Invitation & RSVP timeline input

Sp2012

Here's my plan:
Jan 16th - food tasting, finalize the menu
Feb 1st - send out invitations, at 2 months plus a couple days out
Feb 19th - room block with wedding rate ends & rooms are released, this is 45 days out
March 5th - RSVP due, 1 month out
April 2 - final headcount due 3 days prior
April 5 - wedding!

We've sent out save the dates with out website info, and maybe 15 or so guests have gone on, this accounts for 30-40 guests and we expect +/- 100. The website details accomodations & the cutoff date.

* Should I make the RSVP date early to coincide with the Feb 19th room cutoff date, or just leave it as a separate issue and remind people word of mouth and hope they see it on the website?  If we do the Feb 19th date, this potentially allows us to invite additional friends at 6 weeks out.   (I know B list is frowned upon here) I'm checking to see if the hotel would extend the cutoff date for rooms.

*To get invitations out with entree options will be tight since there is only 2 weeks between food tasting & ideal mailing date to order and get invitations ready to mail.  One option is just send invitations a little earlier without entree choice and then we'd contact each guest after RSVP, or put it on our website.  Or I could order invitations with options and mail as soon as possible, but could be a little later than planned, but hopefully guests will have started to make travel plans based on the save the date & website and not wait till the actual invitation to do so!

Thanks for your input!

jessj336

I am getting married on April 5th too!! We are planning on sending out invitations at the end of January and giving everyone about 5-6weeks to RSVP. We did a tentative RSVP with our STDs so we have a pretty good idea of the number attending already.

jackcody

Even though guests have the save the dates, I would recommend allowing a little more time between when you mail invites and when you would like an RSVP--maybe beginning/middle of Jan? Are the entree options different preparations or different meats? If just different preparations, could you put the meat selection on your invites before the tastings?

My experiences and the experiences of others would say that it's also a good idea to put everything in writing at least two ways...by mail, email, website (repeat if necessary).  I'd recommend sharing your hotel info and other things that they need to do in more than one method.  

Good luck. Everything will work out 

Tanq&Tonic

I would recommend:
Mail invitations Feb 1 as planned
RSVP due March 12

That still gives you 2 weeks to chase people before final counts are due, and gives people a full 6 weeks to make their plans.  Let people know by word of mouth that the hotel block rate ends early.  They will make their plans at their own pace, and there's no need to manage their time for them by making your RSVP the same date as your hotel block expiration.

As for the menu, you could always print RSVPs with just the protein option and say "additional details on preparations at www.ourwebsite.com" at the bottom of the RSVP card.  That way, if they really care, they can just check online.