The Backyard Wedding

If you, too, are guilty of marring your moral compass by watching the show Vander pump Rules, then you are probably aware of Katie’s “tea towel” wedding invitations. Those ended up costing her and Tom $18.50 a piece and totaling over $2000. In my humble opinion, that’s the opposite of how much one should spend on invitations.

When having a modern backyard wedding, it makes sense to set the tone with practical invitations that save money and time for everyone involved. Here are two invitation options that fulfill those requirements:

1. Going ultra modern and practical by using electronic invites

-or-

2. Preserving some tradition with paper invites, but choosing an efficient and inexpensive option

 

Below you’ll find a brief overview of both options, and a guide on how to word your backyard wedding invitation.

OPTION 1: PAPERLESS INVITATIONS

There are many great reasons to send paperless wedding invitations instead of using paper. Here are the top 6:

1. They can save you hundreds or, in the case of Katie of Vander pump Rules, thousands of dollars.
2. You can send them to friends or family living in international locations in a split second.
3. It’s eco-friendly, which helps repair your broken moral compass as resulted from watching too many Vander pump Rules episodes.
4. A link to your wedding website or an RSVP form allows people to respond immediately instead of having to fill out a card and send it via snail mail. Even if you put an RSVP link onto a paper invitation, guests will still have to type in the link themselves; this is more likely to be put off or eventually forgotten.
5. There are so many different websites offering a variety of beautiful, modern designs. Paperless Post and Green elope are two of the most popular websites providing evites.
6. People won’t lose the invitation and details as easily, as they can always access them in their email inbox, rather than sift through months worth of papers that are piled up on their desk.

Your great grandmother’s wedding norms no longer apply; in the 21st century, it’s perfectly acceptable to choose the smart and practical option of going electronic. If you’re still apprehensive about what others might think, try doing a quick poll of a couple friends and family members: ask them what they would think of receiving an electronic invitation. This might help make your decision a little easier. And if you ultimately decide to stick with the more traditional option of paper invitations, read on to discover how you can make it a modern and practical option, as well.

OPTION 2: MODERN PAPER INVITATIONS

If you just couldn’t bring yourself to go for online invitations, then hopefully my description of option two will be more useful. Some people find the idea of elites garish, and that’s fine. There are lots of options for paper invites these days that are much less expensive than they used to be, and thus more fitting for a relaxed, backyard wedding. It’s just not the case anymore that paper invites require $600+ and hours of your time hand-addressing envelopes.

Companies like Minted and Vista print offer inexpensive paper invitations that you can set up easily online, and some provide extra perks as well, such as a free wedding website. They are a much more practical alternative to more traditional modes for buying backyard wedding. Here are 8 common perks that many modern online invitation services offer:

1. Quick printing and shipping.
2. Offering free sample cards sent to your home before you purchase.
3. Addressing envelopes for your guests for free.
4. Option of creating a (often free of charge) wedding website with that same company so that you can streamline your RSVP’s through your website.
5. Choice of fun envelope liners for free or for a small additional fee.
6. Option of using recycled paper for a small additional fee (usually only an additional $20 or so per 100 invitations).
7. Ability to also use their services to create your reception menus, save-the-dates, reception place cards, thank you cards, bridal shower invites, or engagement party invites. It’s always easier when you can use one site for everything as you are familiar with their system.
8. Many support independent artists in their designs, and offer an array of unique, modern options.

Both options-- paperless and paper invitations-- can be inexpensive, time-saving, and practical.

 It’s really just a matter of your personal preference, and what you feel is most fitting for your wedding and your guests. And remember not to get too caught up in perfecting these kinds of details: ultimately, your special day isn’t about the point-thickness of your invitation card, but about bringing together loved ones to celebrate you and your partner. Any invitation you choose is guaranteed to accomplish that task perfectly fine.