Why did my email bounce?

Understand what email bounces mean and how to fix them.

Plan requirement: Standard or Pro plan

Short answer: Bounces happen when an email can't be delivered - usually due to an invalid email address or full inbox.

What is a bounce?

A bounce means the email couldn't be delivered. The receiving server rejected it and sent it back.

Types of bounces

Hard bounce: Permanent failure
- Email address doesn't exist
- Domain doesn't exist
- Typo in the address (gmail.con instead of gmail.com)

Soft bounce: Temporary failure
- Inbox is full
- Server temporarily unavailable
- Email too large

Common causes

  • Typos in email addresses
  • Guest changed their email
  • Old email no longer active
  • Corporate emails with strict filters
  • Guest's mailbox is full

How to fix bounces

  1. Go to Sending > Tracking or Bounces
  2. Find the bounced email addresses
  3. Contact the guest for correct email:
    • Text or call them
    • Ask on social media
    • Ask another family member
  4. Update their email in your guest list
  5. Resend the email

Preventing bounces

  • Verify email addresses when collecting them
  • Send a test early to catch bad addresses
  • Use Collect Details to let guests submit their own email
  • Double-check for common typos

Tips

  • Fix bounces promptly - those guests didn't get your email
  • Keep a list of problematic addresses
  • Some bounces are temporary - may succeed on retry
  • Consider alternative contact methods for persistent bounces

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