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Design Beautiful Contact Form 7 Emails

Contact Form 7 email template integration transforms your plain text form notifications into professional, branded communications that build trust and improve user experience. By default, Contact Form 7 sends basic plain text emails, but with Pretty Email, you can create stunning email templates that match your brand and convert better.

Quick Setup

Transform your CF7 emails in just 5 minutes with our step-by-step guide below. No coding required!

Prerequisites​

Before integrating Pretty Email with Contact Form 7, ensure you have:

  • Contact Form 7 plugin installed and active
  • Pretty Email plugin installed and active (Installation Guide)
  • WordPress 5.0+ and PHP 7.4+
  • At least one contact form created in CF7
Don't have Pretty Email yet?

Download Pretty Email and start designing beautiful email templates today.

Step-by-Step Integration Guide​

1. Enable Pretty Email for WordPress Emails​

First, enable Pretty Email to handle WordPress default emails (which includes Contact Form 7):

  1. Navigate to Appearance → Pretty Email

    WordPress Appearance menu showing Pretty Email plugin access

  2. Go to the Settings tab

    WordPress Pretty Email settings tab interface

  3. Turn on WordPress Emails in the Integrations section

    WordPress emails integration toggle switch in Pretty Email settings

2. Create a Template​

Design a custom email template for your Contact Form 7 notifications:

  1. In Pretty Email, click Add New Template

    Add New Template button in Pretty Email interface

  2. Choose from available preset templates or build from scratch

    Email template preset patterns gallery with professional designs

  3. Add essential blocks to your template:

    • Add a Section block to start building your layout
    • Insert an Email Body block where form submission content should appear
    • Add branding elements like logos, headers, and footers
    • Customize colors, fonts, and spacing to match your brand

  4. Name your template in the Settings sidebar for easy identification

    Email template rename options menu in WordPress settings sidebar

  5. Send a test preview to verify the design in your email client

    Email template preview and send interface for testing designs

Email Body Block Required

Your template must include an Email Body block to display the Contact Form 7 submission data. Without this block, form content won't appear in your emails.

Learn More

See Creating New Templates and Composing Templates with Blocks for detailed template design guidance.

3. Select Your Default Email Template​

Choose the template that will be applied to your Contact Form 7 emails:

  1. In the Settings tab, find the Default Template dropdown

  2. Select your preferred email template from the list

    WordPress default email template selection dropdown

Email Body Block Required

Make sure your chosen template includes an Email Body block to display the form submission content.

4. Configure Your Contact Form​

Set up your Contact Form 7 to work optimally with Pretty Email templates:

  1. Go to Contact → Contact Forms

    WordPress Contact menu showing Contact Form access

  2. Edit your existing form or create a new one

    WordPress Contact forms page

  3. Ensure your form includes proper field labels for better email formatting

5. Test Your Email Integration​

Always test your integration before going live:

  1. Submit a test form from your website
  2. Check your inbox for the formatted email
  3. Verify all dynamic fields are displaying correctly
  4. Test on both desktop and mobile email clients

Customization Options​

Brand Styling​

Make your emails match your brand identity:

  • Logo Integration: Add your company logo to email headers
  • Color Scheme: Match your website's color palette
  • Typography: Use consistent fonts across all communications
  • Layout: Choose from various template layouts

Browse our template library for inspiration and ready-to-use designs:

  • Professional business templates
  • Creative agency layouts
  • E-commerce focused designs
  • Minimalist modern styles

Troubleshooting Common Issues​

Email Not Received​

Problem: Contact form submissions aren't generating emails.

Solution:

  1. Verify your Contact Form 7 mail template settings
  2. Check that your hosting provider allows email sending
  3. Install an SMTP plugin like WP Mail SMTP for better delivery
  4. Test with a different email address

Plain Text Instead of Template​

Problem: Emails are still appearing as plain text.

Solution:

  1. Ensure WordPress Emails integration is active
  2. Confirm the default template is properly selected
  3. Verify your template includes an Email Body block
  4. Check that CF7 is sending plain text emails
  5. Clear any caching plugins

Missing Form Data​

Problem: Form submission details aren't appearing in emails.

Solution:

  1. Ensure the Email Body block is placed in your template
  2. Check Contact Form 7 mail template settings
  3. Verify form field names match expected format
  4. Test with a simple form first

Styling Issues​

Problem: Email template doesn't match expected design.

Solution:

  1. Check email client compatibility (some clients strip CSS)
  2. Use web-safe fonts and colors
  3. Test in multiple email clients (Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail)
  4. Simplify complex layouts for better compatibility

Template Not Applied​

Problem: Specific forms aren't using Pretty Email templates.

Solution:

  1. Confirm WordPress Emails integration is active
  2. Ensure the default template is properly selected
  3. Check that CF7 is sending plain text emails (HTML emails aren't wrapped)
  4. Verify no conflicting email plugins are installed
  5. Review CF7 mail settings for custom configurations

Frequently Asked Questions​

Q: Can I use different templates for different contact forms?

A: Currently, the WordPress integration applies one default template to all Contact Form 7 emails. For form-specific templates, consider using our Gravity Forms integration which offers more granular control.

Q: Will this work with Contact Form 7 add-ons?

A: Yes, Pretty Email works with most CF7 add-ons since it processes the final email output. However, complex add-ons that modify email structure may require testing.

Q: Does this affect email delivery rates?

A: Pretty Email can improve engagement but doesn't directly affect deliverability. For better delivery rates, use an SMTP service like SendGrid or Mailgun.

Q: Can I include images in my Contact Form 7 emails?

A: Yes, you can add images to your Pretty Email templates. User-uploaded images from file upload fields will be handled according to your CF7 configuration.

Q: Is there a way to preview emails before sending?

A: You can preview your templates in the Pretty Email editor, but for full Contact Form 7 integration testing, submit actual test forms to see the complete email output.

Other Form Integrations​

Template Design​

Getting Help​

Need assistance with your Contact Form 7 integration? Contact our support team for personalized help with your email template setup.

Pro Tip

For the best results, keep your Contact Form 7 forms simple and focused. Complex forms with many fields can create cluttered emails, even with beautiful templates.