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Having a baby changes a woman’s life in the best way! It’s only natural it warrants its very own celebration, known to most as baby showers. It all starts with the all-important baby shower invitations and here I help you decide whether to go paper or electronic. Evites for baby showers are becoming more and more popular.
Most mothers will have at least one baby shower during their lifetime, and while there’s always talk about finding the perfect venue, theme, or party decor, baby shower invitations are sometimes pushed to the back burner.
But they shouldn’t be!
The invites
Invitations are what set the tone for the impending celebration. For example, is your baby shower casual or formal? Circus or zoo themed? Should guests bring gifts or donate to a baby charity on your behalf? Whatever you’re envisioning for your big day, your invitation is the perfect way to relay that information to your guests.
But should you use paper or electronic invites? That’s a question many mothers face, as they wrap up the planning stage of their baby shower.
In years past, before technology allowed for digital invitations, hosts notified their guests of the event with beautiful, intricate, paper invitations. However, times have changed since then. As digital invitations become more accessible, many women are shifting their attention to them and their sleek, professional, designs.
So which is right for you? Well, it depends on your personal needs and views on proper “etiquette practices.” Keep reading as we break down the pros and cons of paper and electronic baby shower invitations.
Paper Invitations
If you’re a stickler for invitation etiquette, then paper invites win by default. Etiquette practices favour paper invitations because, well, that’s the medium that was available when those rules were set into place. But paper invitations offer more than just brownie points with high-brow guests: they’re also great party keepsakes – if they’re thoughtfully put together and arranged.
Where paper invites fall short is the amount of time and effort it takes to send them out. If you’re hosting a large group of people, it might take hours to find the right-sized envelopes – or boxes, depending on the size and shape – and then a drive to the post office to send them out.
Paper invitations might also drive up the cost of the baby shower. While simple invites might not cost much, custom invites printed on cardstock, adorned with intricate calligraphy, gold, and other ornaments will cost a pretty penny. But if paper invitations are important to you, then the money spent will be worth it.
Electronic Invitations
Electronic invitations, also known as evites, might be the new kid on the block, but a case can easily be made for them. They are, if not more than, just as visually appealing as paper invitations.
Most of the illustrations on paper invitations started as digital designs before they were printed off; plus, videos, GIFS and other animations can be added to evites – can’t say the same for paper invites.
Evites also allow the host to link to important supplemental sites for the baby shower such as the baby registry or the baby shower website. Lastly, e-vites are usually super affordable and, in some cases, included in whichever virtual baby shower website is used to host your baby shower.
Unfortunately, evites aren’t tangible so they can’t be keepsakes. Plus, some people might feel that they’re improper. Whether you choose virtual baby shower invites or paper ones the choice is always yours.
Considering Covid-19
Covid-19 has changed the way that we celebrate just about everything – baby showers included. It’s no longer rare to move festivities to digital spaces; in fact, it’s becoming our new normal. Websites such as WebBabyShower are growing in popularity.
The inability of scientists and medical professionals to concretely say that Covid virus particles aren’t spread through surface contact might make some people feel uncomfortable sending physical invites. To those that have opted to have a virtual baby shower, transitioning to digital invitations might seem like the most natural decision.
Alternatively, some people feel that paper invitations can offer something tangible for guests to hold in their hands. So they feel that they’re a necessary part of the experience.
Ultimately, the choice of baby shower invitations belongs in the hands of the mother-to-be and/or the host. The invitation should fit into their vision for their baby shower and the impact they want it to have.
Paper invites can be kept as keepsakes, long after the mother has delivered her bundle of joy. Digital invites offer affordability, convenience, and a wider range of artistic mediums.
It depends on which suits the mother and her family best before the wonderful journey of parenthood starts.
This is the kind of thing that I’d send real invites out for. Something that’s only going to happen once, birthdays all electronic 😂