How to Customize Your RSVP Invitation

After creating your RSVP invitation, you can customize every aspect of how it looks and what information guests provide. This guide covers all the customization options available in the Invitation tab, including design templates, hero section settings, custom sections, photo gallery, envelope animations, visual effects, and more.

Accessing Invitation Customization

1. Go to your event dashboard at dashboard.fotify.app
2. Select your event and click "RSVP" in the sidebar
3. Click the "Invitation" tab

Here you'll find all the options to personalize your digital invitation.

Design Templates

Design templates let you apply a complete visual style to your invitation with one click. Each template controls colors, fonts, spacing, and visual effects for a polished, cohesive look.

Available Templates

Fotify offers 13 pre-designed templates to match any event style:

Template	Best For
Classic	Traditional events, timeless elegance
Romantic Blush	Weddings, engagement parties, romantic celebrations
Midnight Garden	Evening events, garden parties, sophisticated gatherings
Golden Elegance	Galas, anniversaries, luxury celebrations
Ocean Breeze	Beach weddings, summer parties, coastal events
Rustic Charm	Barn weddings, countryside events, casual celebrations
Modern Minimal	Clean and simple invitations, modern events
Art Deco	1920s-themed events, vintage glamour
Tropical Sunset	Destination weddings, tropical parties
Winter Wonderland	Holiday parties, winter weddings
Corporate Clean	Professional events, conferences, corporate gatherings
Fiesta	Birthday parties, festive celebrations, colorful events
Neo Brutalist	Bold, modern events with hard shadows and thick borders

Applying a Template

1. Find the "Design Template" section in the Invitation tab
2. Browse the template gallery
3. Click a template to apply it instantly
4. The preview updates immediately so you can see how it looks

Customizing a Template Further

After selecting a template, you can fine-tune individual design properties. Expand the customization panel to access:

• Color pickers — Override the template's primary, secondary, and accent colors
• Font selectors — Change heading and body fonts independently
• Hero layout — Choose how the hero section is arranged
• Section style — Adjust how content sections appear
• Divider style — Change the visual separators between sections
• Scroll animations — Control how sections animate into view as guests scroll (see Effects & Animations)
• Hero text effects — Add text animations to the hero section
• Floating particles — Add ambient particle effects
• Section transitions — Control spacing and transition style between sections
• Parallax — Enable parallax scrolling on the hero image
• Stagger animations — Add sequential entrance animations to list items
• Heading style — Transform headings to uppercase, lowercase, or capitalize
• Border width — Control the thickness of section borders (0px to 4px)
• Section shadow — Add shadows to sections (soft, medium, or hard offset shadows)

Each option has an info tooltip (hover the i icon) explaining what it does.

Tips for Templates

• Start with a template that matches your event mood, then customize from there
• Preview on both desktop and mobile to ensure your customizations look good on all devices
• If you change templates, your custom color and font overrides reset to the new template's defaults

Personalization Guide

At the top of the Invitation tab, you'll find the Personalization Guide. This shows you how to use template keys to automatically personalize messages for each guest.

How Template Keys Work

Template keys are special placeholders that automatically insert your guest's information into messages. When a guest receives or views the invitation, these placeholders are replaced with their actual data.

Available Template Keys

Template Key	What It Does	Example
{{FIRSTNAME}}	Guest's first name	"John"
{{LASTNAME}}	Guest's last name	"Smith"
{{FULLNAME}}	Guest's full name	"John Smith"
{{RSVP_LINK}}	Unique RSVP link for the guest	Required for guests to respond

Using Template Keys

You can use these keys in:

• Custom invitation messages
• SMS reminders
• Email communications

Example message:

Dear {{FIRSTNAME}}, you're invited to our wedding! Please respond by clicking {{RSVP_LINK}}

This would appear to John Smith as:

Dear John, you're invited to our wedding! Please respond by clicking [unique link]

Date Format

Choose how dates are displayed throughout your invitation. This setting affects the event date shown in the hero section and the RSVP deadline.

Available Date Formats

Format	Example
DD/MM/YYYY	25/12/2024
MM/DD/YYYY	12/25/2024
YYYY-MM-DD	2024-12-25
MMMM D, YYYY	December 25, 2024
D MMMM YYYY	25 December 2024

Selecting a Date Format

1. Find the "Date Format" section in the Invitation tab
2. Click on the format that matches your preference
3. The change is saved automatically

Regional Considerations

• DD/MM/YYYY is common in Europe, Latin America, and most of the world
• MM/DD/YYYY is the standard format in the United States
• YYYY-MM-DD is the international ISO standard, often used in technical contexts
• MMMM D, YYYY and D MMMM YYYY are elegant long formats ideal for formal invitations

Localized Month Names

When using the long date formats (MMMM D, YYYY or D MMMM YYYY), month names are automatically displayed in your guest's language. For example, if a guest views your invitation in Spanish, they'll see "diciembre" instead of "December".

