| If you live on social network sites or have | | | | guardian angel of all things proper, the Emily Post |
| experienced "texting thumbs" then you know how | | | | Institute, frowns on sending email invites unless it's |
| convenient modern technology makes it to get in | | | | an emergency, such as a sudden overseas |
| touch with friends, family, and acquaintances. But | | | | deployment for a member of the military. |
| when it comes to most important day of your | | | | Online: Send an electronic invitation and the |
| life, is it okay to use an online invitation? Or, like | | | | etiquette "expert" in the family is likely to look |
| generations before you, should you send | | | | down her nose in disapproval. However, friends |
| traditional paper wedding invitations? Here are the | | | | and family might not be bothered (they might |
| pros and cons: | | | | even be impressed) that you were tech-savvy |
| Dollars and Sense | | | | enough to send e-invites. |
| Paper: From invites and encolsures to envelopes | | | | Deliver it |
| and mailings, paper wedding stationery can | | | | Paper: Postal services can be remarkably efficient. |
| consume a reasonable chunk of your budget. In | | | | Paper wedding invites can be forwarded if the |
| fact, according to The Bridal Association of | | | | recipient has moved, and, if there's no forwarding |
| America, the average couple plunks down nearly | | | | address the invitation will be sent back to you, |
| $700 for invites. Budgeting brides can find this | | | | letting you know the guest lives elsewhere. |
| cost hard to swallow. | | | | Online: Despite their advantages, online invitations |
| Online: Hands down, an online wedding invitation is | | | | have their snags. Email addresses change; |
| more budget friendly. You can search online for | | | | messages get lost in a sea of spam. What's more |
| free invitation templates, but that could be time | | | | is that not everyone uses the internet. If potential |
| consuming. If there aren't enough hours in the day | | | | guests aren't connected, you'll need to find |
| to send invites and organize all of the replies, | | | | another way to invite them. Consider using |
| consider using an online wedding invitation service. | | | | handwritten notes or extending the invitation in |
| These time-savers offer a variety of invitation | | | | person. |
| templates, making it easy to find an invite to suit | | | | You can have your cake and eat it, too. |
| your theme. Many online wedding invite sites also | | | | Brides can blend online invites with paper wedding |
| provide RSVP tracking. Some services even allow | | | | invitations. For instance, email is ideal for |
| you to attach maps or create an event page that | | | | save-the-date invitations--and professional |
| guests can visit prior to the special day. Although | | | | etiquette experts actually approve of electronic |
| most services charge a fee, it's small when | | | | save-the-date announcements. When it's time to |
| compared to the cost of printing and mailing | | | | send out the invite, go the traditional--and |
| paper wedding invitations. | | | | etiquette-approved--route by mailing paper |
| Miss Manners | | | | wedding invitations. You can also combine the |
| Paper: From your Grandma May to your company | | | | modern and the traditional by providing your email |
| CEO, paper wedding invitations are the only way | | | | address to give guests the option to reply |
| to properly announces impending nuptials. Even the | | | | electronically. |