not doing reply cards/ rsvp?s

HisCB · March 2010

so we are contemplating NOT doing any reply cards.

we have plenty of space so we are able to invite everyone we want to have there and do buffet style food so exact rsvp #s arent important,

i would like somewhat of a ballpark # though, is there a good way to ask for rsvp without the reply cards?

banana468 · March 2010

You can just indicate that guests need to respond by a certain date.

THEY then get to pick how they respond. Technically that's actually better than the use of response cards.

Francesvm · March 2010

You could set up an online site where they rsvp...I believe The Knot has a way you can do this although I'm not the person to ask on that specifically...I see it on other knotties posts though as to how many they invited, how many responded and how many have yet to respond.

janedoe1113a · March 2010

Your caterer (whether you're doing a buffet or not) is going to want as exact as a response as possible. He's going to order more food that what you need to feed that many people, but what happens if ever more people show up.

Also, don't you need to know how many are coming so you can have enough chairs and tables set up.

I think not asking everyone to RSVP is going to be more hassle than it's worth.

Melgor78 · March 2010

On the invite or reception card you could ask them to rsvp by phone or e-mail. Or though a website but I would at least have a phone number for thoses who don't have internet access.

AlannaF · March 2010

If you do not supply a response card, guests should reply to your invitation by sending a response on their own stationery. At the very least, they should call. But that's in an ideal world. You will still have to contact people if you want a good estimate. Honestly, it seems most brides find it easier to just include a response card, although I have heard that the percentage of guests who actually send them back is not as high as one would expect.

I didn't do reply cards either. But I had several issues going in my favor- 1) My family is the type to pull out the stationery and respond --though I have learned that this is a dying art, apparently. 2) I am inviting only our closest friends and relatives, so I know most of them will be in attendance. I will have to call any guests I am unsure of,. As long as you don't mind doing that, go for it. My family would have been offended at the reply cards, thinking that I assumed they wouldn't know to properly respond to an invitation.

Also keep in mind that by not doing reply cards, you will not know about some possible unexpected/uninvited guests, so if you are doing placecards, etc., you may encounter issues. Hope that helps.

ManyPenguins · March 2010

Phone or email as PPs have said....though it might end up just being easier to do the cards. It depends a little bit on how many people you're inviting to begin with. If you choose to have people call to RSVP....how many calls is that going to involve? Are you going to be able to handle the volume? Do you have a friend or family member that is willing to field that many calls for you? Also, if there's no RSVP, that means no seating chart.

Why is it that you're considering not doing cards? It's not unreasonable to ask people to let you know they're coming. It's great that you have the space and are willing to accomidate as many people as want to come, but I would personally stress out way more if I didn't know ahead of time how many to plan for....so I would definitely ask for some form of response.

smcclain9986 · March 2010

I disagree that it will be more haslle than it's worth. I

I'm not doing replies either. I invited 200 and am planning for that many. Just having cake and punch at an afternoon reception (a dying tradition) so no need to pay all the extra for postage and reply cards. To me that is more trouble than it's worth. If you want to plan for how many you invited and not have the headache/extra expense I say go for it!

smcclain9986 · March 2010

Not to mention the fact that skipping the paper replies is "going green."

abbygrace8 · March 2010

Have any of yall read the Miss Manner's Guide to a Surprisingly Dignified Wedding? she said the use of response cards is borderline insulting. i'm taking her cue, especially since we don't have the money to waste on response cards that half the people won't send back anyways.

going on that principle, would it be rude to include an email address for RSVPs? if people want to send a written response, our return address will be on the envelope.

HisCB · March 2010

as for seating chart, we arent doing one, we will have enough seats for everyone invited. as for caterer, were not having one, we will just provide enough food for everyone invited, buffet style.

i like that it will be more affordable, in postage, both ways included in invite and to prestamp all the cards, when i likely wont get half of them back anyway.

our invitation kit came with reply cards, i plan to use them as thank yous instead, id like them to match and the invites were on clearance, no "thank yous" to match.

not doing reply cards/ rsvp?s

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