This localization happens automatically based on the language the guest has selected in the invitation.

Hero Image

The hero image is the main visual that appears at the top of your invitation. It sets the tone for your event and is the first thing guests see.

Adding a Hero Image

1. Find the "Hero Image" section
2. Drag and drop an image, or click to select from your device
3. Your image will upload and appear in the preview

Image Requirements

• Supported formats: JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP, HEIC
• Maximum file size: 10MB
• Recommended: Use a high-quality landscape image that represents your event

Tips for Hero Images

• Choose an image that matches your event theme
• For weddings: engagement photos, venue shots, or romantic imagery
• For corporate events: company branding or event venue
• For parties: festive imagery that captures the mood

Hero Section Settings

Inside the Hero Image section, expand the Hero Section Settings collapsible panel to fine-tune how your hero looks and behaves.

Text Position

Choose where event text appears on the hero image. Six positions are available:

• Center — Text centered both horizontally and vertically (default)
• Bottom Left — Text anchored to the bottom-left corner
• Bottom Right — Text anchored to the bottom-right corner
• Top Left — Text anchored to the top-left corner
• Top Right — Text anchored to the top-right corner
• Bottom Center — Text centered at the bottom

Text Size

Control how large the hero text appears:

• M — Medium, suitable for longer titles
• L — Large, the standard size
• XL — Extra large, for bold impact

Cover Height

Set how much vertical space the hero image takes up:

• Short — Compact header, shows content faster
• Medium — Balanced height (default)
• Tall — More prominent hero
• Full — Hero fills the entire screen height

Overlay Darkness

Use the slider (0-100%) to control how dark the overlay on your hero image is. A darker overlay makes text more readable over busy or bright images. Set to 0% for no overlay.

Text Color Override

Override the hero text color if the template default does not contrast well with your image.

Title Font Override

Choose a different font for the hero title independently of the template's heading font.

Navigation Bar

Toggle the navigation bar on or off. When enabled, a sticky nav appears at the top of the invitation so guests can jump between sections. Choose from three styles:

• Glass — Semi-transparent frosted glass effect
• Solid — Opaque background matching your template colors
• Transparent — Fully transparent, text only

Subtitle / Free Text

Add a custom subtitle or tagline that appears below the event name, date, and location on the hero section. This is perfect for adding a personal touch like "We can't wait to celebrate with you!" or "Join us for an evening of joy and laughter". The text supports up to 200 characters and animates in with the same effects as the other hero text.

Show Date and Location on Cover

Toggle whether the event date and location are displayed on the hero image. Disable these if your hero image already contains this information or you prefer a cleaner look.

Envelope Opening

Add a dramatic first impression with an animated envelope that guests click to open before seeing the invitation.

Enabling the Envelope

1. Find the "Envelope Opening" section (collapsed by default)
2. Expand it and toggle the feature on
3. Customize the envelope appearance

When enabled, guests see an animated envelope instead of the invitation loading directly. They click or tap to open it, revealing the invitation inside with a smooth animation.

Customization Options

Setting	Description
Envelope color	The outer color of the envelope
Wax seal color	The color of the decorative wax seal on the envelope
Inner liner accent color	The accent color visible when the envelope opens
Liner pattern	The decorative pattern on the envelope liner

Liner Pattern Options

• None — Clean, no pattern
• Floral — Elegant floral motif
• Geometric — Modern geometric shapes
• Dots — Subtle polka dot pattern
• Stripes — Classic stripe pattern

Tips for Envelope Opening

• Match the envelope color to your template's primary color for visual consistency
• The wax seal adds a classic, formal touch — ideal for weddings and galas
• Use the floral or geometric liner for an extra layer of sophistication
• Keep in mind this adds one extra interaction before guests see the invitation, so use it when you want the "reveal" moment

Photo Carousel

Add multiple photos that display in a rotating carousel at the top of your invitation. This is perfect for showcasing different moments or aspects of your event.

