Guide
Digital wedding invitations: etiquette, wording and how to get RSVPs back on time
When to send digital wedding invitations, what they must say, sample wording for formal and casual weddings, and a reminder schedule that gets replies in.
October 5, 2026 · 4 min read
Digital wedding invitations are normal now. The questions left are practical: who still needs paper, what to say, and how to get every reply in.
Are they acceptable?
Yes: cheaper than print and postage, nothing lost in the mail, instant for guests abroad. Plan for three exceptions:
| Who | What to do |
|---|---|
| Relatives who keep invitations | Print ten and post them |
| Black tie in a cathedral | Paper invitation, replies online |
| Households who want a card | Post a paper save-the-date, send the invitation digitally |
When to send
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Save the date | 6 to 8 months before (only guests you are sure of) |
| Invitation | 6 to 8 weeks before |
| Destination wedding | 3 months minimum, ideally 4 to 5 |
| RSVP deadline | 3 to 4 weeks before, two weeks ahead of the caterer's |
| Short notice | 3 weeks is fine; say so plainly |
What every invitation must include
- Who is hostingTogether with their families covers most cases.
- Both full namesNot nicknames.
- DateWritten out, with the year.
- TimeAnd what it means. Ceremony at 2:00pm, please arrive by 1:30.
- VenueName and full address, plus the reception if it is elsewhere.
- Dress codeTwo or three words. Cocktail.
- ReplyOne date and one way to reply.
- Who is invitedName everyone instead of a plus-one policy.
- ChildrenWe love your little ones, but this is an adults-only celebration.
- Practical notesParking, access, hotels, the last train home.
Wording
Formal
Mr and Mrs Anthony Doyle request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Claire Elizabeth to Nathan James Oyelaran. Saturday, the twelfth of September, two thousand and twenty six, at half past two in the afternoon. St Anne's Church, 14 Bay Street, Toronto. Reception to follow at the Fairmont Royal York. Black tie. Kindly reply by the tenth of August.
Casual
Claire and Nathan are getting married, and we would love you there. Saturday 12 September 2026, 2:00pm. The Boathouse, 14 Bay Street, Toronto. Dinner, speeches and dancing until late. Cocktail dress, comfortable shoes, adults only. Please let us know by 10 August.
Already married, or reception only
We got married. Quietly, in February, with two witnesses. Now we would like to celebrate with everyone. Saturday 12 September 2026, from 6:00pm. The Boathouse, 14 Bay Street, Toronto. Food, drinks, dancing. Nothing to bring but yourselves. Reply by 10 August.
Getting RSVPs back on time
About a third of guests miss the deadline. Most mean to come; they are busy (why guests don't reply, and 30 reminder wordings).
- 8 weeksSend the invitation, RSVP date next to the reply button.
- 4 weeksNudge non-repliers only. Just checking you got our invitation.
- 2 weeksOur RSVP date is next Sunday.
- DeadlineThank repliers, give the rest a firm last date.
- Call the last tenA one-minute call beats a fourth message.
- ThenCount them as a no. If they turn up, find a chair.
More lines and nudges: 60 RSVP wording examples.
Personalise each invitation
- Real names, so and guest never appears.
- After-party details only for those invited.
- Hotel and airport notes only for travellers.
Paper&Seal does this: each invitation opens addressed to that household, replies land in one list, and reminders go only to people who have not answered, for one flat price per event. Comparing sites? See how Paper&Seal compares.
Make sure every guest can open it
- Test on an old Android phone and a laptop.
- No PDF attachments. They do not resize on a phone.
- Real text, not an image of text, so zoom and screen readers work.
- Check contrast. Pale script on cream fails in daylight.
- Add a phone number for anyone stuck.
- Send to every adult, not one inbox.
Print it
For the day: a welcome sign for the entrance and a find your seat sign by the table plan. Both free.
Sending the invitation too? Digital wedding invitations