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Snarky Brides
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What was your RSVP rate?
Today is my RSVP deadline--the "RSVP by" date on the RSVP cards. I've had a 50% response rate, and it really ticks me off. I expected some people would not RSVP via the card OR on time, but to spend so much money (between $100-150) on RSVP cards, pre-printed addressed (extra cost) RSVP envelopes, and even going the extra mile of putting postage there for them, too... UGGHH!
I understand that my peers who haven't done the wedding thing may not entirely realize how important it is to get the count accurate and in-advance for the caterer, and how many other things rely on this number as well, like number of centerpieces/flowers, linen rentals, favors, etc. And the lack of RSVPing was certainly higher among my friends than my family (but I STILL have family members who have not RSVP'd as well). Almost NONE of my friends RSVP'd. From several, I got the typical response of "I just haven't put it in the mail yet (which they still haven't done a week after asking them). The invitations went out a bit early (people expected them as our engagement was so long--over 2.5 years), so they've had 2.5 months to respond. I today even had to ask my bridal party individually if their +1's were coming even after specifically telling them I do need their RSVPs; obviously my bridesmaids/groomsmen are coming, but what about their S.O.'s?
The response of "I don't know if I'm working" annoyed me less than people who knew one way or the other and were just to lazy to write a checkmark and put the envelope in the mailbox. I understand people have jobs, but if you're waiting for your schedule less than a month out, I see how high up I am on list of priorities (not that I think my wedding is of great importance to other people or "the wedding of the decade"--but I'm supposedly their friend...a little courtesy? Do you even WANT to come? If not, just tell me no right off, whatever). You had 3 months to ask off work. I know, however, how bosses can be, so like I said, it didn't bother me as much, but still GRR!
So anyway, that is my rant, but primarily I am not posting to rant, but because I am curious if my 50% rate of RSVP differs from most or is this typical? ***What was your RSVP rate?***
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Re: What was your RSVP rate?
Now I've moved on to worrying about no-shows....
We made the date 4 weeks prior to the wedding, but our (terrible) caterer needs the count over 2 weeks in advance, so it gives me like a week and half to call 50% of the people invited.
I've actually had a lot of mail issues. I've had to send out several multiple times. I simply asked if they received them because I knew I had such issues happening. At LEAST 5 came back to me, and I had to send them again. Two others got lost in the mail, but it never came back. One of the checks sent to my coordinator took 7 WEEKS to get there (same small city); she received the second check before she received the first. I still have not contacted everyone, as I don't have their contact info beyond their address (or in some cases phone number they won't answer). Most simply forgot about it altogether and needed the reminder.
I didn't want to risk offending people if they had not received them at all by the RSVP date, so a few days before the RSVP date, I did begin contacting a few people just to see if they got them, since I had only received FIFTY PERCENT and altogether stopped receiving them weeks ago. I actually need all RSVPS by Tuesday next week, so I needed the extra time to contact everyone and give them time to decide if they're coming (and remember to ask off work if applicable). It has been several days since the RSVP date, granted it was a holiday weekend, and I still have not received even one additional RSVP card. What a waste of money on envelopes, stamps, preaddressing, and RSVP cards. I will have to call or email/Facebook every single person who as not RSVP'd, and I seriously doubt I will receive even one more RSVP card in the next week before the catering due date.
To simplify:
RSVP deadline: Aug. 30
Florist needs a fairly accurate count for # of centerpieces: Sept. 7
Caterer needs count: Sept. 10
Wedding: Sept. 28
Lucky! We've only invited 150 people including vendors we're feeding. We'll have probably 90-100 come. It's a week past the RSVP date, and I have still not received an RSVP card since weeks before the RSVP date (only 50% of cards returned). I've gotten some answers by hunting them down online, but I'm still waiting on 14 answers, and I have no way to get a hold of several of them. That's two tables' worth of people, and I'm supposed to pay the florist today. I could have anywhere from 10-12 tables/centerpieces/linens, and I need to figure this out within an hour. One word can sum this all up: RUDE!