Adding Carousel Photos

1. Find the "Photo Carousel" section (shows 0/9 when empty)
2. Drag and drop images, or click to select
3. Add up to 9 photos to the carousel
4. Drag photos to reorder them

Image Requirements

• Supported formats: JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP, HEIC
• Maximum file size: 10MB per image
• Maximum photos: 9

Tips for Carousel Photos

• Tell a story with your photo sequence
• Mix different types of photos (venue, couple, activities)
• Ensure all photos have similar quality and lighting
• The first photo is what guests see initially

Invitation Content

The Invitation Content section lets you design the main message that guests see on your RSVP page. This is where you write your personal invitation message.

Rich Text Editor

Use the formatting toolbar to style your message:

• H1 / H2 - Add headings and subheadings
• B / I / U - Bold, italic, and underline text
• Alignment - Left, center, or right align text
• Lists - Create bulleted or numbered lists
• Emoji - Add emojis to make your invitation more personal
• Links - Insert clickable links
• Images - Embed images within your content

Using Personalization

You can use template keys like {{FIRSTNAME}} in your invitation content. For example:

You're Invited!

Dear {{FIRSTNAME}},

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming event. It would be our pleasure to have you join us for this special occasion.

Please let us know if you can attend by responding to this invitation.

We look forward to seeing you!

When John Smith views this invitation, they'll see "Dear John" instead of the template key.

Message Template

The Message Template is the text you'll send to guests through email, WhatsApp, or any other messaging channel to invite them to respond.

Important: Include the RSVP Link

Make sure to include {{RSVP_LINK}} in your message so guests can access their personalized RSVP page! Without this link, guests won't be able to respond.

Example Template

Dear {{FIRSTNAME}}, You're invited to our special event! Please RSVP using this link: {{RSVP_LINK}} We look forward to your response!

How to Use the Message Template

1. Customize the message template with your text and template keys
2. Go to the Guests tab to see your guest list
3. Click the copy button in the actions column for each guest
4. The message will be copied with that guest's personalized information
5. Paste into email, WhatsApp, or your preferred messaging app

This allows you to send personalized invitations to each guest with their unique RSVP link.

Custom Sections

Add up to 5 custom content sections to your invitation. Each custom section can contain either rich text (with full formatting) or an HTML embed (for maps, videos, widgets, etc.). Custom sections integrate with the section ordering system so you can place them anywhere among the built-in sections.

Adding a Custom Section

1. Find the "Custom Sections" panel in the Invitation tab
2. Click "Add Custom Section"
3. Enter a title for the section (e.g., "Dress Code", "Travel Tips", "About the Venue")
4. Choose the content type:
   • Rich Text — Full-featured text editor with headings, bold/italic, lists, links, images, and more (same editor as the invitation content)
   • HTML Embed — Paste raw HTML code for embedding maps, videos, countdown widgets, Spotify playlists, or other external content
5. Write or paste your content
6. Changes are saved automatically

Managing Custom Sections

• Enable/Disable — Use the toggle switch on each section card to show or hide it without deleting
• Delete — Click the trash icon to permanently remove a section
• Reorder — After saving, custom sections appear in the Section Order settings below where you can drag them to any position

Positioning Custom Sections

Custom sections appear in the Section Order drag-and-drop list alongside built-in sections. Drag your custom section to place it wherever you want — between the countdown and RSVP, after the itinerary, or anywhere else.

Tips

• Use rich text sections for dress codes, accommodation details, special instructions, or personal messages
• Use HTML embed sections for Google Maps embeds, Spotify playlists, YouTube videos, or third-party widgets
• Disable a section temporarily instead of deleting it if you might want it back later
• Keep section titles short and descriptive

Section Order

Rearrange the order of sections on your invitation to match your priorities. Drag and drop sections in the Invitation tab to reorder how they appear to guests.

For example, you might want the itinerary before the location map, or the gift registry closer to the top. Custom sections you've created also appear here and can be positioned anywhere. The section order is fully flexible — arrange it however works best for your event.

Effects & Animations

Design templates include built-in visual effects that bring your invitation to life. You can customize these effects after selecting a template.

