Wedding Bells

Online Invites

The dos and don’ts of emailing your wedding announcements. By Stephanie Gray

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Chances are this is a question you've already asked yourself—do you forget the wedding stationery altogether and email all your invitations? The biggest reason to do it, of course, is the cost. But is it acceptable? And what about other notices and announcements? While nothing compares to receiving a printed invitation in the mail, there are times when you can take advantage of technology.
Here are the dos and don’ts of going online.

Do

• Print the wedding invitation. According to Emily Post (emilypost.com), the actual wedding invitation must be printed, unless there is an unusual circumstance, such as you want to marry before your fiancé is posted abroad and you must notify guests immediately.
• Email your save-the-date card. It's a quick and informal way to remind your guests about your day and can be done via email. 
• Allow guests to RSVP via email. Allow guests to respond via email by adding a sentence at the bottom of the invitation such as "You may also reply by way of our email address, which is thehappycouple@rsvp.com," says Post. But don't make it the only option! An addressed and stamped mail card should be included, along with a telephone number.
• Consider email for pre-wedding parties. This includes bridal showers, the bachelorette party, etc. If it's a formal gathering, a printed invitation is ideal, but if it's informal and the guests are computer-savvy, you can use email. Just don't send out a mass invite—each guest should be properly addressed.
• Email lodging, maps and directions. If you're doing a destination wedding or have guests coming from out of town, they'll need more detailed information than what can fit in the initial invitation. For this purpose a mass email works, explains Post, who says it's a great way to connect guests to hotel information, restaurants, etc.

Don't

• Assume everyone has email. While your bridesmaids may be Facebook fiends, your grandma or Aunt Susey in Edmonton may not be. Consider this when using email and decide how you want to connect with those who are not online.   
• Email thank-you cards. A handwritten note should be sent for every gift received. If you're falling behind, you can use email to say the gift has arrived and you'll be sending a formal note later.  
• Get into drama via email. Any sticky issues or difficult discussions should be avoided online. It's not exactly a private medium (do you want a heated discussion to be forwarded?), so deal with issues in person or on the telephone.