Text message wedding invitations: how and when to send wedding invites via text

The average cost of wedding invitations sits between $400 and $650 for most couples. By the time you factor in postage costs (for the invites and the RSVPs), you’re looking at over $1,000 for a few pieces of paper.

As wedding-related costs skyrocket, it’s no surprise that cost-conscious brides and grooms are seeking out budget-friendly solutions. An increasingly popular trend among millennials is the wedding invitation text.

Naysayers may call it edgy, we call it misunderstood. There’s so much to explore when it comes to texting wedding invitations. Get ready to text “yes” to this innovative new approach to your nuptials.

Can you send wedding invitations via text?

Short answer一you can absolutely send your wedding invites via text message. It may not be traditional, but wedding invitation messages sent by text are getting more and more common, and for good reason.

Texting your wedding invitation out to guests offers you greater flexibility, faster communication with your loved ones, and more convenience. 

This is also the best way to go if you want to avoid any delays in the process or share a link to your wedding website.

Wondering why you should send your wedding invitations via text? Check out these current texting and SMS marketing statistics.

How can SMS be used for wedding invites?

When we say wedding text message invitation, we don’t mean a bride texting her friends and family to ask, “Do you want to come to my wedding in March?”

Instead, we want you to picture a sophisticated system of text messages from a unique number completely tailored to your wedding.

It’s similar to a wedding website—except instead of a digital invite on a web page, you send bite-sized content to your guest’s cellphones.

Instead of trying to fit all the information about your special day into one envelope, you can use bulk SMS messaging to share with all of your guests in one click.

When you use SMS software to handle your wedding invitations, you get to customize and create as much as you want.

How to send a wedding invitation text message

There are several convenient ways that you can incorporate SMS and text messaging into your wedding invitations. Some of our favorite features are described here!

Create a keyword and drip campaign

Create a specific wedding keyword unique to you and your spouse. When guests text in that keyword, they’ll receive the initial invitation.

From there, you can create a text message drip campaign一a series of texts scheduled to go out at certain times leading up to the big day.

You can send texts describing what to wear to the wedding if it’s outdoors, directions to the venue, hotel information for out-of-town guests, and so much more!

Get attendees engaged with wedding invitation texts

Unlike paper invitations, wedding invitation texts encourage two-way communication. Get creative and let guests engage and celebrate with you before your special day.

Triggers tell your story

With the triggers feature, you can add some whimsy that brings your wedding texts to life. For example, invite guests to text things like LOVE to your number to receive your and your partner’s love story. 

Or perhaps use the trigger PHOTOS to automatically send them a link to some of your favorite engagement shots.

No matter what you choose, these automatic responses are a great way to invite your friends and family into your celebration.

Text to vote menu

You can handle all your catering needs with one single text. Simply set up a Text to Vote Poll! Have your guests reply with their selection. Then invite them to text you any extra dietary needs or restrictions. The poll will update in real time. 

By the time the voting deadline rolls around, just look at the results and give your caterers the final numbers for each dish.

Texts keep your guests up-to-date

Wedding days involve lots of little details. Texting gives your guests easy access to the information they need and cuts down on confusion, making the planning process a breeze.

Add trackable links to your messages

These days, wedding registries and wedding photos are accessed almost entirely online. This makes it easy to simply text links to your pages directly to guests’ phones.

Set up templates for FAQ’s

If you’ve experienced planning and hosting a wedding, you know how frustrating it can be to answer the same questions over and over again for hundreds of guests. It’s your special occasion, you deserve a rest.

Set up templates that answer the most common questions一things like date and time, dress code, and transportation一and thank yourself later.

Benefits of texting wedding invitations

A decade ago, the idea of a wedding website was unheard of. Now, the billion-dollar industry run by The Knot and WeddingWire has made it simple. We believe texting will be the next big thing.

If you’re on the fence, consider these reasons for using wedding invitation texts:

• The cost: We mentioned earlier the hundreds of dollars you spend with paper invites, but texts cost only pennies to send. And all incoming SMS messages are free.

• Easy to track: With paper invitations, it’s all too easy to lose track of an RSVP card. But with texting, all your RSVPs and important communications are saved in one central location (your dashboard).

• Wedding planner-level organization: Wedding planners are expensive, even if having the extra hands makes them worthwhile. But with features like drip campaigns, triggers, and templates, you get all the extra “hands” you need with only a fraction of the price.

Text message wedding invitations aren’t as rare as you think

We’ve had many happy couples use SimpleTexting during the wedding planning process. And both the couples and their guests have been impressed with just how much opportunity there is to connect with texting.

At the end of the day, while a paper invitation is more formal, a text is a conversation. And for a day built around your loved ones, something as intimate as a conversation seems appropriate!