Scroll Animations

Control how sections animate into view as guests scroll down the page. Available options:

• Fade Up — Sections fade in while sliding upward
• Zoom In — Sections scale up from a smaller size
• Blur In — Sections transition from blurred to sharp
• And other animation styles depending on the template

Hero Text Effects

Add an animated entrance to the text on your hero section:

• Typewriter — Text appears letter by letter, as if being typed
• Blur In — Text transitions from blurred to sharp
• Split Reveal — Text splits apart and reassembles

Floating Particles

Add ambient particle effects that float across the invitation:

• Sparkles — Shimmering light particles (great for elegant events)
• Hearts — Floating heart shapes (ideal for weddings and romantic events)
• Confetti — Colorful confetti pieces (perfect for parties and celebrations)
• Snow — Falling snowflakes (suited for winter events)
• Bubbles — Floating bubble effects (fun for casual events)

Section Transitions

Control the visual transition between invitation sections:

• Gap — Visible spacing between sections (default)
• Seamless — Sections flow into each other without gaps
• Overlap — Sections slightly overlap for a layered effect

Parallax Hero

Enable parallax scrolling on the hero image so it moves at a different speed than the content as guests scroll, creating a sense of depth.

Stagger Animations

When enabled, list items and grouped elements animate in one after another with a slight delay, creating a sequential reveal effect.

Tips for Effects

• Less is more — one or two effects create elegance, too many create distraction
• Floating particles work best with darker backgrounds
• Parallax is most noticeable with tall or full-height hero images
• Test animations on mobile devices since some effects render differently on smaller screens

Background Music

Add a soundtrack to your invitation by embedding a YouTube song that plays when guests view your RSVP page.

Adding Music

1. Find a song on YouTube that fits your event
2. Copy the YouTube URL (or just the video ID)
3. Paste it into the YouTube URL field

Auto-Play Option

Enable "Auto-play music when page loads" to start the music automatically when guests open your invitation.

Note: Due to browser restrictions, music will start muted. Guests can tap to enable sound. This is a browser requirement, not a Fotify limitation.

Tips for Background Music

• Choose instrumental music or songs that match your event theme
• For weddings: romantic or meaningful songs
• For corporate events: upbeat but professional background music
• For parties: fun, energetic tracks

Location Settings

Help guests find your venue by adding a map and directions to your invitation.

Location Map

Enable the location map to display an interactive map showing your event's location. Guests can:

• See exactly where the venue is
• Get directions from their current location
• View the area around the venue

Additional Instructions

Enable additional instructions to provide extra details for your guests, such as:

• Parking information
• Entrance instructions (e.g., "Use the side entrance")
• Nearby landmarks
• Public transportation options
• What to bring

Itinerary

Create a detailed schedule for your event so guests know what to expect and when. This is especially useful for multi-day events like weddings or conferences.

Creating Your Schedule

1. Click "+ Add Entry" to add a new item
2. Fill in the required fields:
   • Date - When this activity happens
   • Time (24h) - Start time in 24-hour format
   • Location - Where this takes place (e.g., "Main Hall", "Beach Front")
   • Event - What's happening (e.g., "Reception", "Ceremony", "Dinner")
3. Optionally add:
   • Icon - A visual icon for the entry
   • Note - Additional details about this activity
4. Click "Save Entry"

Organizing Your Itinerary

• Group by day - Enable this to organize entries by date, perfect for multi-day events
• Reorder entries - Drag and drop to change the order
• Export PDF - Download your itinerary as a PDF that guests can print or save

Example Itinerary Entries

Time	Location	Event
14:00	Garden Chapel	Ceremony
15:00	Rose Garden	Cocktail Hour
17:00	Grand Ballroom	Reception & Dinner
21:00	Dance Floor	Party & Dancing

Countdown Timer

Build excitement by showing a live countdown to your event date.

Enabling the Countdown

Check "Enable countdown on invitation" to display the timer on your invitation.

Customization Options

• Custom Title (optional) - Personalize the heading (e.g., "Counting Down To...")

Display Options

Choose which time units to show:

• Show Days - Display days remaining
• Show Hours - Display hours remaining
• Show Minutes - Display minutes remaining
• Show Seconds - Display seconds remaining

You can enable all four for maximum excitement, or just show days and hours for a cleaner look.

Completed Message

Set a message that displays when the countdown reaches zero (e.g., "The celebration has begun!"). This replaces the countdown timer once your event starts.

Save to Calendar

Let guests easily add your event to their personal calendar with one click.

Enabling Save to Calendar

Check "Enable save to calendar on invitation" to show the calendar button.

Calendar Event Settings

• Calendar Event Title - The title that appears in guests' calendars (leave blank to use your event name)
• Calendar Event Description - Details that appear in the calendar event
• Event Timezone - Select the timezone where your event takes place (important for guests in different time zones)
• Event Duration (minutes) - How long the event will last in the calendar (e.g., 120 for 2 hours)
• Reminder Before Event - When guests should be reminded (e.g., "1 hour before")

When guests click the save button, they can add the event to Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook, or other calendar apps.

