Comments on: Creating email invites can save money, be eco-friendly, and still be personal

By: Genevieve

Genevieve — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:34:12 +0000

My sister did my invitation, a 3D video that we posted on vimeo. We sent our invitations text by email, very simple text inviting people to go take a look at our invitation. We did so because 1- the video was to heavy for some email servers and 2-lots friends of ours receive text only emails

If you want to take a look to my sister's huge work (I am still amazed of what she did!!!), just take a look here I am so proud of what she did for us!!!

You can ask a graphist to make this kind of video, but I also saw lots of DIY video invitations on youtube or dailymotion that are actually quite nice! It gives you the opportunity to be very creative and do something that is just YOU

By: Utah Weddings

Utah Weddings — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:11:19 +0000

Some of the best wedding invites I've ever seen come from people who do them themselves. Not only do you save a buttload of money, but you can make them unique and original. When you go with a company to do them, they can look generic and like other invitations that other couples have gone to them to do. Just my two cents for you all.

By: Joe Jackson

Joe Jackson — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:52:26 +0000

Wow, interesting, i'll pass this along.

By: Ragani

Ragani — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:13:48 +0000

All good advise! I initially created the design for print then later used it to base the email from so I did end up printing a handful for them out from the high res version. I also started in Photoshop and worked on a grid, although I ended up having to simplify it the final design a bunch once I realized how much was lost when the images were not shown. Using the most basic, table-based HTML was exactly what I ended up doing in the end, and it helped to keep things aligned as designed.

By: Ragani

Ragani — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:03:14 +0000

Hi Katherine. I totally know what you mean about the templates.

You can reach me directly by email at my first name at gmail dot com and yes, I do indeed do freelance work.

By: Wedding koozies

Wedding koozies — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:59:13 +0000

So impressive with your post!
Thanks for sharing !

By: Kristin

Kristin — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:49:54 +0000

Cool! I am going to try this. I work as an eCommerce designer, and we design a lot of retail emails. I will have to check with the services listed to see how much flexibility they allow for a design-your-own template.

If you have some web design experience, and really want some gorgeous email invites, here's a few tips:

In our email designs at my work, we create the graphics in Photoshop, slice the image into smaller images (using Slice Tool, Image Ready or Fireworks), and create a grid type HTML structure to pop the slices into. We use the most basic, table-based HTML. No CSS, as not all browsers or email clients are guaranteed to understand it. Every image gets an "alt" tag so those browsers or email clients that suppress images will at least see some text explaining what the image is or says. Same with "title" tags. Not every browser displays "alt" tags (it is for disabled usability and meant for text readers, the newest browsers won't show it now), but the "title" tag will show. So, use both for proper and valid HTML code.

Then we have a link to a "can't see images? view here" version, if all else fails. That exists as a page on our website.

Another cool thing…if you design your own for web, I guess you could save a high-res version for print as well, to send to those that aren't hip to the internets, like my mom!

By: Brandy

Brandy — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 23:34:38 +0000

We did a MyPunchbowl invite for my 3-week planning wedding (a week from today). Worked beautifully, you can track viewing of email & viewing of webpage. I think it's a better choice for your average bride who wants to use online invitations.

By: Katherine in Bali

Katherine in Bali — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 03:21:41 +0000

I just wanted to say that I use Vertical Resonse, too, but I have a devil of a time working with their (ugly) templates. I definitely like them becuase you can pay per email rather than needing a monthly contract which I found with some of the others including Mail Chimp. I'd love to contact Ragani, but because she's a "tribe" member and I'm not allowed "in there," and I have to go in via the "tribe" area to conact her, the way her link is set up here. She looks so talented- her graphics look beautiful. Does she have a website or do freelance work? Is there another way to contact her?

-Katherine in Bali

By: Lindsey

Lindsey — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:45:24 +0000

This is such a great Idea! Your invites are awesome! I am having a green wedding, so email invitations are a must! It's also a great way to save on costs. So many people forget to send the RSVP Cards, with most online invites, they can rsvp online. Saves the bride a lot of work!