We Asked 22 Parents to Ditch Paper Invites: Here Is What Happened

Spoiler: Nobody went back to paper cards.

I’ll be honest—I was skeptical when Sarah from Austin told me she was "done with paper invitations forever." Like most parents, she’d spent years addressing envelopes, tracking RSVPs in spreadsheets, and sending awkward "did you get this?" texts.

But last month, Sarah tried something different. She created a Blast video invitation in 10 minutes, shared one link, and watched as 21 out of 24 parents RSVP'd within 36 hours.

I wanted to know if this was a fluke. So, we conducted a real-world test with 22 families across the U.S.—from NYC to Seattle.

Here are the results of our 2025 "Paper vs. Video" experiment.

1. The Experiment Setup

We worked with families planning real parties for kids aged 2 to 10. Themes ranged from Dinosaurs and Unicorns to backyard camping.

• The Task: Create a video invitation instead of a paper card or static image.

• The Hypothesis: We expected tech issues and mixed reviews.

• The Reality: We were wrong.

2. Result #1: It Took Less Than 10 Minutes

The biggest fear for parents was "I'm not tech-savvy."

• Sarah (Austin): Created her invite in 5 minutes while waiting in the school pickup line.

• Jason (Miami): Finished in 6 minutes.

• Average Time: ~7 minutes total.

"I’m not techy, but the flow felt natural. Choose a theme, upload a photo, and it practically builds itself." — Sarah

Compare that to buying stamps, writing addresses, and mailing 30 envelopes.

3. Result #2: RSVPs Came in Lightning Fast

This was the most shocking data point. With traditional invites, parents often wait weeks for replies.

• Video Invite Stats: Average 87% response rate within the first 36 hours.

"21 replies in 36 hours out of 24 invites. Two parents asked which studio I hired." — Jason, Miami

Why? Because the video plays right inside the WhatsApp or text message thread. Parents watch it, get excited, and tap RSVP immediately. No friction.

4. Result #3: The Kids Loved It (And So Did Grandma)

We worried that older relatives would struggle with a digital link. The Verdict: Grandparents actually found it easier than navigating a group chat or email attachment.

• Olivia (Seattle): "My mom said it felt like she was already at the party."

• The Kids: One dad reported his son re-watched the invite like a movie trailer. It became part of the birthday excitement.

5. What Parents Said (Real Quotes)

We asked every participant to describe the experience in three words. The top responses were: Easy, Joyful, Modern.

"Pure joy. Seeing my daughter's picture turn into an animated invitation was adorable." — Sarah

"It calmed our WhatsApp thread. 16 Yes, 2 Maybe by day 3. No more 'scroll up to see the address' messages." — Laura, Portland

6. The "Hidden" Benefit: No More Follow-Up Stress

Paper invitations create homework: You have to chase people down. With Blast, the system handles the reminders.

• 7 Days Before: Automated nudge to non-responders.

• Day Of: Quick reminder with the address and time.

7. Would They Do It Again?

We asked the ultimate question: "Will you go back to paper next year?" 22 out of 22 parents said No. 100% of participants said they would use video invitations for their next event.

(Planning a holiday party soon? See why video works perfectly for Christmas and Holiday events too).

Conclusion: The Future is Motion

The data is clear. Video invitations aren't just "cooler"—they are more effective. They save time, boost attendance, and remove the stress of managing a guest list.

Want to try the same tool these 22 families used?

Create your first video invitation (Free to try)

Frequently Asked Questions

Did parents find it hard to make the video? No. The average time to create a polished video invite was just 7 minutes. Most parents did it directly from their phones.

How do guests RSVP? Guests receive a link via text or WhatsApp. They watch the video and tap a single button to RSVP. No app download is required for guests.

Is this better than paper invites? Our study showed an 87% response rate within 36 hours for video invites, which is significantly faster than traditional paper mail.