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Personally I really like proper invitations when it's something at least somewhat important, but I've noticed there's a big difference between just sending a card on its own and combining both formats. Like, a physical card that arrives at home has an impact, but if you then send a WhatsApp message the week before to give people a heads up, they already start thinking they need to keep that date free. It's silly but it really changes the number of "I forgot" excuses you get in the end.
Avoid going all-in on WhatsApp if it's something a bit formal or if you really want it to make an impression. A message in a group chat or a quick personal text is easy to ignore, easy to forget too. People get hundreds of messages, yours can get lost in the flow without them meaning any harm by it.
Actual invitations are way more effective when you want real attendance. They create anticipation, they're something physical you keep, they show you took time and effort. For a birthday, a wedding, something important, people really appreciate it. Though obviously you gotta keep it consistent with the vibe of the event.
You can also mix it up: send out proper invitations for the formal invite but confirm via WhatsApp the week before if you want to make sure everyone actually got it and remembered. It works pretty well for events where you're expecting a lot of people and you really want to maximize confirmations. It really depends on who you're inviting and what message you're trying to send.
It really depends on the context, but something people often forget is that physical invitations create a tangible trace - people keep them, put them on the fridge, they stick in your head more. On the other hand, if you just send a WhatsApp message off the cuff, there's a huge chance it'll get buried in 50 other notifications and half your guests will forget the date or even realize they didn't read it properly. If it's really important (birthday, wedding, stuff like that), an invitation or at minimum a personal call has way more impact than a WhatsApp group where you're just hoping everyone got the message clearly.
I saw people freak out because they got a WhatsApp lost in 50 other messages and they missed the event 😅 But honestly, I think you're overcomplicating things - why choose? A physical card really works for something actually important (a wedding, a milestone birthday), but for everyday stuff a WhatsApp + a reminder a few days before is totally enough and it's not complicated. People check their phone way more often than they look at stuff lying around on their fridge, so sending a message with a real notification is more effective. It really depends on whether you want it to actually stand out or just for people to know something's happening.
What people don't really say enough is that it totally depends on who you're inviting and how many people. For something small and casual among friends, WhatsApp is more than enough - people will reply right away and you'll know pretty much instantly. But if it's bigger or you really need an exact headcount to organize, combine both: send a physical invitation to people it matters for, and a message to confirm they got it. It feels less heavy than doing just paper, but you keep that "this is a real thing" vibe that really changes how people perceive it.
The thing is, it really depends on who you're inviting and how many people. For a casual thing with friends, WhatsApp is totally fine - people see the message and reply. But if you want it to actually feel special or formal, or if you've got older people in the mix who don't check their messages every day, a real invitation card makes a difference - it stands out. Why choose anyway? Send a card to those who'd appreciate it, WhatsApp for everyone else, and everyone's happy.
The combo works best - a proper invitation card for people who appreciate the gesture, and WhatsApp as a reminder two days before for anyone who might have lost it or forgotten. Covers you both ways without breaking the bank.
You really have to adapt to your audience, not just pick one or the other. What works well is starting with WhatsApp to get a feel for things and get quick responses, then sending an actual printed invitation afterward to the people who said yes - it becomes a nice keepsake and reinforces that it's serious. People remember the event better when they got both, and you also avoid the mess of that guy who read your message once and forgot about it under 500 other notifications.
WhatsApp works fine if you send the message at the right time and follow up two or three days before, but physical invitations, it's just lazy not to put in a minimum of effort when it's an event that really matters. Combine both if you can: the invitation arrives in person or by mail for your class, WhatsApp is for confirming and last-minute reminders. It doesn't take hours and people actually see that you care about them coming.
What doesn't get brought up enough is that physical invitations actually force people to really respond - they can't just like it and ghost you, they have to contact you to confirm or decline! That said, if it's casual like a drinks night with friends, WhatsApp is totally fine, but for something important or where you actually need to know who's coming, using both together is honestly the way to go.
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