The short answer
A digital wedding invitation is an invitation your guests receive and open on a screen. You send it as a link, a file or an email, and it replaces or sits alongside a paper card. Send invitations about six to eight weeks before the wedding, and a save the date a few months earlier.
What is a digital wedding invitation?
“Digital wedding invitation” covers several formats, and they behave quite differently. Knowing the difference helps you choose one that suits your guests.
| Type | How guests receive it | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Image or PDF | As an attachment in a message or email | Simple to make. Text inside an image can be hard to read or copy on a phone. |
| Video | As a file or a streaming link | Eye-catching, but large files can be slow to open and hard to scan for the details. |
| Email invitation | As a designed email | Easy to track, but it may land in spam or promotions folders. |
| Website-style invitation | As a link to a private web page | Scrolls and animates, shows details as real text, and opens in any browser with nothing to install. |
Our invitations are the last type: a small, animated web page with its own private link. You can scroll through one now in the live Ivory example.
Digital or paper wedding invitations?
Neither is better for everyone. The choice depends on your budget, your guests and how formal the day is.
| Consideration | Digital | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | No printing or postage | Printing and postage add up with every guest |
| Speed | Arrives the moment you send it | Needs design, printing and posting time |
| Changes | Easy to correct before you send it | A mistake means reprinting |
| Guests without smartphones | May need help opening a link | Everyone can read a card |
| Keepsake | Lives in a message thread | Something to keep on a shelf |
Many couples mix the two: a link for most guests, and a printed card for grandparents or anyone who would rather have one. Nothing stops you sending both.
When should you send digital wedding invitations?
Planning sites agree on the broad pattern, though the exact numbers vary a little between them. Zola suggests save the dates four to six months ahead for a local wedding and eight to twelve months ahead for a destination wedding. Greenvelope suggests invitations six to eight weeks ahead for a local wedding and eight to twelve weeks for a destination wedding.
| What | Local wedding | Destination wedding |
|---|---|---|
| Save the date | 4 to 6 months before | 8 to 12 months before |
| Wedding invitation | 6 to 8 weeks before | 8 to 12 weeks before |
| Reply deadline | About 3 to 4 weeks before the wedding | About 4 to 6 weeks before the wedding |
If you skip the save the date, send invitations earlier, around three to four months out. Our guide to digital save the dates covers the early notice in detail.
What to put on a digital wedding invitation
- The names of the couple, and of the hosts if they are inviting on your behalf
- The date and the start time
- The venue name and its full address
- A short message that sounds like you
- How and by when to reply
- Practical notes such as dress code, parking or a child-free request, if they matter
Keep it short. The invitation tells people where to be and when, and a wedding website or a follow-up message can carry the rest. Our designs show your names, date, time, venue, address and message, so put the reply deadline and how to reply in your message.
Wording ideas
Three starting points, from formal to relaxed. Change them until they sound like you.
- Formal: “Together with their families, Amelia and James request the pleasure of your company at their wedding. Kindly reply by 15 May.”
- Warm: “We are getting married, and we would love you to be there. Please let us know by 15 May whether you can come.”
- Relaxed: “We are tying the knot. Come eat, dance and celebrate with us. Tell us by 15 May if you are in.”
How to send a digital invitation
- Open the link on your own phone and check every detail, especially the date and the address.
- Send each guest or household their link in a personal message, not a mass blast.
- Use the channel each person already answers: text, WhatsApp, email or a chat app.
- Keep a list of who you sent it to, and follow up with anyone who has not replied by your deadline.
- Offer a paper card to guests who may find a link difficult.
Is it polite to send wedding invitations digitally?
Yes, as long as the invitation matches the occasion. A formal wedding may call for a more traditional design and a personal note, while a relaxed celebration suits something lighter. What guests notice most is clarity and kindness: clear details, a warm message and enough notice. Close family and elderly guests often appreciate a quick call or a printed card alongside the link.
How our digital wedding invitations work
Choose a design in our Etsy shop, send us your details, and we build your invitation and give you one private link. Guests open it in their browser with nothing to install, and it is hidden from search engines. The full process is on the how it works page.
Browse wedding designs on Etsy
Frequently asked questions
When should I send digital wedding invitations?
Most planning guides suggest six to eight weeks before the wedding for a local celebration, and eight to twelve weeks for a destination wedding. Send a save the date earlier, roughly four to eight months ahead.
Are digital wedding invitations acceptable?
Yes. Many couples now send digital invitations, often alongside paper ones for guests who prefer them. Choose a design that matches the formality of your day, and send each guest their link personally.
What should a digital wedding invitation include?
The names of the couple, the date and time, the venue and its address, and a short message. Add how and by when guests should reply, and any practical notes such as dress code or parking.
How do you send a digital wedding invitation?
Paste the invitation link into a text message, chat or email. Test the link on your own phone first, and send guests their link individually so it feels personal.