Is it required to have reception cards and RSVP cards?

Of course not! I put "Reception to follow" at the bottom of my invitation. I think that if the reception was in a separate location, it might be handy to have a different card with directions or whatnot. I definitely recommend at least doing an RSVP card so that you can get some indication of who will come. I did not use the cards that required guests to mail them back because I knew it would never happen, so I included a small card with our wedding website and a phone number for guests to RSVP.

Reception cards are if you are having the ceremony and the reception at 2 different locations. You usually have the church address on the Invite, and the Reception address and start time on the Reception card.

If you are getting married at the same venue as your reception, it usually just says "reception to follow" at the bottom of the invite.

RSVP cards are needed so people can tell you if they are coming or not and HOW you want them to notify you. You will need a head count so you know how much food and how many chairs you will need.

Mailing them back isn't required, you can do on-line rsvp's.

Thats what I was thinking for them to RSVP online on the wedding website also. I was going to have RSVP cards also for people like my grandparents etc who dont use computers. I was go put the reception location on the wedding program with directions

The only problem with reception directions on the wedding program is for those that skip the ceremony and go to the hall. just something to think about.

You can have a reception card and info card all in one if money is tight, have the hotel block info, a map, and the reception location, and wedding website all on the same card.

I was go make maps seperately and just have the reception info on the program. I was go do a two sided card also which I should do anyway.

I axed the RSVP card and put "RSVP at ***************@*****.*** or 555-666-4444" at the bottom of the reception card. I know my lazy arse family wouldn't send the cards back anyway. I'm actually about 90% certain I'll end up calling everybody to get their RSVP at the end of the day so I didn't even bother going out of my way on that front.

I was going to combine my recpetion card with the invite but its just to much and looks messy.. so if you have 2 different location a reception card is needed.

This is what I did but I know I wont recieve half back because like Crapskate_Nik said my family is lazy. This is just a rough draft

I'm doing the same as Nik...I just don't want to have to spend extra money on postage that people are not going to use.

We'll have 3 options for rsvp, we set up a google number that rings on both of our phones, so they can call or text and we have a wedding email plus our wedding website. I already know they wouldn't send rsvp cards back

My only suggestion is to be careful about the rsvp and the reception card being on the same card.... If they DO mail back the rsvp, they no longer will have the reception hall info.

That is why I suggested the reception card be on the same card as the info card, because they keep that one.

Did you have any luck adding the damask pattern?

It sounds like doing rsvp cards wih info of how to respond would be more effective and less costly....I was also wondering if a reception card is required, I want the reception card to be seperate for mine because I am trying to figure out a way to say "no kids"..and I didnt want that on the invite.....

@ mychal - to say "no Kids" you can have the words "Adult reception" on the card.

You can address the inner envelope to the adult names only. You can write their names on the rsvp card so they know only the adults are invited. You can add the line

"We have saved ____ seats in your honor" and fill in the blank for each rsvp so they know it is No kids.

@ Hayley Yes I did have luck on the pattern I will try to post today. I did it like that and I will also have the reception info at the end of the programs.

Like stated above a Reception card is only necessary if the reception is at a different location. I'm only doing a postage paid RSVP card for the older guest that aren't computer savvy. But for the others they can RSVP on our website and on pre-paid cell phone. I might even have a wedding email address for just RSVP as well.