Invitation Wording - Recommendations on how to reiterate that RSVP MUST happen in order to attend reception...

Are you doing an outer and inner envelope? This helps when specifying guests.

You can also do your RSVP line as:

The two (2) of us will be there! [check box here]

Sorry, we can't make it but send our love! [ check box here ]

That way, it's clear there are two seats (or however many) reserved for them. You can also do it simply:

RSVP:

Two Attending ______

Two Not Attending ______

Just include the number and everything should be smooth sailing.

Also, a tip I found on Pinterest, and I'm sure some ladies did it was to number the back of the RSVP card. This way when people write back with wretched handwriting, you still know who is RSVPing.

In my time on the forums, I have come to the conclusion that there is no way to make the RSVP process smooth. Two things are certain:

1. If you are limiting children and/or plus ones, you will have people RSVP for someone who is not invited.

2. Not everyone will get their RSVP returned to you in time. Since most of the brides on here seem to follow-up with non-RSVPs, I am not too familiar with the consequences of not doing so.

If you can come up with a way to make the RSVP process work the way it should, please let me know! Unfortunately, I think that you are going to have to join the club of people getting frustrated and stressed over the RSVP process.

There was a bride on here who wanted to not have any uninvited guests so her RSVPs listed out the invited:

Jon Smith [ ] beef [ ] chicken [ ] not attending

Jane Smith [ ] beef [ ] chicken [ ] not attending

and I think she still have an RSVP where they wrote in an additional guest! People are rude like that! It could help with the first problem I listed, but the 2nd problem is much more difficult.

Do you have a website? I think if you put it on there too it may help. maybe a "friend" can start a chat in your guest book or a questions and answers area. Or you could just post I have been asked several times about plus ones and want to let everyone know that although we would have liked to invite the world we could not. Our venue limits us to a certian number of people and we have to be below that number or we would have to turn people away at the door. So that is why we have RSVP's so we can get the numbers correct, please everyone send them back into us.

Getting your RSVPs back is going to be a hassle, no matter how you slice it. Luckily for me no one RSVPd with an uninvited plus-ones, but MOG did ask if certain people could bring someone.

If/When you don't hear from people, someone is going to have to call them and ask them what's up. I know it sounds like a hassle, but if they sent back their (yes) RSVP and it got lost in the mail and you assumed they weren't coming, you're the one that's going to look like a jerk when they show up and you don't have a plate for them.

If you have a strict guest limit, I STRONGLY suggest inviting only that number of people. Odds are, some people will say no, but there is no hard-and-fast number or percentage. If you want to invite more, you should make an A list and a B list and invite people from the B list as "no" roll in from the A list.

I had very, very few "no" RSVPs. Luckily, we didn't go over our limit, but if I had it to do over, I would definitely just do the A/B list.

I added a helpful information tab to my website and included this

RSVP

A guest’s first duty is to respond promptly to any wedding invitation that includes an RSVP request or reply card. Check your schedule and consult with anyone else included in your invitation, then make your response as soon as you can.

When the invitation is addressed to you “and guest,” you must decide if you want to bring someone and let the host know. If you reply for yourself, don’t show up at the wedding with a date or companion, and please do not bring along anyone that was not invited as the venue does not have room to accommodate more people.

Cancellations

If something unforeseen happens and you cannot attend a wedding after you’ve accepted the invitation, you should call the hosts immediately. Alerting them will save the burden of financial expenses as well as give them time to alert their vendors.

There are excellent suggestions on here (I have an FAQ page, first question is "Do I have to RSVP?") But no matter the best laid plans, you will likely still need to hunt some people down, call if they RSVP for too many, etc.

My FH and I are thinking about sending out an invitation with the venue name only city and state. Then stating "Once you've RSVP'ed you'll be receiving a packet of information on hotel, car, plane and other important information. This would include "savings on rooms, flights.. ect " There for we save on postage and I get a RSVP list.

Tabatha -- there was another bride on here a while back who did that...well, she only put the city, state on the invite. She wasn't even giving out the venue Sadly, I don't think she updated us on how that went for her.

Wait, so you guys who are suggesting putting the name of the people on the rsvp or even the number in their party, do you do all different RSVP cards then, customized to each person?

I like the name idea. I've seen RSVPs where they say we have reserved __ seats, and then before sending out the invite, they write in 2 or whatever. So, I'm assuming the name would be written in. I love this idea.

I am putting the names of those invited on the RSVP card that way they know exactly who I am inviting.