had to share!! RSVPs idea w/ no postage!!

LCW2LCO

Hey Ladies!

The FI and I just decided on our 'alternative' way to do our RSVP's. We had thought about doing them through theknot.com but then remembered people didn't have internet... then were going to do it the traditional way... but realized we didn't want to pay for the postage which sometimes gets thrown away... SO, our choice was...

We will be purchasing a pre-paid phone from Target, loading it up with some minutes and including the number on our Invitations. We will say something like:

"Thank you for calling FI and Lauren's RSVP line! We are getting anxious for the big day! Please after the tone leave the name of guests attending followed by their meal choice. Thank you and we hope to see you on Saturday, October 8th"

Rather than paying the over $130 postage, this will cost us around $15 in the end.

A cheap/alternative/easy way to do RSVP's. We will also be looking into if the phone accepts texting and how that works - since some people prefer to text too.

Just thought I would share!

Steph0871

That is a creative idea!  I think it'll help people who might not be comfortable with email, too.  I didn't realize they were so cheap to get a pre-paid phone either.

Just a word of caution, though...Have you thought about doing at least a few traditional RSVP cards? At least for grandparents, etc. Or do you know they'll be ok with doing it 'electronically' with a voicemail message?  aaand are you ok with people adding guests to the invitation? That'd be my only concern.   If so, awesome.  If not, just be prepared to call a few people back to follow up (which we all have to do anyway... definitely not my favorite part of wedding planning.)

LCW2LCO

Our grandparents aren't too traditional at all. Pretty hip actually! I think they'll prefer this route - heck they're on facebook! haha.

We have a portion of our invite that says "We hope you ___________ (and __________ - if their spouse/guest was invited) will help us celebrate our big day!" so I hope it's implied that no one can add to the list. Good catch tho!

FutureMrsSheeler

Very creative, I've never heard of that before, but great way to save money!

debbieupper

You might consider also offering an email RSVP option, as some people aren't comfortable leaving messages. Sounds weird, but it's really true. If given the option, I would send an email in a heartbeat over leaving a message.

Very creative! I hope it works out well.

shan87

I would do this, but I hate listening to VMs LoL

LCW2LCO

@debbieupper - we are doing our own email address too through Gmail for those that don't like calling. Culture/people are getting less and less personable/confrontational by the day! Lol... but very true.

Thanks ladies! My family and my FI's are very non-traditional... they get us - we aren't super traditional but will be having some traditional, classic aspects of the ceremony. my opinion is it's our wedding... people can just live with what we decide to do - no sense pleasing everyone. (but yes, we are taking opinions from parents etc... and making them happy too).

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_share-rsvps-idea-w-postage?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:81Discussion:31213036-8511-4798-9f20-4cc3e166a1e6Post:a52538e9-afa4-4099-b935-6256ae1599e0">Re: had to share!! RSVPs idea w/ no postage!!</a>:
[QUOTE]I would do this, but I hate listening to VMs LoL
Posted by shan87[/QUOTE]

LOL this.  I only ever check my voicemail to get the stupid icon off of my phone.  But I wish I had an answering machine instead, or that people would text instead of leave VM on my personal cell phone.  :)  And at work I prefer email to vm  :)

Anywho in re: to the OP that is a neat idea though, how many guests are you inviting?  I did think about putting a good old fashion "RSVP to (555) My Phone number" because it would just make things easier in regards to being able to get people's meal choices, letting them know where it is or answering any questions etc.  but I was worried that too many people would squabble over it since it's not traditional.  Let us know how it goes!!

LCW2LCO

We have around 275 people invited - couples included... so with that, postage was going to be getting steep. We're hoping this will be okay this way. Then when we get around to checking the VM's we can since it'll be on another phone with a different number specific to the wedding.

We will also have some info for guests on the answering machine too! I hope it works! We will let you all know!

[Deleted User]

Ooh that's a neat idea too with the Outgoing message.   

Bimbi284

Oooh awesome idea!! Saves sooo much hassle with inserts and figuring out the layouts and the huge headache involved with creating the damn RSVP cards...you can tell that was my FAVE part of planning, lol.