Can I get away with doing informal RSVPs?

crossje

My fiance and I are having a very small, immediate family only wedding next June followed by a dessert reception for all our family and friends.  I've seen invitations that request RSVPs be made my email or text...is that too tacky?  I keep going back and forth on this...since we want our celebration to be less formal than traditional weddings maybe it would be ok?  How would I handle grandparents and other family and friends who don't have a computer or know how to text?  Help!

hshertenlieb

I gave email as an option on our RSVPs.... I just asked they respond with WEDDING RSVP in the subject. 

ThankfulSnail

I personally prefer if there is an email option to RSVP, so I think it's just fine. Just make sure there's a phone number to call for older guests who won't email or text.

vbjoanna

We used a wedding website (from the Knot's partner website, The Wedding Channel) to provide our wedding details, and our print invitations directed guests there to RSVP. You might need two sites, however -- one for the wedding and one for the dessert reception so that it's clear to the reception attendees that they won't be witnessing the wedding ceremony itself (the site doesn't seem to let you customize its automatic email notifications or to select subsets of guests to email, as nearly as I could tell, but I didn't work very hard at it....). The site then tracks the RSVPs and emails you when one comes in -- very handy. For older guests, you might (also) send a written invitation that requests RSVP by phone, mail or email (providing the details, of course). We sent an electronic save the date using The Wedding Channel's autmoatic system, and used Vistaprint for our print invitations -- we selected just a simple 5x7 card in a matching envelope.

ootmother2

For those not familiar with computers, there's always the original way of reply.

They sit down with their best stationery and write

Mr. and Mrs.Smith
accept with pleasure
the kind invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Jones
for Saturday, the tenty of June


works every time

Ali092011

I agree with PPs. I would say "To RSVP, call or text 123-456-7891 or e-mail crossje@wedding.com." Anyone who's not technologically inclined can call you. I think it sounds fine for the type of wedding you're planning.

However, I guess my advice changes if the majority of your guests don't text or use the Internet. If you're talking two guests out of fifty, your idea is fine, but if both sets of grandparents and several older family friends don't go online, I'd rethink the idea.

jessicabessica

I would make a separate email account for it (maybe both your names, or something like that).  I think it's a little tacky to tell your guests what subject line they need to put.  I would offer the option of email or calling.  If you are not ok with people calling you to RSVP, then you should do an alternate method.  

I would probably not have texting as an option.  That, to me, makes it seem much less serious.  People might text "yes" but not take the commitment seriously if something more exciting for that night came along.