Online Invitations vs. Paper Cards: How to Select the Right Invitation Experience for Your Event

A practical guide to choosing between paper, digital invitations and motion/video invites

The invitation is the first welcome. Long before your guests see the décor or taste the food, their impression begins with the card that arrives in their mailbox—or lands in their messages. That single moment sets the tone for the entire event.

So how do you decide between traditional paper invitations, an online invitation, or something more immersive like a motion or video invite? Each method carries its own strengths and drawbacks; instead of deciding based on “what’s trendy” what if you decide based on the kind of experience and hospitality you want your guests to have?

Paper Invitations & Physical Cards

Paper invitations are the default most people think of when planning a wedding or milestone event. They feel tangible, personal, and rooted in years of tradition. Handing or mailing a physical card carries an undeniable warmth, especially when older relatives are on the guest list.

But that warmth comes at a price. Printing, addressing, and mailing can stretch your budget and timeline. A typical wedding paper suite (invitation, RSVP card, envelope, inserts) can take weeks to produce and easily costs several dollars per guest. Add the return postage for RSVP cards, and time becomes an expense, tracking responses manually.

Online Invitations

Online invitations, or e-invites, cut through all that complexity. With just a few clicks, you can send a professional design to hundreds of guests instantly. No stamps, no delays, no printing costs. Add an RSVP functionality, even a wedding website, and you see responses in real time, export guest lists, and even send reminders—all without sorting stacks of paper.

They’re also eco-friendly, budget-friendly, and efficient. But here’s the drawback: digital convenience often feels transactional. A guest might click an email, check a box, and close the tab. The warmth and hospitality of a traditional invitation can get lost. For some hosts, especially at weddings and familial celebrations, that gap matters.

If speed and cost are your biggest concerns, an online invitation is the right fit. They’re perfect for virtual events, casual parties, or when you simply need a quick, effective solution.

Motion & Video Invites

Here’s where the middle ground emerges.

Video invites, animated invites, and motion invites combine the efficiency of digital invitations with the immersive quality of traditional ones. Instead of a static card, your guests receive a refreshing, new-style of invite - the cinematic experience of your event.

Names appear with movement, patterns shift, and custom audio or soundscapes draw them in. This is more than a design trend—it restores a sense of hospitality to the digital space.

You can’t touch the paper, but you can feel the event through sight and sound. That’s why QASSRA created its motion invitations: to preserve authenticity while embracing digital convenience.

Explore QASSRA's Video Invitation Templates to learn more about video invites.

Why video invites stand out

1. Personalization at scale — With editable Canva template, you can create unlimited personalized versions of your video invite, and even personally address your guests such as “We cordially request the presence of Mr. and Mrs. Smith”. Each guest receives something unique, just like a paper card, without the printing or postage.
2. Support for multi-events — Weddings today are rarely one-day affairs. Whether it’s a nikkah or katb-kitab, shaadi plus walima, or a rehearsal dinner and reception, our video invites can combine multiple events into a single immersive package. Guests can be personally invited to the full itinerary or even private events without juggling multiple cards.
3. RSVP integration — Motion invitations can link seamlessly to RSVP forms, giving you the same tracking convenience as online invitations without sacrificing the emotional element. If RSVP is an important feature for you, QASSRA offers the Invitation Experience + RSVP Concierge Service to give you a stress-free and budget friendly setup for this first welcome to your guests.
4. Designed for global guest lists — If your attendees are split between Canada and the US, or scattered across time zones, sending a video invite ensures everyone receives the same premium experience at the same time.

For hosts who want both efficiency and impact, video invitations deliver a balance that neither paper nor static online invites can match.

How to Decide

Your decision really comes down to three questions:

1. What impression do you want your guests to have?

• Formal and traditional delivery → paper.
• Practical and casual invitations → online.
• The immersive combination (practical & traditional) → video invites.

2. How complex is your event?

• Single, small gathering → paper or online may suffice.
• Multi-events, cultural weddings, or large guest lists → motion invites save time and carry your theme across all occasions.

3. Where are your guests located?

• Primarily local → paper cards work.
• Mixed across Canada, the US, or abroad → digital formats simplify delivery.

The Invitation Experience is the First Welcome.

Think of your invitation as more than an announcement. It’s the opening scene of your event. When you invest in that moment—whether through texture, personalization, or cinematic detail—you’re telling guests that their presence matters. Whichever method you select, decide based on the kind of experience and hospitality you want your guests to have!

Who is QASSRA?

At QASSRA, we’ve built our digital motion invitations around this philosophy. We've built it, as a family, to solve the same decision fatigue we once tackled, ourselves, during family weddings and celebrations. Blending animation, curated soundscapes, and practical tools like Canva templates and RSVP tracking, we’re proving that digital doesn’t have to feel impersonal.

Begin Your Guest Experience with QASSRA Today.