Event Details

Provide useful information about accommodation, FAQs, dress code, and transportation. This section has four tabs to help guests prepare for your event.

Enabling Event Details

Check "Enable event details section on invitation" to display this information to your guests.

Stay (Accommodation)

Help out-of-town guests find places to stay:

1. Click "+ Add Accommodation"
2. Fill in hotel/accommodation details:
   • Name - Hotel or accommodation name
   • Website URL (optional) - Link to booking page
   • Address - Full address
   • Phone number - Contact number
   • Price range - e.g., "$150-200/night"
   • Distance from venue - e.g., "5 min drive"
   • Promo code (optional) - Group discount codes
   • Additional notes - Special instructions

You can add multiple accommodation options at different price points.

FAQs

Answer common guest questions directly on your invitation:

1. Click "+ Add FAQ"
2. Enter the Question and Answer
3. Add as many Q&As as needed
4. Optionally set a Custom Title (e.g., "Questions?" instead of "FAQ")

Common FAQs to include:

• Is parking available?
• Are children welcome?
• Can I bring a plus-one?
• What time should I arrive?

Dress Code

Set expectations for what guests should wear:

• Dress Code Type - Select from options (e.g., Formal, Semi-Formal, Casual)
• Description - Describe the dress code expectations in detail
• Suggested Colors - Add colors you'd like guests to wear
• Colors to Avoid - Add colors guests should not wear (e.g., white at weddings)
• Additional Notes - Any other dress code information

Travel (Transportation)

Help guests get to your venue:

1. Click "+ Add Transportation"
2. Select the type (e.g., Parking, Shuttle, Taxi)
3. Fill in details:
   • Title - Name this option
   • Description - Explain the transportation option
   • Details - Times, addresses, pickup locations
   • Cost - e.g., "Free", "$10"
   • Booking URL (optional) - Link to book
   • Promo code (optional) - Discount codes

Add multiple transportation options to cover different needs (parking, shuttle service, rideshare recommendations, etc.).

Pricing may vary depending on your country and currency. See the latest pricing on the pricing page.

Gift Registry

Let guests know about your gift preferences directly on your invitation. You can include traditional registries, request monetary contributions, or suggest charitable donations.

Enabling the Gift Section

Check "Enable gift section on invitation" to display gift options to your guests.

Customizing the Section

• Custom Section Title - Personalize the heading (e.g., "Our Wishes", "Gift Registry", "Celebrating with Gifts")
• Personal Message - Add a heartfelt note (e.g., "Your presence is our greatest gift, but if you'd like to contribute...")

Gift Registries

Add links to your traditional gift registries:

1. Click "+ Add Registry"
2. Enter the registry name and link
3. Add multiple registries from different stores

Monetary Contributions

If you prefer cash gifts or contributions toward specific goals:

1. Click "+ Add Option"
2. Select the contribution type (e.g., Bank Transfer)
3. Fill in the details:
   • Title - Name your contribution option (e.g., "Bank Transfer", "Honeymoon Fund")
   • Details - Payment information (e.g., account number, email, PayPal link)
   • Optional instructions - Any additional notes for guests
4. Add multiple options to give guests flexibility

Charitable Donations

Suggest donations to causes you care about:

1. Click "+ Add Charity"
2. Add charity names and links
3. Guests can donate in your honor

Our Story

Share your journey with guests through a beautiful timeline of milestones. This feature is perfect for weddings, anniversaries, or any event where you want to tell your story.

Enabling the Story Timeline

Check "Enable story timeline on invitation" to display the timeline on your invitation.

Customizing the Header

• Custom Title (optional) - Personalize the section heading (e.g., "Our Journey", "How We Met", "Our Story")
• Subtitle (optional) - Add a romantic or descriptive subtitle (e.g., "A love story in the making...")

Adding Milestones

1. Click "+ Add Milestone"
2. Fill in the milestone details:
   • Date - When this happened (e.g., "January 2020" or "2020-01-15")
   • Title - A short name for this moment (e.g., "We Met", "First Date", "The Proposal")
   • Description - Tell the story of this moment in your own words
   • Image (optional) - Click the image area to upload a photo for this milestone (max 10MB). Images appear below the milestone description on the invitation.
3. Changes are saved automatically

Managing Milestones

• Reorder - Use the up/down arrows to change the order of milestones
• Delete - Click the trash icon to remove a milestone
• Edit - Update any milestone's details at any time
• Images - Upload, replace, or remove milestone images. Images are saved immediately after upload. When you remove a milestone or its image, the file is automatically cleaned up from storage.

