Throwing a party is a daunting task in itself: then there’s the guest list, choosing the invitation, sending it out, and keeping track of attendees. Inviting people to a party can be overwhelming, but it can also be surprisingly fun.
How can sending out invitations be fun? With so many online invitation services, what used to be a chore has become a pleasure.
What’s the occasion?
There are services to suit every need. From baby showers to weddings and even bachelor/bachelorette parties, there’s a service for everyone.
Many people use Evita’s services not only for light celebrations, but also for more formal occasions like funerals or memorial services. Evita, one of the most popular pre-wedding services, is, and rightly so, Paperless Post. You have unlimited design options, and few can compare when it comes to impressing your guests.
Paperless Post’s invitation designs range from modern to classic, floral and everything in between, making them ideal for weddings, bridal showers, rehearsal dinners and other celebrations. One of the biggest advantages of the service is the number of participants they work with to develop their templates. Choose from a Gatsby-inspired, 1920s-style invitation designed by Jonathan Adler, a beautiful polka dot design by Kate Spade New York or any other design from a variety of designers such as Oscar de la Renta and Crane & Co. You can also customize your envelope, cover and stamp to achieve your desired look.
EvitaCelebrations.com also offers a variety of invitation designs, but it doesn’t have the design flair that Paperless Post provides. Freelance designers upload their designs, some of which are quite unique, making them ideal for kids’ parties or school reunions.
If you need a service to send invitations for a less festive occasion, check out Minted. It offers a wide range of designs, including some simpler designs that are geared towards adults, and the best part is that they come in a variety of colors. Let’s say you like a card but want it in black or white; almost any design can be changed to your desired color. This is a great option, as most Evite sites offer few color options.
If Giving Back is Important to You
There are also invitation websites that go beyond just sending invitations, such as donating a portion of sales to nonprofits or other organizations that help wildlife or the less fortunate.
As the name suggests, Greenvelope is a forbidden place with a green border. The service already benefits the environment by allowing you to send digital invitations instead of physical ones, but it goes further. The Seattle-based company aims to save paper and preserve the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest by donating a percentage of every sale to Mountains to Sound, a nonprofit that preserves forests. As its slogan says, “Together, we can ‘invite’ to a greener future.”
Another service with a purpose is Pingg. Their designs come from a large community of freelance designers, who not only create a rich variety of designs, but also provide work for people who might have difficulty finding work elsewhere.
If You’re Looking for “More”
everyone on Evite should send invitations, but some companies go a step further by offering features and services that make the “big occasion” experience even easier. If you want to send invitations but also need a service to help you plan your party, be sure to check out Punchbowl. The service offers party ideas ranging from Disney-themed kids’ parties to adult cocktail parties, and even gives you smart food and entertainment ideas. It also helps you connect with vendors like bartenders, caterers, costume rental companies, chefs, and entertainers to help you organize your perfect party. Simply enter your desired vendor, your location, and radius, click “Search,” and the system will display a list of relevant service providers in your area.
YappBox is a unique approach to organizing parties and events. With the YappBox website, you can create your own app for you and your guests. Send out invitations, invite members who have the app to share photos and updates, upload party directions, the event program, and even post to social media like Twitter. Creating an app for your event fosters a sense of community and provides guests with a simple, user-friendly, and convenient place to find information.
Some services go beyond invitations by offering RSVP tracking and other useful tools. Paperless Post lets you see the status of each recipient: whether they opened the invitation, whether they responded, and if not, you can remind them.
Pricing
Most Evite sites operate on a similar pricing model. The model is as follows: free invitation design and service options are offered, but they are limited, and any additional services will require an additional fee.
Two sites in particular that offer a large number of attractive and free designs are Evite and Postmark. Evite, one of the most popular services, has over 100 million users. The reason for its popularity is the sheer number of free designs. Offering free designs is so important that it prevents the “Free Navigation” sign from appearing prominently on your website’s homepage. There are plenty of designs for every occasion: your husband’s 50th birthday, a Fourth of July barbecue, an outdoor party, your niece’s pool party, the holidays, and much more.
For a slightly different need, Postmark offers incredibly affordable custom invitations. The service is simple: just create an email template or use one they’ve created, fill in the necessary information, such as the user’s name, company name, project name, product name, and a few other details, and click “send.” Your template can be saved for future use. That’s it. Evite invitations have been sent.
Now that you know about the most popular Evite features and services, you can easily choose the one that best suits your needs. From choosing a design, personalizing it, and choosing an envelope, to tracking RSVPs, creating an app for your event, or using the service to connect with helpful vendors, there’s a service for everything.
Happy planning!