- Best Wedding Invitation Websites for 2024 - December 8, 2023
- Best Wedding Planning Apps this Year - December 7, 2023
- Zola vs Joy: Which Wedding App is Best? - December 5, 2023
If you are looking for the best wedding invitation service for your big day, you are in the right place!
In 2024 there are SO many good options to choose from, but each comes with subtle nuances that it makes choosing JUST ONE service a bit difficult.
In this guide I’ll break down some of the top services I recommend based on some specific general criteria and some options for different use cases or wedding situations.
But first, here’s the criteria I used to evaluate and test each invite service against…
What Makes a Great Wedding Invitation Website?
Before we dive into the specifics, let’s cover some of the critical factors that make a wedding invitation website great.
- Ease of Use: The website should have an intuitive and user-friendly interface that makes it easy to design and customize invitations. Check if the platform offers a smooth navigation experience and simple tools to design your invitations.
- Customization Options: A good wedding invitation website should offer a wide variety of templates and design options. It should allow you to change colors, fonts, and layouts to match your wedding theme.
- Quality of Print: The finished product should look professional and high-quality. Check customer reviews to see if previous users were satisfied with the print quality of their invitations.
- Pricing: The cost of the service should be reasonable and offer good value for money. Some websites offer bulk discounts or packages that include additional stationery, which can help to save costs.
- Customer Service: Look for a website that offers excellent customer support. If something goes wrong or you make a design mistake, who can you call? They should be responsive and helpful in case you encounter any issues or need assistance with your design.
- Delivery Times: The website should have reliable delivery times and provide options for rush orders if needed. It’s important to receive your invitations in a timely manner to ensure you have enough time to send them out.
- Integration with Wedding Website: If you plan to create a wedding website, it can be helpful if the invitation service integrates with your chosen platform. This allows for a seamless and consistent design across all your wedding materials.
- RSVPs, Thank You’s, etc…: Additional features such as matching RSVP cards, thank you notes, or save-the-date cards can be a bonus. Some websites may also offer digital invitation options.
With these factors in mind, let’s explore the best wedding invitation websites that excel in these areas.
1. Zola: Best Overall
Zola has earned its place as the best overall wedding invitation site due to its wide variety of product offerings tailored to different tastes and preferences. Its user-friendly interface makes navigation easy, even for the less tech-savvy.
Key Features of Zola
- Extensive Design Options: Zola offers a vast selection of items from different brands, allowing you to create a diverse and personalized registry.
- User-friendly Interface: Zola’s platform is modern, mobile-friendly, intuitive, and easy to navigate, making the registry creation process a breeze.
- Various Price Points: Zola provides items across various price ranges, accommodating all guest budgets.
- Flexible Return Policy: Zola has a generous and flexible return policy, allowing you to return unwanted gifts.
- Excellent Customer Service: Zola prides itself on its exceptional customer service, ensuring that any issues are promptly resolved.
Pricing and Production Time
Invitations from Zola vary in price, depending on your preferred paper type, size, and silhouette, as well as the total quantity ordered. Expect to spend between $2 and $3 per piece for 100 standard-size wedding invites on signature paper.
With standard delivery, stationery from Zola is typically delivered within 6 to 9 business days. This includes the 2 days necessary for a digital proof to be approved. If you don’t have time to spare, you can pay extra for rush shipping, which will deliver your invites in 3 business days after the proof is reviewed.
Zola Alternatives Compared
Our editorial team has contrasted Zola with a variety of top competitors, which you can check out below:
- Zola vs MyRegistry Compared
- Zola vs Amazon Registry Compared
- Zola vs Honeyfund Compared
- Zola vs The Knot Compared
- Zola vs Minted Compared
- Zola vs Blueprint Compared
- Zola vs Joy Compared
2. The Knot: Best Wedding Planning Suite
The Knot is an exceptional wedding registry service known for its comprehensive nature. It serves as a central hub where you can sync multiple registries from different retailers in one place, making it convenient for both you and your guests.
Key Features of The Knot
- Comprehensive Wedding Planning: The Knot offers a whole suite of wedding planning tools alongside its registry service. From wedding websites, guest lists, checklists, to budgeting tools, it’s a one-stop wedding shop, reducing the need for multiple platforms.
- Charity Component: The Knot has a unique feature that allows couples to add a charity to their registry and guests can choose to donate. This is a thoughtful addition that Zola does not offer.
- Vendor Listings: The Knot provides a comprehensive directory of local vendors for various wedding services, an aspect absent in Zola’s offerings, making it easier to plan other aspects of your wedding.
- Cash and Experience Gifts: Like Zola, The Knot allows for cash and experience gifts. However, The Knot’s cash fund option does not charge a processing fee, a clear advantage over Zola.
- Guest Convenience: The Knot’s ‘Store’ feature allows guests to shop gifts directly from the platform, reducing the need to visit multiple retailers’ websites.
