Paper invitations are lovely to hold, but they're also one of the fiddliest parts of wedding planning: proofs, printing, envelopes, stamps, addresses, and weeks of waiting for reply cards that may never come back. Digital invitations have grown up a lot, and many couples now choose them on purpose rather than to save money.
What do wedding invitations cost?
Bridebook's 2026 figures put the average UK spend on wedding stationery at around £378, and that's before postage. A digital invitation is usually a single one-off price whatever the size of your guest list, with no printing or stamps.
Is it acceptable to send digital invitations?
For most guests, yes. People already plan their lives on their phones, and a link in WhatsApp or a text is easy to find again when they need the address or the times. A thoughtful digital invitation with your names, a beautiful design and a personal note doesn't feel less special than paper.
When paper still makes sense
- Older relatives who don't use smartphones: print a copy of your invitation or call them.
- Very formal weddings where a printed suite is part of the tradition.
- A keepsake: plenty of couples send digital invitations to everyone and print a few copies for grandparents and the scrapbook.
Where digital really wins: RSVPs
The biggest difference isn't the invitation, it's the replies. With paper you're waiting for cards in the post and copying meal choices into a spreadsheet. With a good digital invitation, each guest replies for their household in under a minute, picks their meal, tells you about allergies, and it all lands in one place with the totals added up for your venue.
Whatever you choose, keep one guest list with every name on it, and tick people off as they reply. That's what makes chasing easy.
If you'd like to see what a digital invitation can feel like, try our live demo, or start your own and preview it free.