What is the invitation page, and how is it different from the gallery link?

It is a shareable page carrying the date, the place, an add-to-calendar button, a one-tap link in and a reply form — meant for sending in advance.

The invitation page is what you send before the day. It shows the event name, when and where it is, an Add to calendar button that downloads a calendar file, and a button that opens the event itself.

Under those buttons, Will you be there? lets each guest reply: a name, yes or no, how many are coming and an optional note. Only you see the replies, on the Sharing tab — see How do I see who is coming?. Guests can reply whatever your gallery privacy setting is, because a reply shows them nothing of the gallery.

The gallery link, by contrast, goes straight to the photos — the right thing to share on the day and afterwards, and the wrong thing to send three weeks out.

Both are on your dashboard, and both can be copied with one tap. The invitation page also carries your cover photo, so it looks like your event when it is shared in a group chat.