Your university friends, coworkers and acquaintances are likely to open Facebook, Messenger or Instagram first. Each app treats a link a little differently, so a few minutes of preparation decides whether your invitation shows up as an inviting preview card or as a bare string of text.

Quick summary

  • Messenger: send to people one by one, using each guest's personal link so the card greets them by name.
  • Facebook: post the general link and set the audience to Friends rather than Public.
  • Instagram: captions do not make links tappable, so use Direct messages or a link sticker in your Story.
  • Before sending: set a tidy custom link, a share image and a share description.
  • Old photo still showing? Refresh the preview with /tools/refresh-link before sending again.

Facebook and Messenger show every link with a preview: an image, a title and a short description. That preview is what makes someone tap, so set it up before you message your first guest.

1. Choose a short custom link

A link ending in something like /s/minh-and-lan looks far more trustworthy than a random code. In the editor, open the Link & preview settings and set a custom link of 3 to 60 lowercase letters, numbers or hyphens. Choose it carefully: changing the link later breaks the old one for anyone who already has it.

2. Pick the share image and description

The preview title comes from your invitation's title, and the description is the line shown under it. Use both of your names in the title, one short sentence with the date in the description, and choose a landscape photo with your faces near the middle so the crop never cuts anyone off.

3. Check status and views

Only published invitations open for guests; drafts do not. A public Facebook post can push your view count up quickly, so check views used against your plan's limit on the invitation's statistics page. The Free plan includes 300 views per card, Basic 10,000 and Premium 50,000, and add-ons can top up a single card.

The general link is one link for everyone, which suits a Facebook post or a Story. A personal link is created for each guest in your list at /dashboard/guests: the card shows that guest's name, and the Messenger preview reads like a personal invitation addressed to them. Send personal links only to the right person, never in a group or on your wall.

Sending one by one on Messenger

  1. Copy the guest's personal link from your guest list, or use the Messenger share button on the published card.
  2. Write one personal line first: their name, a shared memory, then the invitation.
  3. Paste the link and wait a second for the preview card to load before you hit send.
  4. Mark the guest as Sent in your guest list so you never send twice or forget someone.

Messenger group chats are fine for the general link, ideally only in close groups such as your class or friend circle.

Posting on Facebook

A post on your profile is a nice way to announce the news widely, but it does not replace a personal invitation to people who matter. Use the Facebook button on your card or paste the link into a new post, add a few lines, set the audience to Friends because the card includes your date, time and venue, then check the preview image before posting. Closed groups where everyone knows each other work too; ask first if the group has rules.

Sending on Instagram

  • Direct messages: copy the link and paste it into a DM for each person.
  • Story with a link sticker: post a wedding photo, add the link sticker and paste your card link. Friends tap the sticker to open the card.
  • Profile link: add the card link to your profile for the weeks before the wedding and mention it in posts.
  • QR code: download your card's QR code and share it as an image so people on another device can scan it.

Facebook shows an old photo or no photo

Facebook and Messenger cache link previews. If you changed the share image or title after sending, the old version may stick. Open /tools/refresh-link, choose your published card or paste the exact link you shared, and press Refresh on Facebook. Facebook's Sharing Debugger asks you to log in; if it still shows the old preview, press Scrape Again. New messages and posts then use the fresh preview.

Sample messages

  • To a close friend: “Linh, it's finally happening! The party is at 6 pm on Saturday, December 12, and the map is in the card. You have to come: [link]”
  • To a coworker: “Hi Tuan, I'd love to invite you to our wedding. It would mean a lot if you could join us. You can RSVP right on the card: [link]”
  • Facebook post: “After five years together, we're making it official. Thank you all for being with us along the way. The invitation is here, and if you're nearby, come celebrate with us: [link]”
  • Instagram Story: “Save the date 12.12. Tap the link to open our card.”

When to send

  • About 3 to 4 weeks before: personal Messenger messages with personal links.
  • Same day or a few days later: the Facebook announcement with the general link.
  • About 1 week before: a gentle reminder to anyone who has not opened or replied, plus a Story.
  • Grandparents, aunts and uncles: call first, then send the link so they can check the time and route.

Frequently asked questions

Do guests need a VowForever account?

No. Guests just tap the link to view the card, RSVP and leave a wish.

Should I send a personal link to a Messenger group?

No. A personal link shows one specific guest's name, so everyone in the group would see a card addressed to that person. Use the general link in groups. For older guests who prefer WhatsApp, see /blog/share-wedding-invitation-messenger-whatsapp.