Getting Started
Click on the video icon

to get started with PurpleTrail.
Click on the "Sign Up" for a free PurpleTrail account on the right hand side of the main page. Enter your full name, email address, and complete the word verification. Click the sign up button when complete.
You do not need an account to create the invitation. You will need to create an account to send your invitation to your guests. This way you'll be able to log in to PurpleTrail and manage all your event details.
Log in with your email address and password on the left hand side of the PurpleTrail main page.
PurpleTrail email invitations are free! If you choose to send your invitation with SMS or voice mediums, there is a small fee. Visit the
PurpleTrail Store for specifics.
Check to see if your CAPS lock is on...this will affect your password. If you still are having trouble, you can report a problem by emailing us at support@purpletrail.com
If you forget your password, simply click on the 'forgot your password' link at the bottom right corner of the sign in box and follow the prompts to reset your password.
Your Account
Click on the Account Settings tab near the top of the page. Here you can manage all your personal profile details. To change your email address, click on 'contact me' in the left hand navigation bar.
Yes. Under Account Settings click Contact Me, to add other email addresses to your account.
Go to Account Settings then click Privacy/Password. Scroll down to 'change password' You'll be asked to enter your email address, current password and then create a new one. Click save to activate new password.
Yes. Upon signing in, click on 'edit profile' and it will take you to your Account Settings, Personal Profile. By editing the 'full name' field you will change your ID.
Yes. Under Account Settings, click 'contact me' on the left hand navigation bar. Under 'receive updates' you can select how oftern you'd like to be contacted. You can also select which email address you want the emails to be sent to. Click save when finished.
Under Account Settings, click SMS/Mobile from the left hand navigation menu. Enter your 10 digit mobile number and click 'activate'.
Under Account Settings, click on SMS/Moblie on the left hand navigation bar. At the right of the page you'll see the Mobile Messages header and your SMS balance will be listed.
Visit the
PurpleTrail Store by clicking on the Store tab at the top of the page. You can add items to your shopping cart as needed.
When you initially sign up for SMS service, you'll receive 10 free credits. Thereafter it is $2.95 for 25 SMS credits.
Under Account Settings select Order History from the left hand navigation bar. You will see a detailed history of your transactions.
Yes. Under the Account Settings Tab, click on SMS/Mobile to select the notifications you'd like to receive. Click Save when finished.
You can do this in 2 places. When you log into PurpleTrail you'll see your name and picture in the top right hand corner. Simply click 'change picture' and you can click on any of PurpleTrail's pictures or click 'more' and upload one from your computer. You can also change your picture under the Account Settings tab and click on Personal Profile. Click 'upload picture' and add from PurpleTrail's selection or from your own.
Your Online Invitation
- From the home page, click on "create an invitation".
- Step 1: Create your design. You can search through the invitation designs using the search box and entering keywords. For example, enter "baby shower", and you will see all baby shower designs. As you click on a design, a preview of what the invitation will look like shows up at the bottom of the page. You can select the different tabs to see what your web, email, SMS, and print invitations will look like. Once you have selected your design, click continue.
- Step 2: Add Details. On this page you can enter the name of your event, details about your event, when and where it is occuring, and the host contact information.
- Step 3: Change Settings. This last step allows you to answer questions about your event. When you are finished, click on "create event". If you were not previously logged into your account, then the next page will prompt you to log in. If you do not have an account, you will be promted to sign up for a new account. It it a simple process that takes just a minute.
On Step 2 of creating your invitation, you can click on "invitation wording" to browse a list of invitation wording ideas. Once you find one you like, you can copy and paste it into the event details box or event tagline box. Just close the invitation wording window when you are finished.
Animated Designs are a special set of images put together for a particular type of event. They showcase a slideshow of related images and make your invitation come alive! Each animated design has at least 3 images that rotate through, and the event details box can be "moved" out of the way for better viewing. In the near future you will be able to create your own animated designs as well! Check back for more details.
Yes! On Step 2 of creating your invitation, you can enter multiple time and place options. Simply enter your first time and place option, and then click on "Add another When & Where option". This will open a second box. You can add up to 10 options. Once your event is created, your guests will be able to vote on which time and place options work for them. Once voting is complete, you can finalize the When and Where option and notify your guests of the final decision.
One Step 1 of the create event process, you can select "Create your own design" in the Featured Designs section on the left side of the page. You will then be prompted to name your design, upload your picture and design the invitation box colors and size (that will hold your invitation information) as well as the font color. Once you are finished, click "Create Design" on the bottom of the page. Once you have created your design, it will remain in your account. You can access your designs by clicking on "Browse your designs" in the Featured Designs Section in step one of the create event process.
We currently only allow for one image to be uploaded. However, in the near future we will be adding user created animated designs. With this feature, you will be able to add as many images as you like into a "slideshow". Check back soon for more details!
