A QR Code on an invitation design — on a birthday or party invitation, for example — links the event information on the invite itself with its digital counterpart. With a simple scan of the QR Code, guests can view further details about the event or RSVP.

Why should I use a QR Code on an invitation card?

Save the date! There’s a new way to make your party the hottest ticket in town. Whether you’re designing party invites or planning a milestone birthday bash, using a QR Code on an invitation card could be the trick to getting your guests to RSVP quickly, seamlessly, and digitally.

Endlessly versatile and practical, QR Codes can help your big event go off without a hitch. Whether taking advantage of QR Code styling to design an invitation for brand events or using a virtual QR Code to move events online in more uncertain times, there’s a solution sure to suit your needs.

We’ll take you through all the reasons why QR codes should not be far from your mind when you’re planning your next big event.

The benefits of QR Codes on invitations

Event planning is not for the faint-hearted. Securing a date, scouting the perfect location, organizing catering, and creating a guest list are all top priority tasks. Of course, it would be a shame for such hard work to go to waste, which makes invitations — and encouraging guests to RSVP on time — just as important.

Luckily, QR Codes can help your big event go off without a hitch. But before you dive in, however, we have some tips for how you might want to use your QR Codes, to ensure all that preparation pays off.

1. Scan and confirm: the two-step event RSVP

Scan and confirm: a simple two-step recipe for success. When your guests need only to scan the QR Code on an invitation with their phone to respond to an event, it'll help you keep on top of your list of attendees. For this, you have a few options. Among them are the Email QR Code and the Event QR Code — both of which are available after signing up with QR Code Generator PRO.

Scanning the Email QR Code allows guests to send a pre-written response to confirm their attendance. Easier still is the Event QR Code, which, when scanned, allows guests to RSVP on the spot — it's as easy as could be.

2. Create a QR Code for every occasion

QR Codes can be used for, well, pretty much anything! With so many QR Code types to choose from, you can design an invitation featuring a QR Code as creatively as you please. You want to add a cute video message for your guests, or you have created a special hashtag for a birthday celebration? Simply create a QR Code for a party invitation and delight guests with social media links, video, audio, or other surprises.

3. Design your QR Code to match your theme

From choosing a fitting font to picking out the best-quality paper or using textures and tones around a theme, it's the finer design details that will elevate your invitation to perfection.

That's why a QR Code should not be the undoing of your painstaking design efforts, either. Everything about your QR Code can be customized to match the rest of your invitation: the colors, the frame, and the call-to-action (CTA) can all be tweaked to match all your other elements perfectly.

4. Track the results of business-related events

For big corporate events, conferences, and promotional events, you might be seeking a way to tie in your marketing campaign with the invitation itself. That's where it pays to know the difference between Static vs Dynamic QR Codes. Editable and trackable, the Dynamic QR code lends itself to larger events where details are liable to change, or if the event invitation was part of a larger campaign, you want to know where and when guests decided to RSVP.

A Dynamic QR Code, such as a Dynamic URL QR Code, gives you access to real-time scan data, such as the location, the time a Code was scanned, the device used, plus more. It's even possible to integrate these metrics with Google Analytics.

5. Say goodbye to reprinting costs

Dynamic QR Codes have another benefit: if your event changes after your invite has gone to print, there's no need to panic! Your invite can stay as it is.

As even seasoned party planners know, the best-laid plans can go awry. If you created a QR Code for a party invitation, say, then those printed invites can stay exactly the same - regardless of a change of venue or if the whole event itself has been moved online. By signing up for QR Code Generator PRO and using a Dynamic QR Code, it's easy to change the details captured in the QR Code without changing the finished, printed QR Code itself.

6. No QR Code scanner? No problem.

If there's a rare bird among your guestlist who does not have a smartphone with the capacity to scan a QR Code, or they would prefer to view your QR Code's details on a desktop view, then a Dynamic QR Code solves this difficulty.

When you create a Dynamic QR Code with QR Code Generator Pro, you'll receive a short URL that you can include on your invite, making your event's details accessible to everyone with the link.

QR Codes on Marketing Materials

Add a new element to your print campaigns! Get inspired to create effective marketing collaterals with these QR Code ideas and turn browsers into buyers.

How to create QR Codes for an invitation?

Creating a QR Code for an invitation is easy! Just follow a few simple steps, and you'll be well on your way to creating your perfect invitation:

  1. Go to QR Code Generator and select the type of QR Code you would like on your invitation. You can create a simple static QR Code, such as an email or URL QR Code, or sign up to create a Dynamic QR Code. Here, we'll use the URL QR Code as an example.
  2. Enter your website URL. This could link to a landing page that allows guests to RSVP for your event.
  3. Your QR Code will be generated automatically.
  4. Now it's time to get creative! Customize the design of your QR Code by selecting a frame, changing the shape, or selecting themed colors.
  5. Select 'Download' to receive your QR Code in a JPG format.
  6. Integrate your newly-created QR Code into your invitation design — it's ready to send to your guests!

