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Merge Tags

Merge tags are placeholders in your email messages that automatically get replaced with personalised information when messages are sent. They allow you to create dynamic, personalised content without manually editing each message.

How Merge Tags Work

When you write an email, you can include merge tags like {{ Attendee Name }} or {{ Event Name }}. When Dear sends the message to each attendee, these placeholders are automatically replaced with the actual values.

Example:

Dear {{ Attendee Name }},

You're invited to {{ Event Name }}!

Becomes:

Dear Sarah Johnson,

You're invited to Summer Garden Party!

Using Merge Tags

When editing your message content in the rich text editor, you can insert merge tags in two ways:

Method 1: Using the Merge Tags Panel

  1. Click the merge tags button in the editor toolbar (it looks like curly braces)

  2. A panel will open showing all available merge tags for your event type

  3. Click on any tag to insert it at your cursor position

  4. The tag will appear as a styled badge in the editor

Method 2: Typing Directly

  1. Start typing {{ in the editor

  2. A dropdown will appear with matching merge tags

  3. Select the tag you want to insert

Available Merge Tags

Standard Tags

These merge tags are always available for every event:

Tag

Description

{{ Attendee Name }}

The guest’s full name

{{ Attendee Email }}

The guest’s email address

{{ Attendee Phone }}

The guest’s phone number (if provided)

{{ Event Name }}

Your event’s name

{{ Event Description }}

Your event’s description

{{ Invitation URL }}

A personalised link to view the invitation

{{ Invitation Button }}

A styled button that links to the invitation

Custom Field Tags

Depending on your event type, you may have additional merge tags for custom fields. These could include:

  • Event date and time (e.g., {{ Event Date }})

  • Venue name and address (e.g., {{ Location }}, {{ Venue Name }})

  • Dress code

  • Special instructions

  • Any other custom fields defined for your event type

The available custom field tags will appear in the merge tags panel when you edit your message, with human-readable labels that match your field names.

Tips for Using Merge Tags

Always Preview

Before sending, use the preview feature to see how your merge tags will appear. This helps catch any issues before messages go out to your guests.

Unreplaced Tags

If a merge tag isn’t replaced when you preview, check that:

  • The tag was inserted using the merge tags panel or typing method

  • You’ve entered the corresponding data in your event details

  • The tag is available for your event type

Fallback Values

If an attendee doesn’t have data for a particular field (like phone number), the merge tag will be replaced with an empty string. Plan your message content accordingly.

Common Use Cases

Personalised Greetings

Hi {{ Attendee Name }},

Event Details in Body

Join us at {{ Venue Name }} on {{ Event Date }} for {{ Event Name }}.

Call to Action

Include {{ Invitation Button }} to add a styled “View Invitation” button that links directly to the personalised invitation. This is the recommended way to link guests to their invitation page.

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