Easy Party Planning: “I” is for Invitations

If you are going to go to all the work of planning and throwing a party, you will definitely want people to show up, right? That is why invitations are such an important part of party planning.

Before we get to the specifics, remember that sometimes you won't need invitations. If you are having a spontaneous or very casual event (such as a game or dessert night), invitations are not necessary. It will make your event too formal. However, if you can answer yes to one or all of the following questions, you may consider doing invitations:

1. Are you serving food?
2. Is the event over a week away?
3. Is the event at a unique location that would require an address?
4. Are you making name cards or giving out favors?
5. Do you need to plan for adequate seating or parking?

If you've decided that invitations are a must, let us share some different options and the pros and cons of each.

Handmade invitations

There is nothing like getting a handmade invitation in the mail or on your doorstep. We get giddy every time We receive a real invitation.

Pros:
-You can customize them to fit the theme of your event
-It gives a very personal touch to your guests
-They can save you money

Cons:
-They can be time-consuming
-They can be expensive

Pre-made invitations

(image via minted)
Pros:
-They save you time
-They are usually more professional looking

Cons:
-You might have a hard time finding exactly what you are looking for
-They can be expensive

Evite or Other Online Invitation Service

(image via evite)

Although We love getting and making handmade invitations, We are big fans of Evite (evite.com). Have you ever used it? It's actually pretty simple. If you'd like full instructions on how to use Evite, click here.

Pros:
-Your invitations are sent with a click of a mouse
-There is no postage required
-You can see which guests have viewed and RSVP'd to the event
-You can have guests sign up to bring something
There are many styles that can fit your theme
-FREE!

Cons:
-Some of your guests may not have access to a computer
-If your guests are in an older generation that are not used to computers, they may not even see it

Whatever you decide to use for invitations, don't let it become a big stress. Parties are about having fun and there is a lot more to it than the invitations.

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Photos by Marcelle Calder Photography

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