Is an online RSVP right for your wedding?

Paper or digital RSVPs? In 2015, most brides and grooms-to-be will be asking themselves this question.  Alas, it’s no age-old question as the online wedding RSVP trend is in its infancy.  But, there are plenty of couples who have already waded into the world of the online RSVP — and did so after careful consideration of a few key questions.  So, is an online RSVP right for your wedding?  Let’s consider some of the deciding factors.

The Bride & Groom

Do you and your fiancé fancy yourselves on the cutting edge? “Trendy,” if you will?  Willing to embrace new things and the latest technology trends? Or are you the more traditional type, planning what most people might consider a very traditional wedding? Well, ask yourselves what kind of wedding you’d like to have and how you’d like your guest list to perceive your impending celebration.

Certainly, you can have a wholly traditional wedding and still employ an online RSVP as your primary form of response, but your guests may be a bit surprised if your wedding doesn’t have a bit of modern flare to boot.

Time, Money & Hassle

It’s all about the Benjamins, right? Whether or not you’re planning a lavish wedding with a Texas-sized budget to match, or you’re trying to get the most wedding that you can on a limited budget, the fact is that an online RSVP will save you time, money and hassle.

Not only can paper RSVPs cost a pretty penny (several hundred dollars or more for an average-size wedding plus return stamp postage), but traditional RSVPs can succumb to many unfortunate fates from getting lost in the mail to becoming a permanent fixture on your aunt’s fridge.  Even if you’re not cost-conscious when it comes to paper RSVPs, a few hundred bucks can always be better spent (anybody says “booze?”).

With an online RSVP, there are no spreadsheets to build or guest lists to check off (and re-check) — and, you can easily manipulate your guest list to see if you’re able to start inviting your “B list” or easily create the perfect seating chart.

Your Guest List

While perhaps not the biggest factor in your decision whether or not to take the online RSVP route, consider who you’re inviting to your wedding — and how tech-savvy they are.  These days, even Great-Grandma is often online and more than capable of submitting a simple RSVP form.

If you’re inviting a significant number of guests not familiar with the “online generation,” though, you may want to consider a traditional RSVP.  Many brides and grooms choose to take a hybrid approach — using online RSVPs for the majority of their guest list, but sending a paper RSVP and postage-paid response envelope to a select few guests deemed likely to have trouble with a digital RSVP.

The Environment

OK, choosing online RSVPs over traditional paper RSVPs won’t exactly make you Captain Planet, but why not do what you can to cut Mother Earth a break? Not only will you cut back on your paper consumption in the form of RSVP cards and envelopes, but also consider the fuel consumption needed to return your paper RSVPs safely back to you.

The bottom line? There are many great reasons to opt for an online RSVP for your wedding, but at the end of the day, there’s no definitive right or wrong answer. A digital RSVP might be the perfect solution for some couples, while others may be better served taking the traditional route.