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Caren
Beginner October 2022

Online rsvp

Caren, on August 30, 2021 at 4:51 PM Posted in Planning 1 14

Hi everyone,


Has anyone used any online websites where your guests can RSVP for your wedding?

Just thinking budget-wise, my fiance and I were planning on taking engagement photos and using those photos for our save the dates. However, we wanted to save some money and not order 125+ for save the dates PLUS the invitations that I know could add up. I was thinking of sending our save the dates along with our website where our guests can RSVP there. OR should I skip the save the dates and just go with formal invitations where I would then add our website?

Any suggestions? Or has anyone done this before and could offer me some advice, please?

14 Comments

Latest activity by Jessyca, on August 31, 2021 at 3:10 PM
  • B
    VIP July 2017
    Becky ·
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    Save the dates are generally unnecessary unless you have a lot of people travelling, so if you skip those, you'll save quite a lot.

    Then, you can order nice invitations when the time comes and indicate where you want people to RSVP on a details card. A lot of people use online RSVPs (though we didn't) and seem to find it reasonably easy.

    Two more (unasked for) points:

    1 - remember you only need 1 STD/invitation per family (a lot of people make this error and order one per person)
    2 - *very important* - ONLY send STDs to people who you are 100% sure you're going to want at the wedding - once you send the STD you MUST invite them (and a lot of people here have this problem too)

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  • Jasmine S.
    VIP May 2022
    Jasmine S. ·
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    People don't RSVP to a save-the-date because those are usually sent further in advance. People won't know their plans 6 to 12 months out. But you can definitely give the website with your invitations and have people RSVP online, instead of making them mail back reply cards. That's what I plan on doing.
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  • Caren
    Beginner October 2022
    Caren ·
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    THANK YOU!

    Additional questions- did you ask for all your guest's addresses in order to send them their invitations?

    How did you word it on your invitations for your guests to know they can RSVP on your wedding website?

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  • Jessyca
    Dedicated September 2021
    Jessyca ·
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    We sent out evites as our save the dates that had some engagement photos on them. Evites are great because i spent maybe $50 for like 150 save the dates.

    The cool thing about evite is that there are so many tools that can be added on - like rsvp tracker, address request, even meal choices.

    I also know that Zola has websites, and has a guest list manager with a "super link" that can be sent via email to collect addresses and other info. I am using Zola for our website and the RSVP collection on there is also great because you can collect for multiple events, meal preferences, etc.

    Last point I'd like to throw out is that generally, people dont RSVP to save the dates, i would only recommend sending if there is travel involved (ours is a "destination" wedding - requiring most guests to drive 3+ hours and stay the night in a hotel) as a way for guests to be prepared to mark their calendars and make travel arrangements.

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  • Yasmine
    Master October 2020
    Yasmine ·
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    We did save the date magnets originally. We mailed them then we had to end up postponing the big wedding due to Covid. The second time we did electronic RSVPs.


    We sent our formal invitations for our upcoming reception and included our wedding website for Zola. For the most part, everyone was easily able to RSVP online. There were a few older people who had problems, but I think age was the problem lol. We love Zola!
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  • Caren
    Beginner October 2022
    Caren ·
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    So my wedding is on a Thursday- which is kind of a odd day for people especially those who have to go back to work the next day. So do you think it’s necessary to send out save the dates?
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  • Michelle
    Rockstar December 2022
    Michelle ·
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    You definitely need to send save the dates 6-12 months ahead regardless of your situation. If cost is a concern, a phone call has been the tried and true method for many many decades since your great-grandparents’ time and doesn’t cost anything. Or they can stick a magnet on the fridge. They often say “formal invitation to follow” and they can’t be revoked so make sure your guest list is finalized before they are sent.


    Then send invites at the standard 6-8 weeks before the wedding with replies due at 3-4 weeks. Employers don’t give final schedules including time off requested before 4 weeks anyway.
    Give them a variety of reply options: phone/text, email, paper reply card or online. You can use Rsvpify.com or Withjoy.com for the online reply collection with customization and it costs nothing. Much easier to use TheKnot and other sites.
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  • Alejandra
    Super November 2021
    Alejandra ·
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    We had to send out save the dates twice because our wedding got pushed back. About half of our guests are from out of town, so it made more sense for us to send them both times. The first time around, I made some through Walgreen's and they came out lovely! Very affordable. The second time around I got some post card save the dates through Etsy and those were very affordable too. We are doing paper and online RSVPs to give people choices with what they are most comfortable with, and I don't think the added expense for paper RSVPs was outrageous, but depending on where you buy them it can be a huge added expense.

    If the majority of your guests are local, you can probably skip the save the dates, though its still helpful to send out just in case. We made our wedding website through Wedding Wire and are using it to RSVP online. We added our wedding website link to the "Accommodations" information sheet with our invitations.

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  • Chloe
    Devoted February 2022
    Chloe ·
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    We sent our normal STDs, but they were very sleek and clean - the invites will be the same, just a "you're invited, please visit our website to RSVP and for more info" kind of invitations. We were able to save a lot of money that way, especially by leaving out the pre-stamped answer cards that everyone forgets about anyway.
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  • Caren
    Beginner October 2022
    Caren ·
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    Omg that’s exactly what I wanted to do!! Is it okay if I message you privately?
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  • Chloe
    Devoted February 2022
    Chloe ·
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    Of course, go ahead!
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  • Jennifer
    Savvy August 2021
    Jennifer ·
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    I used theknot.com and it was free easy perfect!
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  • Jennifer
    Savvy August 2021
    Jennifer ·
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    Also, I did formal invitations and save the dates- but did not include rsvps
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  • Jessyca
    Dedicated September 2021
    Jessyca ·
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    I would send them out - having a non-weekend wedding is definitely something that will require guests make arrangements - whether it be taking off work, leaving work early or showing up to work late, or organizing a babysitter if kid arent invited.

    I'd say previous posters are correct in that 6-12 months is the appropriate timing for sending them out, however, I would say 6-4 months is plenty of time if your guests are local and the only arrangements they need to make involve shifting their work schedule. I would also reach out to those who are not local sooner than the locals - maybe 8-6 months so they can book flights/hotels.

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