Tips for Great Milestones

• Include 3-5 key moments for the best visual impact
• Use meaningful dates that tell your story
• Keep descriptions personal but concise
• Add photos to bring your milestones to life — engagement photos, travel memories, or meaningful moments
• Common milestones: First meeting, first date, engagement, moving in together

RSVP Texts

Customize the text guests see on the RSVP section of your invitation. You can override the default response deadline message, the accept button text, and the decline button text.

Customizable Texts

Field	Default Text	Example Override
Response deadline text	"Please respond by 01/05/2026"	"Kindly RSVP by {date}"
Accept button text	"Accept with pleasure"	"Joyfully accept!"
Decline button text	"Decline with regret"	"Regretfully decline"

Using the {date} Placeholder

The response deadline text supports a special {date} placeholder that is automatically replaced with your event's RSVP deadline date (formatted according to your chosen date format).

Important: If you write a custom deadline text without including {date}, a warning will appear to let you know the deadline date won't be shown to guests. Make sure to include {date} wherever you want the date to appear.

Examples:

• "Kindly RSVP by {date}" → "Kindly RSVP by January 5, 2026"
• "Please let us know before {date}" → "Please let us know before January 5, 2026"
• "We need your response by {date}!" → "We need your response by January 5, 2026!"

How to Customize

1. Find the "RSVP Texts" section in the Invitation tab
2. Enter your custom text in any of the three fields
3. Changes are saved automatically after you stop typing
4. Leave a field empty to use the default text

Tips

• Keep button texts short — they need to fit on a button
• Use a warm, personal tone that matches your event style
• For formal events: "We graciously accept" / "We regretfully decline"
• For casual events: "Count me in!" / "Sorry, can't make it"

Photo Gallery & Upload

Display event photos on your invitation and optionally let guests upload their own. This section combines a photo gallery with an upload call-to-action, creating a seamless experience.

Guest Photo Uploads

Toggle "Allow Guest Photo Uploads" to show an upload button on your invitation. When enabled, guests see a "Share Your Memory" button that takes them to the upload page. You can select which album guests upload to using the "Album guests upload to" dropdown.

Showing Album Photos on the Invitation

Toggle "Show event photos on invitation" to display photos from your event directly on the invitation page. This is great for showing pre-event photos, venue shots, or memories from past gatherings.

When enabled, guests see a photo grid with a "Load More" button to see additional photos, plus a "View Full Album" link to browse the complete album.

Gallery Settings

• Album to display — Choose which album's photos appear on the invitation, or select "All photos" to show photos from across all albums
• Album guests upload to — Choose which album guests contribute to when they click the upload button
• Randomize photo order — When enabled, photos display in a random order each time the invitation loads, keeping it fresh for repeat visitors
• Photos to show — Control how many photos load initially (4, 6, 8, or 12). Guests can always click "Load More" to see more

Gallery Without Uploads

You can show the photo gallery without enabling guest uploads. This is useful when you want to display event photos (e.g., venue shots or pre-event photos) but don't want guests uploading their own yet.

When to Use This

• Gallery + Uploads — Events where you want to showcase photos AND let guests contribute (weddings, parties)
• Gallery only — Share venue or pre-event photos without accepting uploads
• Uploads only — Simple upload CTA without displaying a gallery
• Disabled — No photo section on the invitation

This feature integrates with Fotify's photo sharing capabilities and album management.

RSVP Comments Field

Allow guests to leave additional comments when they respond to your invitation. This is useful for collecting dietary restrictions, special requests, or personal messages.

Enabling the Comments Field

Toggle "Show Comments Field" to add a comments box to the RSVP form.

When enabled, guests can leave:

• Dietary restrictions or food allergies
• Special requests (accessibility needs, seating preferences)
• Personal messages or well-wishes
• Questions about the event

When to Enable This

• Enable for events with meals where you need dietary information
• Enable if guests might have special requirements
• Enable for more personal events where you'd like messages from guests
• Disable if you want a simpler, faster RSVP experience

Guest comments appear in your RSVP dashboard alongside their response, making it easy to track special needs.

Custom Form Fields

Add custom fields to your RSVP form to collect specific information from your guests beyond the standard response.

