We’ve cancelled our subscriptions to catalogues, bring our own bags to the store and have kicked our bottled water habit. But giving up paper invites sent via snail mail is something many of us haven’t been willing to give up, especially for special occasion events. An Evite (www.evite.com) isn’t appropriate for every occasion, and you don’t want your guests to feel pressure to come up with a witty response in order to RSVP. There hasn’t been a good alternative to traditional paper invitations…until now! I was oh-so-excited to discover Paperless Post (www.paperlesspost.com) in a recent article in the NY Times. Paperless Post offers a great alternative to paper invitations that can even be used for formal events.
Paperless Post offers many amazing design options - formal and casual styles; traditional, classic or modern motifs; and their paper selection is incredible (including letterpress-look designs). You must create an account to view the invitation options, but it’s a simple process and there’s no cost. Be sure to sign in through the link below, which gives NY Times readers 25 free stamps (that’s how you send the invites; this amounts to about $2 worth of free stamps).
Here’s how it works: Sign-in, pick an invitation style based on the type of event you are having, pick a “motif” (i.e. the invitation pattern you like), customize the invitation with your own words or those suggested for your occasion, pick a font style, specify the event details (date, time, etc.), add guests by typing in their e-mail addresses (which can be saved in an “address book” so they are there for future reference) and ”mail” the invitations by purchasing stamps from the site, which cost about 5-8¢ per stamp, depending on how many you purchase. The invitation that’s mailed to your guests is way more exciting than an e-mail or Evite; a virtual envelope opens and reveals the invitation, much like it would if you were opening it with your own two hands.
Paperless Post is a great value, and it eliminates the process of ordering, addressing and mailing invitations. There are, however, a few downsides to paperless invitations. If you are sentimental or like having a nice printed invitation to save, paperless invites won’t give you the same memento. Also, paperless invites only work if all of your guests have an e-mail address that they check regularly. I’d say that most people do, but there’s no guarantee, especially if you have older invitees on your guest list. For a formal events, like weddings, paper invitations are probably still your best option, but I’ll definitely be using these for the next cocktail party, holiday party or baby shower I host.
Paperless Post with 25 Free Stamp Promotion: http://www.paperlesspost.com/access/nytimes
NY Times article on Paperless Post: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/11/fashion/11post.html?_r=2&ref=fashion)
