How to make an online wedding invitation, step by step

An online wedding invitation is a web page with everything your guests need to know: your names, the date, the day’s schedule, the venues on a map and a form to RSVP. You send it as a link, by WhatsApp, Messenger or email, and it opens straight in the browser, with no app to install.

Below are the steps, from the details to gather first to the message you send the link with. If you’d like to see one first, open any of the online wedding invitations with sample details.

What to have ready before you start

The invitation comes together quickly if you have the following to hand. You don’t need all of it at once: you can save the draft and come back.

• Your names, written exactly as you want them to appear, with any accents.
• Parents and godparents, if you’d like them on the invitation. Check the spelling of their names with them.
• The wedding date and the time of each part of the day: the civil ceremony, the church service, the reception.
• The venues, with their names and full addresses. A Google Maps link is even better.
• The RSVP deadline, usually three to four weeks before the wedding. We cover it in the guide on when to send wedding invitations.
• The menus guests choose from, if your venue needs them in advance.

Step 1: choose a template

The template sets the tone: colours, lettering, frame and opening effect. Some open like a sealed envelope, others with peonies coming into bloom or a curtain drawing back.

A few questions to help you choose:

• What style is your wedding? A classic wedding, with a church service and a reception, suits an understated template such as Editorial. One in a garden or at a country house, with earthy tones, suits Terracotta.
• What colours are you decorating with? The invitation can hint at them: dusty pink on Bujor, navy and gold on Noapte înstelată.
• Would you like a moment of surprise as it opens? On Scrisoare the invitation slides out of an envelope, and on Monogramă the date is revealed by scratching off a gold foil.

Open a few templates on your phone, with sample details, and pick the one that feels like you. You don’t need an account to try them.

Step 2: add your wedding details

The editor is split into chapters, and the invitation alongside it (or in the preview tab, on a phone) changes as you type.

• The event: your names, the date and the invitation’s language, Romanian or English.
• Family: parents, godparents and a message for your guests. Names appear exactly as you type them.
• Schedule: each part of the day, with its time, venue and address. Guests get a direct link to Google Maps and Waze, so there’s no need to explain the way.

Save as you go. The draft stays even if you close the page, and if you have an account you’ll find it under “My invitations”.

Step 3: set up RSVPs

RSVPs are the most useful part of an online invitation: instead of phoning dozens of people, you get the replies straight in your account.

In the “RSVPs” chapter you choose:

• The deadline for replies.
• Menus, if guests choose their meal, for example standard and vegetarian.
• Children: the form asks how many of those coming are children.
• Your own questions, up to five: accommodation, transport, allergies or a favourite song.

There’s more on what to ask in the guide to wedding RSVPs.

Step 4: personalise the look and the wording

The template comes with its wording written, but you can rewrite it: the opening lines, the section headings, the closing and the thank-you after an RSVP. For ideas, there are ten examples in the guide to wedding invitation wording.

In the “Look” chapter you choose the music (a classical piece from the library, or none) and, if you like, change the opening effect, colours, frame or decoration. Anything you leave stays as the template has it.

Step 5: check the invitation on a phone

Most guests will open the invitation on their phone, so check it there first. Look at:

• Names and dates. A wrong letter in a godparent’s name stands out straight away.
• Times. Guests coming only to the reception need to know exactly when to arrive.
• Map links. Tap them and make sure they go to the right place.
• The RSVP form. Try it, to see what your guests will be asked.

Ask someone in the family to read it too. Fresh eyes catch the mistakes you’ve stopped seeing.

Step 6: publish the invitation

To publish it, you create an account with your email address (or sign in with Google or Facebook), and the draft moves into your account automatically. Publishing is a one-off payment per invitation, with no subscription; you’ll find the price on the pricing page. Drafts and previews are free.

This is also when you choose the link, for example lovelle.ro/i/ana-si-mihai. Leave it blank and we’ll make one from your names and the date.

One important thing: once published, the invitation no longer changes, so every guest sees the same details. That’s why step 5 matters.

Step 7: send the invitation

Once published, you get the link, a “Send on WhatsApp” button and a message for your guests that you can rewrite. On WhatsApp and Messenger the link shows the invitation’s image and title, so guests recognise it straight away.

For godparents and grandparents, a phone call or a visit before the message is a lovely touch. For those who don’t use a smartphone, you can print a few cards with the online invitation’s QR code. You’ll find message examples in the guide to the WhatsApp message for your wedding invitation.

Mistakes to avoid

• Publishing in a hurry. Check everything first, because once published the invitation stays as it is.
• No RSVP deadline. Without a clear date, some guests never reply.
• Incomplete addresses. “The restaurant by the lake” helps nobody at 11 at night.
• One message to the family group. Personal messages get more replies than one sent to a group.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make an online wedding invitation for free?

You can pick a template, fill in the invitation and see exactly how it looks without paying anything. You only pay to publish it, once, however many guests you have.

How long does it take to make an online wedding invitation?

With your details ready, about half an hour. Choosing the template usually takes longest.

Can I make the invitation on my phone?

Yes. The editor works on phones too, with a tab that shows the invitation exactly as your guests will see it.

Does an online invitation completely replace a printed one?

For most guests, yes. Many couples still print a few for grandparents and godparents. We compare the two in the guide digital or printed invitations.