Available Field Types

Click "Add Field" and choose from five field types:

Field Type	Best For	Example
Short Text	Brief answers	"Song request", "Nickname"
Long Text	Detailed responses	"Tell us a memory", "Special message"
Dropdown	Selecting from options	"Meal preference", "Table preference"
Checkbox	Yes/no questions	"I need parking", "Attending after-party"
Number	Numeric values	"Number of children", "Years known the couple"

Creating Custom Fields

1. Click the field type you want to add
2. Configure the field settings:
   • Label - The question guests will see
   • Required - Whether guests must answer
   • Options (for Dropdown) - The choices available
3. Save your field

Use Cases for Custom Fields

• Meal preferences - Dropdown with menu options
• Song requests - Short text for DJ playlist
• Shuttle pickup - Checkbox for transportation needs
• Kids attending - Number field for headcount
• Special memories - Long text for guest book entries

Custom field responses appear in your RSVP dashboard alongside each guest's information.

Attendance Settings

Control and track guest entry at your event entrance with secure QR code verification. This feature is useful for events requiring check-in or security management.

Enabling QR Code Access

Toggle "QR Code Access" to enable guest verification at your event entrance. When enabled, each confirmed guest receives a unique QR code that can be scanned for entry.

Setting Up Security Access

1. Enter an access password (minimum 6 characters)
2. Click "Save Password"

This password is required for security staff to access the verification page at the event entrance. Share this password only with trusted staff members who will be checking guests in.

How It Works

1. Guests who RSVP receive a unique QR code with their confirmation
2. At the event entrance, staff access the verification page using the password
3. Staff scan guest QR codes to verify identity and mark attendance
4. You can track who has arrived in real-time from your dashboard

When to Use This

• Weddings - Ensure only invited guests enter the venue
• Corporate events - Track employee attendance
• Private parties - Manage guest list at the door
• Conferences - Check in registered attendees

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use both a hero image and photo carousel? A: The carousel replaces the hero image when photos are added. Choose one or the other based on whether you want a single impactful image or multiple rotating photos.

Q: What happens if I don't add any images? A: Your invitation will display with your event branding and template colors without a header image. It still looks professional and clean.

Q: Can I change images after guests have received the invitation? A: Yes! Any changes you make are reflected immediately. Guests who view the invitation after your update will see the new images.

Q: Do template keys work in all message fields? A: Template keys work in custom messages, SMS content, and email communications. They won't work in static fields like event name or location.

Q: Is the RSVP_LINK required? A: For personalized invitations sent to individual guests, yes - you must include {{RSVP_LINK}} in your message. However, if you prefer a single link for all guests, you can enable the Registration Form feature instead, which generates one public link that anyone can use to self-register.

Q: How many milestones can I add to Our Story? A: There's no strict limit, but we recommend 3-5 milestones for the best visual presentation. Too many can make the timeline feel cluttered.

Q: Can I add images to Our Story milestones? A: Yes! Each milestone supports an optional image upload (up to 10MB). Click the image area in the milestone editor to upload. Images are saved automatically and appear below the milestone description on the invitation.

Q: Can guests upload photos without RSVPing? A: When guest photo uploads are enabled on your invitation, guests can upload photos whether or not they've submitted their RSVP response.

Q: Can I show album photos without enabling guest uploads? A: Yes! The photo gallery and upload features are independent. You can display event photos on the invitation without showing an upload button by enabling "Show event photos on invitation" while keeping "Allow Guest Photo Uploads" disabled.

Q: How many custom sections can I add? A: You can add up to 5 custom sections per invitation. Each can be either rich text or HTML embed.

Q: Can I embed a Google Map or YouTube video in a custom section? A: Yes! Choose the "HTML Embed" content type and paste the embed code (iframe) from Google Maps, YouTube, Spotify, or any other service that provides embed codes.

Q: Where do custom sections appear on the invitation? A: After creating a custom section, it appears in the Section Order drag-and-drop list. You can position it anywhere among the built-in sections.

Q: What is the hero free text / subtitle? A: The free text field in Hero Section Settings lets you add a custom subtitle or tagline that appears below the event name, date, and location on the hero image. It's great for personal messages like "We can't wait to celebrate with you!" (up to 200 characters).

Q: Where do guest comments appear? A: Guest comments appear in the Guests tab of your RSVP dashboard, next to each guest's response. You can view all comments at a glance when planning catering or accommodations.

