Digital Engagement Invitations: Wording and Design

An engagement invitation is not a smaller copy of a wedding card. The occasion is smaller and closer to the family, the wording is lighter and warmer, and the design is simpler. Yet one problem is harder here than at a wedding: the head count is strictly limited.

Ready wording

• The Al Harbi family is pleased to invite you to the engagement celebration of their son Faisal. Your presence is appreciated.
• We invite you to share the joy of our daughter's engagement, at a small family gathering.
• We would be glad to have you at a special occasion. The invitation is for you and your family.

What differs from a wedding card

Three differences. The host is usually the bride's family rather than the groom's. The venue is often a home rather than a hall, which makes the map link more important than you expect. And the number is fixed and counted, so one guest arriving with four others unsettles the whole gathering.

The right design

Light colours, little ornament, and a clear rather than decorative typeface. An engagement card heavy with pattern looks heavier than the occasion itself. If you are choosing a background, the detail is in the backgrounds and designs guide.

Managing a limited head count

An event for fifty people cannot absorb a counting error. A general invitation sent as an image is riskier at an engagement than at a wedding, because it is forwarded easily and reaches people you never invited. In Pro Gallery invitations the card arrives addressed to one guest, who states how many people he is bringing, so you know your final number before you book the catering.

When to send it

Ten days ahead is enough for a small family occasion, with a reminder the day before. And state plainly whether the invitation is for the person alone or for him and his family.

Prepare your engagement card

Design a light card that suits the occasion and send it to every guest by name with a confirmation button. Start with Pro Gallery here, and afterwards every guest receives their own photos.