Camp Wedding- Major Writers block on Reply Card- HELP

serenamarie315

Hello!   Our wedding is at a summer camp and I am having SO much trouble (i really don't know why) writing the copy for the RSVP card, and am in a time crunch.  Points to note- children can come for the wedding weekend, but are not invited to the reception, we'll have babysitting and alternative food available for the kids.  (Win- so far everyone is not only cool, but excited about this).  You can bunk with up to 5 other people in the cabin.  So, from the reply i need to know how many are coming to the wedding, how many are coming to the RECEPTION, and who they would like to be in a cabin with (if outside of the group they are replying for on the card).  Here's what I have, and i feel like it needs some help.  

RSVP Card
We hope you can join us for the most special of celebrations! The favor of your reply is requested by August 1, 2015
M______________
___ Bags packed, ready to go!  ___ Will Celebrate from Afar!
Number of Guests for Cabin  ____Number of Guests for Reception _____
Reserve our Cabin!
____ Sunday Night   _____ Monday Night
I/We would  like to bunk with (please lists guests you’d like to bunk with who are are not replying for on this card): ________ ________________ ________________ ________

CMGragain

I am sorry.  The problem you are having is because your plans are improper.

You get one day.  Wedding and reception must be held on the same day.  You do not get a weekend.  If your guests wish to stay the weekend, that it up to them to make their own plans.  are you paying for all the cabins, or is there a charge for overnight stay?

RezIpsa

I'll take a stab at it.

Take off everything extraneous. Don't be cute with the wording- it just confuses people and you have enough going on already.

So, label it "RSVP" at the top ("card" is not needed).

M____________________

_______ Decline with regret
_______ Will attend

Do you need a cabin reservation?
_______ Yes
_______ No

_______ # of adults
_______ # of children

______ Saturday night
______ Sunday night

Please list guests you would like to bunk with: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

RezIpsa

I left off the request to indicate how many will attend the reception because it is automatic that everyone who attends the ceremony should be provided for at the reception.

I think your child free reception in this context is weird, since the kids will be there the whole weekend and you are holding it at a summer camp. Providing supervision is nice but it seems really unfriendly and odd to me. "Kids! Come pay attention to us during the part that bores you! And then piss off! Oh, but see ya tomorrow and we are all good again!" Hopefully your guests feel differently.

The reason this thing is so long and kludgey is as noted above- asking people to give up an entire weekend (and, it sounds like, their Monday so there goes one paid time off day) is unusual for no reason that reflects well on you.

Are you paying for all food and beverages and all the cabins for the whole time? You are the hosts for three days so that needs to be covered by you, with no effort on your guest's part. I have yet to see one of these where the guests weren't expected to work, but hopefully yours is different.

Your alternative to this RSVP is to default to attending/not attending and direct people to your website to make cabin reservations and whatnot.

southernbelle0915

So I think where you're struggling is that you're trying to convey information TO your guests. The RSVP card is meant to get information FROM your guests. A better place for this information would be an info insert. 

Unless I'm misunderstanding and you are making arrangements for and paying for everyone's cabin accommodations??

It's fine to have a kid free event. I did - wouldn't do it any other way. BUT, it's against etiquette to invite them to the ceremony and not the reception. This should cut down on the complicated aspect of multiple lines on your RSVP. 

lyndausvi

Are you paying for the cabins?

Anyway, I do not understand the " I want to bunk with" line.

I might want to bunk with so-no-so.  So-n-so might be all "fuck no I do not want to bunk with them"

MGP

Going to chime in and say this does not sound like a good idea. It is inappropriate to expect people (especially families) to give up a weekend for your wedding and then have a child free wedding on site. There is nothing wrong with a child free wedding but turning the kids away for just the reception makes you look rude and cheap.  **  ETA - turning guests of any age away from the reception is also wrong and also makes you look rude and cheap.  **  Either make the entire weekend and wedding child free or invite the kids. You cant have it both ways.

Additionally how are people paying for their bunks (I would rather poke my own eyes out than bunk with other people but to each his own). Because if the bunks are part of your venue fee then be prepared to cover the cost yourself. Having your guests put money towards this is essentially having them subsidize your wedding which is very rude on your part.

Sorry but this sounds like a disaster.

BrinkyDink16

I liked the layout @Rezlpsa suggested with things laid out vertically and a number of adults / number of children spot.  That way you'll automatically know how many for the reception since children won't be at the reception.  I enjoyed your wording though.  I thought it was cute and definitely gave it a fun vibe.

I wouldn't ask them who they want to bunk with though.  That could lead to some headaches if you can't make it work the way they want it.  You know your guests so you should be able to figure out the cabin arrangements just based on who responds.

southernbelle0915

Can people make their own sleeping arrangements? I foresee the following issues with you trying to manage this:

- Aunt A wants to bunk with herher adult kids. They do not want to bunk with Aunt A.
- Unless you are paying, getting money from people in the correct amount will be a huge pain and you'll probably be stuck with a big piece of the bill.
- people don't fill a cabin
- requests to change arrangements at the last minute
- not enough cabins to accommodate requests

Just....no. I would not even dip my toe into that messy pool. Plus if you just let people figure it our for themselves, your RSVP card will be a lot simpler.

NowIamMrsKlein

Is there an option for guests to choose NOT to bunk with other people?

Weddings are romantic events, lots of couples there, all to celebrate love and being in love. To end the night having to share a room with another couple, or another couple and a kid just seems really.... mood killing.. if you know what I mean?