Q: Can I add custom fields after guests have already responded? A: Yes, you can add new custom fields at any time. However, only guests who respond after the field is added will see and answer it. Previously submitted responses won't include the new field.

Q: Who should have the attendance verification password? A: Share the password only with trusted staff who will be checking guests in at the entrance. This could be security personnel, event coordinators, or designated greeters.

Q: Can I customize the RSVP button texts? A: Yes! In the RSVP Texts section, you can override the accept and decline button texts with any wording you prefer. Leave the fields empty to use the defaults ("Accept with pleasure" / "Decline with regret").

Q: What happens if I forget to include {date} in the deadline text? A: A warning message will appear below the field to let you know the deadline date won't be shown to guests. You can still save the text without {date} if you intentionally don't want to display the date.

Q: Can I use custom colors instead of the preset templates? A: Yes! After selecting a design template, you can further customize colors using the color pickers in the template customization panel. This lets you override the primary, secondary, and accent colors to match your exact preferences while keeping the template's layout and effects.

Q: What is the difference between a design template and custom colors? A: A design template sets the overall visual style including colors, fonts, spacing, and effects. After applying a template, the color pickers let you override individual colors while keeping the rest of the template's design intact.

Q: How does the envelope opening work for guests? A: When enabled, guests see an animated envelope instead of the invitation loading directly. They tap or click the envelope to open it, which plays a smooth opening animation before revealing the full invitation. It adds a special "reveal" moment to the experience.

Q: Can I customize the envelope appearance? A: Yes. You can change the envelope color, wax seal color, inner liner accent color, and choose from several liner patterns (none, floral, geometric, dots, stripes).

Q: What do the hero section settings control? A: The hero section settings let you adjust text position, text size, cover height, overlay darkness, text color, title font, the navigation bar, and whether the date and location are shown on the cover. Expand the settings panel inside the Hero Image section to access them.

Q: What does the navigation bar do? A: When enabled, a sticky navigation bar appears at the top of the invitation, allowing guests to jump directly to different sections (itinerary, RSVP, location, etc.). You can choose between glass, solid, or transparent styles.

Q: Will the effects and animations work on mobile devices? A: Yes, all effects are designed to work on both desktop and mobile. However, some effects like parallax scrolling may render slightly differently on mobile browsers. We recommend previewing your invitation on a mobile device to confirm you are happy with how effects look.

Q: Can I disable animations if I prefer a static invitation? A: Yes. You can set scroll animations to none and disable floating particles, parallax, and hero text effects individually. The template's colors and fonts will still apply without any motion.

Q: How many photos can I add to the carousel? A: You can add up to 9 photos to the photo carousel.

Q: Why does the background music start muted? A: Modern browsers require user interaction before playing audio. This is a browser security requirement, not a Fotify limitation. Guests can tap to unmute and enjoy the music.

Q: Can I add a map if my event is at a private residence? A: Yes, you can enable the location map for any address. If you prefer not to show the exact location publicly, you can disable the map and use the additional instructions field to provide directions privately.

Q: Can I export the itinerary for guests to print? A: Yes! Click the "Export PDF" button in the Itinerary section to download a printable PDF version that guests can save or print.

Q: What happens to the countdown timer after my event starts? A: The countdown displays your "Completed Message" (e.g., "The celebration has begun!") once it reaches zero, replacing the timer.

Q: Which calendar apps are supported for Save to Calendar? A: Guests can add your event to Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook, Yahoo Calendar, and most other calendar applications that support standard calendar formats.

Q: Can I add multiple hotels to the accommodation section? A: Yes, you can add as many accommodation options as you'd like. We recommend including options at different price points to suit all guests.

Q: Is it appropriate to include gift registry information on the invitation? A: Yes, many guests appreciate knowing gift preferences upfront. Use a thoughtful personal message like "Your presence is our greatest gift" to keep it graceful.

Q: Can I edit the invitation content after guests have already responded? A: Yes, you can update any part of your invitation at any time. Changes appear immediately for anyone who views the invitation afterward.

Q: Which date format should I use? A: Choose the format most familiar to your guests. If your guests are primarily from the US, use MM/DD/YYYY. For international guests or formal events, the long formats (MMMM D, YYYY or D MMMM YYYY) are elegant and clear across all regions since they spell out the month name.

Q: Are month names translated for international guests? A: Yes! When using the long date formats (MMMM D, YYYY or D MMMM YYYY), month names are automatically displayed in the guest's selected language. If they view the invitation in Spanish, they'll see "diciembre" instead of "December".