely not everyone's taste.  But the thing about weddings these days is - basically anything goes!  Gone are the expectations that everyone must follow conventional rules and traditions - I couldn't be happier.  One of the best parts of being a bride today is the fact that you can create the wedding of your dreams and feel free to make it as simple, elegant, traditional or as outrageous as you like.  It is really all about the couple and making the event personal to the guests of honour - the bride and groom.  

Check out the Offbeat Bride where some really unique, creative and fun weddings are showcased.  Like this one which took place at the Courtyard in Ottawa!

Here is a little Pro/Con list I've put together for the Email Invitation & Wedding Website

Pros:

• You can ensure everyone receives and opens your invitation with the read-receipt function
• Updates and changes can be made on the wedding website without much fuss, and everyone stays informed
• Additional details can be included on the website regarding special events, the style of the wedding, information for out of town guests, all of which can't be included on a traditional invitation
• It is an environmentally friendly alternative
• A quick and easy RSVP for guests
• Hello - it's FREE!

Cons:

• Some guests may not have access to the internet
• The email may be filtered to junk mail or lost in an full and unorganized inbox
• Guests may feel your email and/or website does not do justice to such a formal affair

Clearly I am all for this, but I honestly can't think of any other cons.  Can you?  I wonder if creating a facebook invite will ever be considered appropriate?  I'm not there yet, myself, but I can definitely see it happening.  I bet they're already coming up with ways to personalize the event page and make it fancier.  And if not they should hire me, because I could do that!

Please let me know your thoughts: tacky and too informal or brilliant and environmentally/economically friendly?