QR Codes on invitations best practices

Party organizers can glean huge benefits from QR Code event marketing — but to truly make the most of it, there are a few key points to keep in mind. If you would like to add a QR Code to an invitation design, here are our top tips to make yours a success.

1. Create a clutter-free invitation design

Do not overburden your guests with too much information — a crisp and clean design will help them appreciate your invitation all the more. Keep it simple, and for all the finer points about the event itself? Well, that’s what your QR Code is for!

2. Use the appropriate QR Code size

You can create a QR Code almost as big or small as the printed invite itself, but pay attention to your QR Code size — so your QR Code is readable, the minimum recommended size is 2 x 2 cm (0.8 x 0.8 in) for Dynamic Codes and 3 x 3 cm (1.2 x 1.2 in) for Static Codes.

3. Add a frame and a CTA

A catchy CTA (e.g., 'RSVP Here!') and eye-catching frame will encourage guests to scan and respond when they see your invitation. For inspiration, try these QR Code call-to-action examples.

Perfect file resolution, everytime

Make sure your QR Codes stay in high-resolution no matter the print size. Download in JPG, PNG, SVG, or EPS.

See QR Codes for an invitation in action

Who actually uses a QR Code on their invitations? Glad you asked! QR Code Generator's roster of in-house brands and case studies can show you how to put your QR Code into practice.

Restaurants

QR Codes for restaurants have a myriad of uses, but for special occasions? It's a creative way to get people talking about the newest place in town or to connect with a special set of customers.

Longtime neighborhood institution Southern Restaurant added an Event QR Code to their printed invitations, which they used to invite guests from neighboring streets to their re-opening party. The event was a success and avoided some typical first-night teething problems — all because guests could easily RSVP, giving the restaurant a confident head-start on its preparations.

Fashion Retailers

In an industry built on image and exclusivity, a shop QR Code provides fashion retailers with crucial insights into their customer base.

To coincide with the launch of their mobile shopping app, Elle Boutique used an App QR Code on its virtual event invitations. Shoppers gleefully downloaded the app, but when problems arose, Elle Boutique had a huge advantage. Why? Because they were able to see where customers had scanned the QR Code, when, and how — and use this data to tweak the app in time for the next season's drop.

Nonprofit organizations

For nonprofits and charitable organizations, the more people know about their mission, the better — and what better way than with QR Codes for nonprofits?

When Save the Bees organized an important fundraiser, they wanted to create a buzz about their mission and its aims. By including a Feedback QR Code on their printed invitations, they could garner support and advice before the big event and use it to promote their good work!

Event Management

Of course, an event planning QR Code is nothing new. Still, there are some creative uses that can help big agencies stay ahead of the competition.

For Verge Event Management, that meant including a Business QR Code on the invitations for events organized by them — a clever way of earning new corporate clients after each slickly produced, successful event.

Publishing

In the arts, press and promotional events play a big part in getting writers and artists noticed — and in the book world, a QR Code can help publishers reach the members of the media they need to reach the most.

When a much talked-about new novel was due to be published, Lionspring Publishing House wanted to organize a meet-and-greet between the writer and the industry's top PR and press. To avoid any details of the plot being leaked before publication, however, Lionspring included a PDF QR Code on the invitation that linked to selected excerpts from the book — just enough for the press to use in their write-ups, without giving anything away.

Personal Use

Outside big business events and corporate planning, the use of a personal QR Code is just as important.

Creating invites for the big day deserves a special category all of its own - so for that, a wedding QR Code can help you make your invitation memorable and personal. Plenty of life's other milestones deserve a big celebration, however. Whether adding a Video QR Code to a themed party invite, an Event QR Code to help your guests RSVP for a birthday party, or a Feedback QR Code to coordinate the menu and catering for a big family, there are plenty of opportunities for your QR Code on a party invitation to make preparations run more smoothly and easily for everyone.

FAQ

If you’re feeling creative—great! Follow our best practices mentioned above, and you’re all set to make a showstopping QR Code for an invitation. Just download your QR Code, and add it to your design. It’s that simple.

Scanning QR Codes on invitations (or any medium) is easy with a smartphone. You can always do so with a third-party scanning app, but many newer versions of Android and iOS have integrated a QR Code into their camera. Take a look at our guides for how to scan a QR Code on Android and how to scan a QR Code on iPhone.

You'll want to make your invitation as special as your big event. Luckily there are plenty of templates to help get you started: create a base design, add all the important information you need, and then add a QR Code to finish — just do not forget to match the details to your theme!

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