Okay you tech-savvy brides, this new trend is right up your alley! Move over traditional wedding invitation etiquette and hello technology. For 2010, the new trend trying to push its’ way through is the eRSVP! No longer will you have to burden with your guests sending in small cards announcing whether or not they will be present at your nuptials. Now, all you have to do is create an account at a wedding website and allow your guests to respond online.
An interesting concept, but let’s face it some things are meant to remain traditional… like your wedding invitations. I am not saying you can’t go this route, but if you do, why mess with an entire invitation? Just email your prospective guests the web address and user name so they can RSVP. I am not just blowing smoke here because I am an invitation designer… I’m telling you the truth. Unless you are using an expensive printing process (like letterpress or thermography), a small response card isn’t that expensive. Without printing they run between 15-45 cents, depending on the paper chosen. I guarantee you will be more frustrated trying to create a website than spending an extra 10-20 dollars for RSVP cards. Let’s face it, there will always be the stragglers who won’t respond. If they can’t check “accept” or “decline” and mail it in a pre-paid envelope, they aren’t going to take the time to get online and try to navigate a third party site to RSVP!
Should we keep it traditional ladies and gents, or is it time invites evolve to the next level? What do you think of the latest technology craze to hit the wedding industry? Let me know, my business depends on it!
Let us know what you think…
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I think it is more an issue of buying all the postage for the RSVPs – at least it was for us!
I know it’s a bit “follower” but if it became a trend I would follow suit and feel comfortable with eRSVP’s for weddings but as it stands I would be too concerned with “etiquette” to move away from standard snail mail wedding invites. Love your site btw!
Sorry for such a late comment, but I feel the same about etiquette…I would hate to skip formalities of tradition, but ultimately it is up to the couple. I just hate to seen such non personalized forms for wedding invites…its a WEDDING. Not a backyard Saturday get-together!
As a communications student, I constantly talk about the use of social media from Facebook and to e-mail in all of my classes. However, I feel that invitations should remain traditional. Not only will eRSVP take work away from a printer, but it also looks slightly tacky. People like to have things done for them, and by providing guests with an RSVP card that they have to check off and place back into the mail, the bride and groom are doing just that. People do not want to have to go online and put in the web address. They just want to respond quick and easy.
Additionally, eRSVPs are also limiting where as traditional RSVPs are not. My grandparents are 89, and some of my other family members do not like to be bothered with technology. Consequently, some people will have to be provided with traditional RSVPs as well as eRSVPs, which causes there to be too many ways for people to respond and too many ways for confusion to occur in terms of who is coming and who is not.
Some things should remain traditional, and, I agree with you, RSVPs are one of them.
Thanks Carly for such an informative comment. I am happy to hear there are still people out there that like traditional methods when it comes to wedding invites. Though, we did do a wedding this summer where the bride and groom did a larger “information” card where they provided their website where guests should RSVP. They replaced the RSVP card because it was a destination wedding and the bride was able to keep track of the responses better this way. The invite looked awesome and we will be posting it in our portfolio soon!
The downside is that some individuals do not keep up with evolving technology, making an eRSVP less convenient and often a frustrating process. Social media really has helped us stay connected and informed, but is also taking away a lot of personalization as well. I was sitting in class tonight as my professor was going over accessing an online quiz and instructed that we needed a high speed internet connection, not dial-up, and thought to myself…people still use dial-up?
It’s truly amazing how things that were commonplace for so long become obsolete when technology evolves. Thanks for the great comments everyone. I love hearing what you have to say!