Time is usually the deciding factor
Funerals are often planned within days. Printed cards need design, printing and mail, and by the time they arrive the service may be close or already past. A digital invitation can go out the same hour the details are confirmed. That is why many families send a digital invitation first, and printed cards or thank you cards later. For general guidance on timing, read how soon to send a funeral invitation.
Who you reach
A text or video reaches people who carry a phone, which is most people, including many older adults. Some relatives do not use phones for messages, and for them a call or a card is better. Ask the family who might be missed. A short list of people to call or mail is a small amount of work that matters a lot.
Forms of digital invitations
A digital funeral invitation can be a plain text, an image, an email, a web page or a short video. A text is fast but changes as it is forwarded. An image looks neat but is hard to read on small screens. A video shows the name, photo and details in large, calm text and plays right in the conversation. This site makes that kind of video; see how to make a funeral invitation video.
What printed cards still do well
A printed card is something people keep. It can go on a fridge or into a memory box. Some families want a printed program at the service as well. A video does not replace that. If the family wants both, use the same photo and the same wording, so they clearly belong together.
Cost
Printing and postage depend on the printer, the paper and how many cards you need. A finished invitation video here is $199 total, one time, regardless of how many people receive it, and making and previewing it is free. See funeral invitation video pricing.
A practical combination
Send the video by text and email as soon as the details are set. Call the few people who do not use phones. Offer printed cards at the service or send thank you cards afterward. That way nobody is missed and nobody learns too late.
Privacy and sharing
A digital invitation is easy to forward, which is usually what the family wants. It also means it can travel beyond the people you sent it to. Leave out a home address and anything private, and only post publicly if the family agrees. The video and its share page contain only what you put in them. Data for this service is stored in the European Union under the GDPR.
Keeping the wording the same
When a family uses both forms, small differences creep in: the card says 11 AM, the text says 11:30. Decide the wording once, then use it for the video and the card. If something changes after the cards are printed, the video is the quickest place to send the correction. For wording you can use in both, see funeral invitation wording and what to include in a funeral invitation.
What works for most families
In practice, most families do not have to choose. A quick digital invitation reaches nearly everyone in time, a few phone calls cover the rest, and printed cards or programs remain available for those who want a keepsake. Whichever you choose, check names, dates and times once more before anything goes out. A mistake on a printed card cannot be corrected after it is mailed, while a video can be fixed and sent again, but either way it is easier to get it right the first time. Asking one family member to read the final version slowly is the simplest check there is.
Before you decide
- When is the service, and how much time is left
- Who does not use phones
- Does the family want a keepsake card
- Is the wording the same everywhere
About these guides
Written by Funeral Invitations, in plain language, for funeral directors and families. If anything changes about the videos or the price, we update the guides.