So, I’m not sending invites out for quiet some time, I know that much. However, I’m curious how long you give guests to respond to the wedding invites? I’m probably sending out my invites sometime in June or July of next year, but what is the appropriate amount of time to give them to respond? My wedding is October 4th of next year and I’m just unsure of how long to give them to respond. Any suggestions for a cut off date for RSVPs?
I plan on giving about 4 weeks. Our count is due 30 days out so due date I'm thinking will be 45 days out. Time to hassle stragglers and maybe ask some people we would have wished to have if we get a lot of family "no" responses.
Thanks, my fiance and I are getting married in a backyard wedding at his parents house. So, I've been a little lost about the entire thing. I know I have a while to plan all this, but I'm kind of a person who if I don't start planning now it will never get done lol!
Mailed invites: 10 weeks out RSVP date: 5 weeks out Headcount to the florist for centerpieces: 4 weeks out Headcount to the venue for catering/booze: 2 weeks out
Daughter mailed 8 weeks prior (Wednesday before Thanksgiving) with RSVP 4.5 weeks later (Christmas Day). First numbers due 2 weeks prior (florist), final numbers for the venue/catering due 1 week prior. Even with the holidays, 8 weeks was plenty of time! Asking for numbers really early "because a bride likes to be organized" backfires more often that it helps. Invites sent really early get set aside and/or lost because it doesn't seem pressing to the guest and early RSVP dates likely result in more changes and no-shows because people can't always really know their schedule so early.
For that wedding date you would send out invitations no earlier than the last 2 weeks of July , so they arrive about 8-9 weeks before the wedding . It depends on your crowd, what date to set. Almost a quarter of our guests , at least 1 member or the couple or household worked a weekend day, regular schedule. And none of the medical facilities, stores, travel or realtor or grocery manager jobs gave permission for time off, officially, until 4 weeks in advance or less . So there was no point setting a reply date further out than 3 1/2 weeks, then having them call to cancel because they did not get their time off. If nobody's work, school or kids schedule matters on the weekend ( or weekday if you marry then) it would be nice to know 5 weeks out, a week to check on people who didn't reply, then tell venue tentative numbers. But if people work weekends or depend on some activity schedules, you likely have to set a date 3-3 1/2 weeks out
One month. So I am sending out on or before November 1. And I expect them back by Dec 1. For my January 17 wedding. (Gives me about 2 weeks to hunt down last minute RSVPs).
I sent out my invitations 3 months before the wedding. You want to send them far enough for them to make plans but not too far that they’ll forget about it. I set my rsvp date a month before the wedding date.
Agree with others here. Make your RSVP deadline one or two weeks before your headcount is due. Like many, you'll most likely have to track down people who don't respond by the deadline.
The "standard" timelines cut things so close in my opinion. I'm the type of person that needs things squared away before the last minute!
Our wedding was in August so we mailed the invites end of May so people could work it into their summer schedules (also, our save the dates were mailed mid-February). The RSVP deadline was 6 weeks later, which left another 6 weeks to hunt down missing responses (there were a lot of those...)
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Well, what places need headcounts? My venue is my in-laws and they said as long as we’re under 100 people they don’t care (which we are under 100 because I don’t want more than like 75 people if possible). So, what other places need headcounts since my venue obviously doesn’t need one?
Our caterer and pastry chef needed our final headcount so they could make enough food for cocktail hour, dinner, and dessert (we opted for a smaller cake and a dessert bar). Also, our headcount (and reception arrangement) was needed so the florist make enough centerpieces for the venue.
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Even with the wedding being in the backyard, you'll need to know how many people to expect when you purchase alcohol, rent chairs, plates, etc. Even though your parents said to keep it under 100 people, it is responsible to tell your parents whether they should order food for 45 people or 75 people.
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Alright, just one moment not to nitpick, but my parents aren’t the backyard we are using. It’s my in-laws house. Sorry, not to nitpick. Also, they are only providing the venue as well as some alcohol. We are having a bring your own beer because we have a few alcoholics in the family and are trying to limit what we have by having others just bring it. I’m aware of trying to know the number we need for chairs and tables, just wasn’t sure what else would need a head count. Thank you for the useful information though.
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Thanks! I’m not having a florist because I’m severely allergic to flowers, and our centerpieces are being made by a friend. I know some bakery’s do things differently and don’t necessarily ask for a headcount (I’ve run into two of them), but I want to provide one anyway now that I think about it so I’m not having them making this big cake for like 80 people when we are possibly only having 25 (we aren’t, but just to work with an example). I forgot all about the caterer! We actually weren’t going to have our wedding catered until recently when my in-laws pointed out we have no grills for our original idea of grilling hamburgers and such things.
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If she is set with everything, dishes, tables etc, and you have no rentals, then you may not have any deadlines. But if you are doing centerpiece, and renting linens and such, you may need 15 to 20 days notice for a rental company.