Once your event has been created, you can edit the design by visiting the "Manage Invitation Tab" at the top of your event. Within the "Manage event details" module, click on "Edit current design". This will allow you to change the image you have uploaded or change the box size and/or color as well as the text color. When you are finished, click "Done changing" at the bottom.
All the designs you have created get saved within your account. You can see them and use them by clicking on "Browse your designs" in the Featured Designs Section in step 1 of the create event process. Note: You will only be able to see these images if you are logged into your account.
After your event has been created, you can edit the time or location of your event by visiting the "Manage Invitation Tab" at the top of your event. This is the place where you can make changes and manage all details of your event. Within the "Manage event details" module, click on "Change/Set event time & location". This will open the "Manage event time & place" section. You can make any desired changes. If you have made significant changes to the time or place, you can choose whether you want to keep the RSVPs you have recieved or allow them to be deleted. You can also choose to "Send Email notification to guests" if would like.
After your event has been created, you can edit the details of your event by visiting the the "Manage Invitation Tab" at the top of your event. This is the place where you can make changes and manage all details of your event. Within the "Manage event details" module, click on "Change event details". This will
open a window where you can edit the event title, event tagline, event description and host details. When you are finished, click "Save".
- Start by clicking on the "Send Invitataions" tab at the top of your event page. To quickly add one guest at a time, simply add their full name and email address within the first boxes on the page. Once you have entered a name, click "Add". Their name will be added to the "Guest to be invited" section further down on the page.
- To enter additonal information (phone or address) in order to send print, voice or sms invitations, click on the "Add additional data for print, voice & SMS invites" link below the first two boxes.
- You can continue to add more names and addresses. Once you are ready to send the invitations, click on "Preview and Send" or "Send without Preview". You can send all your invitations at once, or send them in batches. It is up to you.
- If your address book is already set up, you can easily select contacts from there. Just click on the "Address Book" button on the right side of the page.
- If you have have not yet set up your address book, but would like to do so, click on the "Import Contacts" button on the right side of the page. After your contacts have been imported, a window will open that allows you to select the guests from your address book that you would like to invite.
- There is also a button that allows you to import contacts from your mobile phone. To do this, click on the "Mobile Contacts" button on the right side of the page.
To make your guest list private, click on the "Manage Invitation" tab at the top of your event. Then open the "Invitation Settings" module within the right column of the page. Then answer the queston "Is guest list private?" with "yes". Once your guest list is "Private", your guest will not be able to see who else is invited to your event.
You can check the RSVP status of your guests within the "Mangage Invitation" tab of your event. All invited guests will be listed in the "Manage and track
event guests" section below the invitation design. As guests RSVP they will be moved into different sections such as "RSVP Yes, RSVP Maybe, RSVP No, and Not Responded". If your guest list is public (visible to all guests), you can also easily see RSVP responses by viewing the "Guests RSVP" section within the "Guest Invitation" tab.
Yes! Within the "Manage and track event guests" module on the "Manage Invitation" tab, you can edit your guests' names and RSVP responses. Just click the "(edit)" next to their name. Once you have made your changes, click "Save".
At this time we do not allow you to edit the messages, but you do have the option to delete them. If you would like to delete a message, click on the small red "X" on the lower right corner of the posted message. A confirmation window will pop up that asks you to confirm whether you want to delete the message.
You can send reminders by visiting the "Manage Invitation" tab of your event. Look for the "Manage event details" module on the right side of the page, and click on "Send event remiders to guests. You will then be able to choose when your reminder gets sent and to whom. If you select to "preview and set reminder" you will have the option to edit the message that gets sent.
The maximum number of guests allowed for an event is 500. If you need this limit raised for your event, just send us an email at support@purpletrail.com and we can increase it for you. How do I make an event recurring?
- You can make someone else (or all guests) a co-host to your event after they have been invited. Once you have invited your guests, visit the "Manage Invitation" tab at the top of your event. Look for the "Manage and track event guests" on that page. Select the check box next to the guest(s) you would like to make a host. Then select "Make host" in the "-More actions- drop down box at the top of the module.
- The same process is used when removing someone as a host of the event. Just select "Remove host" from the drop down box after selecting the check box next to the guest's name.
Visit the "Manage Invitation" tab at the top of your event page. Look for the "Manage event details" module in the right column and click on "Cancel this event invite". You will then be asked to confirm the action and will have the choice to notify event guests of the cancellation.
- If you are the host of an event, you cannot leave the event unless there is at least one other host assigned for the event. To remove yourself, visit the "Manage Invitiaton" tab and select the checkbox next to the name you want to remove within the "Manage and track event guests" module. Then select "Delete" from the "-more actions-" dropdown box at the top of the module. You will be asked to confirm this action before it is complete.
- If you are a guest of an event, you can leave the event by selecting "Remove yourself from guest list" within the "Event tools" module on the guest invitation page.
The message board allows event guests and hosts to communicate with one another - either in real-time for by viewing past messages. You can post public messages that can be seen by all guests, or private messages that can only be viewed by the guest who sent the message and the host. As guests RSVP for an event, they are given the option to "Send a message". These messages are then posted to the message board - either as private or as public.
