RSVP - big group confusion

schleich11

What is the best way to know exactly who is RSVPing to the wedding? For example, sending an invite to a family of five and they respond that four are coming, how do you know which four? We need names for place cards.  What is the most polite/simple way to do this? I would hate to have to end up calling everyone, we have a big family.

GardenMaven

I haven't done my invitations yet, but I have seen where people have put an appropriate number of lines for people to write out their name(s) followed by 'attending / not attending' check boxes.  (And then included food choices if not a buffet.)  Or some brides and/or grooms write out the guest's names on the RSVP card and then the guest can check the attending / not attending box.  That way it will be pretty clear which people are coming and which are not.

[Deleted User]

Calling is the easiest way to do this and the most direct.  Enlist your FI to help you.

mlg78

When they RSVP'd they didn't write who is coming on the card?  If they didn't (shame on them!), you'll have to contact them directly...

Kate61487

your RSVP card should have a space on it for the guests to write their names.  In most this is a "M__________________" line and your guests will only write the names of those attending.  If you want to do the individual lines/responses option that's fine, but I'd recommend having some printed with two lines, three lines, etc. b/c if you put an RSVP card with 5 lines into an envelope for a single guest they might start thinking they get lots of "+1s". 
If someone does write all 5 names and only marks 4 coming or lists one name and 2 coming that's when you call them up to clarify.  You really shouldn't have to do it for many. (I had 370 invited to our wedding and I had to call 1 to clarify and it was b/c she gave herself a date, not b/c she didn't mark it properly).

rintin10

I used a google doc form for my RSVP form, on the form I included a line that says "please list all names in the party". So they have to give me the names. The good thing about google docs is I can make that a required response so they have to list the names before they doc will let them save/submit it to me.