Why Google Calendar Always Sends Invitation Emails

When you invite guests to an event in Google Calendar or via Cowlendar integration, Google automatically sends an email to every attendee. There is no organizer‑side setting to turn off these invitation emails, so your customers will receive three emails: a Shopify order confirmation, a Cowlendar booking confirmation, and a Google Calendar invite.

Why Invitation Emails Are Mandatory

Google Calendar’s system is designed to ensure every guest is notified and can respond to the event request. This approach tracks RSVPs and prevents events from appearing on guest calendars without their knowledge. Because of this policy, Google does not provide an option to suppress invitation emails on the organizer’s end.

What You Can Do

• Set expectations by explaining in your Cowlendar confirmation email that a Google Calendar invitation will follow.

• Advise guests on how to adjust their own Google Calendar notifications: go to Settings > Event notifications and update email preferences.

• Include full details in your Cowlendar email so that the Google Calendar invite serves only as a calendar placeholder.

Although we have discussed this limitation with the Google team, they currently do not allow disabling invitation emails. We are monitoring for any changes and will release an update as soon as a solution becomes available.