QR codes on invitations

What the code should open

Weddings, birthday parties, baby showers and anniversaries all have the same practical questions. The code can answer them:

• An RSVP form, so guests reply in a minute instead of mailing a card back
• Directions or a map pin for the venue
• Your gift registry
• Your wedding website, with the schedule, hotels and dress code
• The day's schedule, for events with more than one location

Each of these is a website QR code. For directions, paste the share link from your maps app. If you have a wedding website, link to it once and let it hold everything. If not, the RSVP form is the most useful single link.

Size and placement

Print the code 2 to 2.5 cm (0.8 to 1 in) square. Invitations are held at reading distance, so it doesn't need to be large, and a small code keeps the design calm.

• On a single card, the back is a good home, with a short line like Scan to RSVP by June 1.
• In a suite, the details card or RSVP card is where practical things belong. Keep the main invitation clean.
• Leave clear space around the code. Don't let a floral border or a calligraphy flourish run into it.

Match the design

A QR code doesn't have to be black and white. Set the pattern to your ink color, like deep navy, forest green or burgundy, as long as it stays much darker than the paper. Rounded or dotted styles soften the look, and a frame with a short label makes it feel intentional. The custom design guide and frames guide walk through the options.

Gold foil, pale blush and silver are where it goes wrong. Metallic finishes reflect light, and pale colors don't give the camera enough contrast. Our generator warns you when contrast is low, so take that warning seriously.

Test on the real paper

Your home printer on plain paper is not your invitation. Textured cotton paper, letterpress, foil and vellum all change how a code prints and scans. Letterpress can spread ink at the edges of the small squares, and vellum softens everything beneath it, so never put the code under a vellum layer.

Send your printer the SVG file so it stays sharp at any size, and order a physical proof on the final paper. Scan it with several phones, including an older one, before you approve the run.

Keep the link alive

The code is fixed once it's printed, and invitations go out months ahead. Make sure the RSVP form and website stay at the same address through the day itself, and don't rename the page after the cards ship. If a detail changes, update the page and the printed code still leads guests to the right information.