- Personalized Wedding Website: Both platforms offer this feature, but The Knot provides a broader choice of templates and customization options, allowing you more control over your wedding’s online presence.
- Extensive Guidance and Inspiration: The Knot provides access to a wealth of wedding-related articles, advice, and inspiration, helping couples to plan their perfect day.
- Community Support: The Knot has a vibrant community forum where you can connect with other couples, share ideas, and get advice, a feature not available on Zola.
- Free Wedding Vision Tool: The Knot offers a unique tool to help you define your wedding style and color scheme, something Zola does not provide. This tool can be a great starting point for planning your dream wedding.
Pricing and Production Time
As styles and designers vary on Paper Source, the pricing does, too. We estimate a cost of $2 to $3 per piece for 100 standard house-brand invitations. But depending on the designer and quantity, you could spend anywhere from around $2 to upwards of $6 per invite.
Paper Source’s production time takes 3 days and, unfortunately, this can’t be expedited. Once your invite is printed, there are four shipping options: next day, 2-day, ground (which is 1 to 6 business days in the continental US) and standard (which is 5 to 10 business days depending on your address).
3. Papier: Best for International Shipping
Papier is an ideal option for couples looking to send wedding invites to loved ones all around the world. They feature a wide selection of gorgeous, unique designs that will complement your big day.
Key Features of Papier
- Wide Selection of Designs: Papier offers a curated selection of high-quality, modern furniture and home décor items. Their range is perfect for couples who appreciate contemporary design and want to outfit their homes with stylish pieces.
- International Shipping: Papier stands out in its commitment to international shipping, making it an excellent choice for couples with guests from different countries.
- Sustainable Practices: Papier prides itself on using sustainably sourced paper, making it a great choice for eco-conscious couples.
Pricing and Production Time
Stationery from Papier falls between $2 and $3 per invite for 100. Expect to spend more if you order a smaller quantity, choose thicker paper or spring for a shimmering foil design.
Papier’s invites have an estimated production time of 2 to 3 days. Add on an additional 1 to 7 business days for delivery depending on the type of shipping you choose. Note: Shipping can take longer depending on the state or country you live in. Additionally, Papier designs from the UK can take longer to ship.
4. Etsy: Best for Handmade Invitations
If you’re looking for truly unique wedding invitations with a handmade touch, look no further than Etsy. The marketplace has a treasure trove of invites designed by small businesses and independent creators, so you’re sure to find something one-of-a-kind for your big day.
Key Features of Etsy
- Unique and Handmade Designs: Etsy stands out for its unique, handmade designs. You can find independent designers and small brands working in nearly any medium you can put on paper. Some creators offer digital downloads only, while others offer both digital and print options.
- Customization: Many shops on Etsy create fully customized wedding invitations—give them a vision, and they’ll design a one-of-a-kind suite just for you.
Pricing and Production Time
Since invitation designers at Etsy are all independent businesses, there’s no set price. It really depends on what type of design you go for as well as the materials used, the level of customization requested and the shop’s shipping costs.
Similarly, there’s no set production time for Etsy sellers. That said, you can usually find all the information you’ll need regarding production and shipping times in the seller’s notes on the product page. If you still have questions, feel free to reach out to your stationery designer directly.
5. Paperless Post: Best Online, Designer Invitations
Paperless Post offers high-quality online designs that are worthy of a celebration. Whether that means adding an original drawing to your invitations or choosing one of hundreds of designer themes from the likes of Oscar de la Renta, Venamour, Kate Spade New York, Rifle Paper Co., and more, your Paperless Post invitations will surely impress.
Key Features of Paperless Post
- Extensive Online Design Options: Paperless Post offers a vast selection of items from different brands, including more boutique brands that competing registry services don’t sync with.
- User-friendly Interface: Paperless Post’s platform is modern, mobile-friendly, intuitive, and easy to navigate, making the registry creation process a breeze.
- Various Price Points: Paperless Post provides items across various price ranges, accommodating all guest budgets.
- Flexible Return Policy: Paperless Post has a generous and flexible return policy, allowing you to return unwanted gifts.
Pricing and Production Time
Hundreds of free invitations are available to send to up to 50 emails. For ‘premium cards’, Paperless Post operates on a coin system (or virtual credits you can purchase to send invitations) and offers packages ranging from 25 coins for $10 to 1,000 coins for $100, depending on your needs.
Final Take: So Which Option to Go With?
If you are specifically looking for a good wedding invitation service, the above options are ALL solid choices. That said, I may lean one way or another based on YOUR preferences.
Whether you prefer the comprehensive services of Zola, the design-forward options of Paperless Post, the international shipping of Papier, or the handmade uniqueness of Etsy (don’t sleep on Etsy for some deep finds), there’s something for everyone here.