Photograph Credit: Flickr (Tracy Hunter)
As I plan events, a key component is the invitation. For me, the invitation reveals more than just the announcement of the date, time, location, and event type. The invitation sets the stage for the event.
Invitation Types
1. Print. These invitations are cards delivered via mail or hand delivery. Some examples are:
- professionally printed: formal wedding, business dinner, etc.
- computer generated: concert tickets, ice cream social flyers, open house postcards
- handwritten: preprinted cards with blanks for details for graduation, birthday, baby shower, etc.
2. E-mail. Whether directly sending an e-mail or using a free service, like Evite, these invitations are electronic announcements. Using a free service to create invitations, track those who are attending, and send reminders saves time and energy. The downside is a lack of originality.
3. Social Media. With the option of creating an event in Facebook, sending an invitation to many individuals at one time gets the word out quickly. For quick notice events or changes, this option might work. The standardized format for Facebook is easy to fill out; however, there is little to no personalization.
4. Phone call. These invitations are full of personality with the interaction between the parties. However, a few days later, the receiver, without having written down the information, will not have a record of the date, time, and location of the event.
5. Face-to-face contact. The face-to-face approach is another invitation full of personality. The receiver will gain the information for the event, but again, the record (hard copy of the details) may be forgotten, misunderstood, or confused.
With these types of invitations, there are pros and cons for each. The ones written can be lost or misplaced whereas the direct invitations may be forgotten, misunderstood, or distorted. So, how do you know what type of invitation to use? My answer is . . . whatever type works with your event. A dinner party with friends may work with an e-mail, social media, phone call, or face-to-face contact. Consider your event, your invitees, and using your time wisely.
Invitation Preferences
My preference is a print invitation. I like to see the invitation, refer to it, and take it with me to the event. A combination of invitations, e.g. a phone call with a Facebook chat or a face-to-face contact with a follow-up e-mail, will still provide the needed information without a formal print copy.
Now that I have shared my preference, it is your turn. What is your preference for receiving an invitation? Do you prefer print, e-mail, social media, phone call, face-to-face contact, another option, or a combination? Please share your preferences in the comments. I look forward to your response.