Mohamed Sajid showing wedding card samples on display. – Photos: RONNIE CHIN/The Star
THE advent of digital alternatives and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic have significantly affected the printing of invitation cards for weddings, birthdays and special occasions.
Several printers in Ipoh, Perak, find that most people, especially the younger generation, prefer to send out ecards or digital cards instead of the physical ones.
Physical cards, they said, were still being printed but in significantly lower quantities.
Percetakan SM production manager Mohamed Sajid Mohd Adam, 31, told StarMetro that orders for physical cards had dropped by 70% from pre-Covid times.
Keepsakes: For weddings and milestone events, cards are still printed and often treasured as mementos. — By RONNIE CHIN/The Star
“Couples often tell me that the physical cards are because their parents want to personally hand them to older relatives and friends.
“The older generation still prefers to distribute cards house to house, especially for weddings.
“The personal touch of inviting someone to a function is still very important, especially for the parents of the couples,” he said at his shop in Ipoh.
Mohamed Sajid said that before the pandemic, some 1,000 cards were printed per wedding but people were now only printing between 300 and 500 cards.
He said many couples preferred to send out ecards to their family and friends.
“Most couples who come to my shop usually have their own design ideas but will look for the template to get the format of the wordings.
“These days even for physical cards, people prefer contemporary, modern-looking ones, instead of the traditional types.
“But there are also people who will choose the traditional design, some written in two languages... especially for events by Hindu or Sikh families,” he added.
Aiman Nahar shows exclusive wedding invitation cards ordered by VIPs.
Printhink Haus designer Aiman Nahar, 31, said most of his customers would ask for ecard designs and wordings and he sold these designs separately.
However, there are some who opt to print simple physical cards.
He said the older generation, especially, still preferred physical cards, whereby they can feel and read the card easily.
“As most senior citizens usually have basic mobile phones, ecards are not suitable for them.
“For example, Malay wedding invites usually have a map to the event venue attached.
“For ecards, there is a QR code included to guide guests to the wedding location. But older people find it difficult to use such applications,’’ he noted.
Aiman said his company had printed wedding cards for VIP clients whose children were getting married.
“Such cards, although far fewer in quantity, are special because they come with a hardcover, exclusive design and a special box,” he added.
Letchumi with a sample of wedding invitations and welcome boards.
L & A Printing graphic designer V. Letchumi Sri, 39, said that about 800 cards were printed per wedding before the Covid-19 pandemic, and the numbers had dropped by half since then.
She said most of her customers printed cards to hand them out to family and friends.
“Customers nowadays are also mostly picking budget-friendly single cards, instead of the elaborate cards with traditional designs.
“The younger generation prefers ecards with slide shows, which they feel are easier to send to their guests,” she said.
She added that many felt that physical cards were just a waste of resources because people would throw them away once the event was over.
But it is not all bad news for the printing industry as some new innovations are helping to bring in business.
Letchumi said these days, welcome boards for weddings, engagement, baby-naming ceremony or birthdays were trendy.
“After the wedding is over, the couple can keep the board as a memento,” she elaborated.
She said some people even mounted their photos on tiles as mementos or to be given as door gifts.
She added that some customers requested the printing of banners and streamers for their events.
IP Printing Sdn Bhd managing director Steven Yee said the Chinese community mainly still believed in the importance of printed invitations to deliver to guests for special events.
He said many would even print personalised wedding invitations that included the guests’ names.
Asyraf’s sister used an online app to create free ecards for wedding invitations.
“When they print physical cards, we also provide them with the ecard versions, which the younger generation will usually send to their peers,” he added.
Richardson Printmart owner Jack Victor said the tradition of personally delivering invitation cards was diminishing.
He said that in the old days, families would be offended if a wedding invitation was not delivered in person, but that was slowly changing.
“People think that they are saving money by printing fewer cards, but actually, they pay more as the (initial) print cost is expensive,” he said, before expressing optimism that physical cards were here to stay.
“I feel the trend of physical cards will make a come back, just like the bellbottoms did,” he added.
Convenience of ecards
Imam Asyraf Amirul, 31, said he and his older sister held a double wedding during the pandemic.
He said a simple akad nikah (marriage solemnisation) ceremony and reception was held for close family and friends in 2021.
“Since the movement control order (MCO) was enforced at that time, we decided that ecards were the best option.
“My sister designed her wedding ecard as well as mine, and with a click of a button, the invitation cards were sent out.
“We felt it was pointless to send out physical cards for fear the weddings would have to be postponed due to the MCO,” he said, adding that fewer than 120 people were invited.
Asyraf said his sister used an online app to make the free ecards, and they saved on postage too.
Mong says restaurant bundled wedding card printing services into the reception package.
“All the information was stated on the ecard and no one complained when they received them,” he said.
Marieanne Mong, 60, an entrepreneur, said her son was getting married soon and the restaurant where she planned to host the dinner reception had offered her a deal that included the printing of wedding invitations, based on the number of booked tables.
She said according to Chinese custom, it was preferable to give physical cards to guests.
“Ecards will be provided as well so that it can be sent out to the younger generation, and to friends in my WhatsApp group chat.
“For guests who are senior citizens, I will be personally delivering the physical cards,” she added.