My address Book
Anyone you have added to your events is in your address book.
Click on the Address Book tab. Click on 'import contacts' near the top of the page and enter in the information for the address book you wish to import and click 'import contacts'. Once you've created your event, you can also do this from the Invite Guests page. Just click on Import Contacts from the right hand menu and follow the prompts.
Click on the Address Book tab. Select the person you wish to edit. Click 'edit', make changes then click 'Save'.
Once you've created your invitation and are ready to Invite Guests- simply click on Mobile Contacts in the right hand menu. From there you'll see specific instructions on how to import your mobile contacts.
Merge contacts allows you to consolidate guest information (like making a husband and wife with the same email one contact instead of two). You can preform this function under the Address Book tab
-- To be written --
Go to the Address book tab. Click on Create Group. Name the group. Select Edit. Select contacts you want in your new group. click save.
Go to the Address book tab. Click Add Contact. Enter new contact's information. click save.
Go to the Addsress Book tab. Click on the group name you wish to edit. Uncheck the box by the contact y ou wish to remove. Click save.
Using PurpleTrail Features
On your Manage Invitation page, look for the module labeled "Event tools". Click on "Add/remove modules from guest invite page". A popup window will show you a list of the available modules. Select those that you would like to appear on your invitation page and then click save. You can change these settings as many times as you like.
Look for the "Event photos" module on your Guest Invitation page. By default it appears near the bottom of the page. If the module is not showing on the page, check to make sure you have the module enabled (see "How do I enable and disable modules on my event page?). Click on the "Upload photos" button within the module and browse your computer files to select the images you would like to upload. You can select up to 5 at a time. Then click "Upload" and your photos will be uploaded and shown in a slide show. After you upload photos, a buttone to "Notify others" will appear at the bottom of the module. This will allow you to send a message to other event guests to let them know you have uploaded photos.
- On your Guest Invitation page, look for the "Event videos & widgets" near the bottom of the page. If the module is not showing on the page, check to make sure you have the module enabled (see "How do I enable and disable modules on my event page?). Copy your video embed code and paste it in the box, then click save.
- You also have the option to embed videos within the message board on the Guest Invitation page. To do this, click on the film icon in the tools at the top of the message board. Then enter the embed code in the box and click "Send".
Yes you can. On your Guest Invitation page, look for the "Event videos & widgets" near the bottom of the page. If the module is not showing on the page, check to make sure you have the module enabled (see "How do I enable and disable modules on my event page?). Copy your music embed code and paste it in the box, then click save.
On your Guest Invitation page, click on "Map the event" within the "Event tools" module in the right column. A map window will open and the event address will be listed in the address box at the top. To get driving directions, click "Get driving directions" below the address box and then enter your starting address. Finally, click on the "Get Directions!" button.
Yes, you can print the event details. On your Guest Invitation page, click on "Print event details" within the "Event tools" module on the right side of the page.
As the host, you can specify who can see your event. This is initally set in step 3 of the create an event process. To adjust these settings after your event has been created, open the "Invitations settings" module within the "Manage Invitation" page. Adjust your answers to question #6 based on your preferences for your event.
Yes. To post your event to facebook, click on "Share over email & social networks" within the "Event tools" module on your Guest Invitation.
Using PurpleTrail Mobile
Yes. Go to Account Settings and click on SMS/Mobile in the left hand navigation menu to activate this feature.
You can access and maange all your events from your mobile phone. You can even create new events on the go from your mobile phone browser. For more
details, please visit
PurpleTrail Mobile
PurpleTrail.com will not charge you for using this mobile service, but your phone service provider may. Please check with your provider for data access charges.
With PurplTrail mobile you can access your event information anytime, anywhere. You can receive alerts about your event, you can access PurpleTrail from your mobile browser, upload photos of your event as they happen!
Using PurpleTrail Desktop Application
On the PurpleTrail main page under Account Quicklist, click - Use
PurpleTrail Desktop. Click on 'install now'.
It allows you to receive real time event updates and messages on your desktop.
Using PurpleTrail Services
Yes. If you select our
Red Carpet Service for your event, we can design something special just for you.
PurpleTrail Store
The PurpleTrail Store is where you can purchase credits for SMS, Voice, and Print invitations.
Red Carpet Events is your very own concierge service. We manage the entire invitation process for you. Ideal for Weddings, Corporate Events, Non Profit events, Fundraisers, etc.
Read More...
Click on the Store tab and you'll be directed to the PurpleTrail Store. Add items to your cart as needed.
Event Tips and Ideas
Help! Things aren't working
We would love to hear from you. Please send us an
feature request email and we will get the missing feature in as soon as possible.
Privacy and Policies
Go to Account Settings and click on Privacy/Passord in the left hand navigation menu. Click 'update settings' when finished.
No. At PurpleTrial we want to earn and keep your trust. We do not share or sell your personal details.