Response cards or Reply Postcards?

"Miss Manners... considers it an unfortunate concession that hosts even need to state that they would like a response (in sensible times, guests could figure that out for themselves), and finds it distasteful that they feel they must provide the response themselves, in the form of prestamped cards or a voice-mail drop. Especially since such techniques don't work. People who are not polite enough to answer invitations are still not going to answer, even if you lie down in front of them and beg them to kick you once for yes and twice for no."

--Judith Martin, Miss Manners' Guide to Domestic Tranquility, Chapter 7: Entertaining: The Social Contract, p.218

In other words--do whatever you want; I don't think it will have any effect on your response rate, and if it saves a little money, all the better.

Lol thanks Cabell!

*bump*

If you must, response postcards. they are cheaper since no response envelope to provide. But true, most wont come back. I had 220 response cards sent out with stamps already on them and only 68 came back, 112 called and some emailed to say they will/or not. The rest I had to call!! save yourself the hassle!

I think postcards are a great idea.

The postage is cheaper and I'm sure you can print them or have thme printed pretty

inexpensivly.

I'm with everyone else--postcards! I doubt I'm even doing that. Considering using the WW RSVP option and on the "response card" including our wedding website as well as phone numbers to call (for the FEW family/friends that are tech illiterate).

I'm doing a DIY kit from Michael's. Do you think I can turn the existing reply cards into postcards? Or do they need to be a specific postcard size.

NM found the answer to my question on USPS.com:

You may think that your mailpiece is a "postcard," because it is a single sheet of paper. But to qualify for mailing at the First-Class Mail postcard price, it must be:

* Rectangular

* At least 3-1/2 inches high x 5 inches long x 0.007 inch thick

* No more than 4-1/4 inches high x 6 inches long x 0.016 inches thick

I hadn't even thought about doing post cards but thats a really great idea. The postage for the original invite would be less, and less return postage, and they are really cheap to buy from vista. Thanks for the idea. I don't think its odd, I think its brilliant (and you can spin it that its good for the environement - less waste :-) )

@Irin997---I found a site that they are actual postcards I just get to design them however I want.

zazzle.com

Postcards will save you a some money on postage so that seems like good idea since like a few others have mentioned, LOTS of people don't bother to send them back.

We are doing a custom postcard that is really cute and bright. We are hoping that it will stand out in our guest's homes and they will be more inclined to send it back.

Whatever you do, be sure to mark numbers or something on the cards off a master list that matches numbers to names--that way if people don't put their name on the postcard, you still know who responded. (This can be a problem with all forms of reply cards; seems like it might happen more with postcards.)

Most of the brides in my area love the postcard RSVP. It saves money and time. If you choose a custom designer, you can have those addressed during printing, and personalized to your recipients, that way you don't have to do the number trick. The name of the family you sent to is printed right on the RSVP. Just a thought . . .

We did the post cards. they were nice. you only had to pay for the 20 cent stamps too so we saved a little bit of money there too

I'm doing the postcard...it's cheaper on postage. i ordered mine from vistaprint and got address labels to match - vistaprint is gonna break me i just know it!

Our invites (for the original date) were postcards. What I did to avoid people sending them back w/o their names on the card was write the recipient's name & return address in for them on the back of the card. It did take me an extra minute per card, but sooo worth it, since we had 2 come back without names.

I did postcards and LOVED them! (In fact @goskell @King Designs did them) They came out great, the postage was less and they gave it a different feel to the invite I was looking for. You do get some silly people, like my grandmother who return it in an envelope with another stamp on it...too cute! The ladies are right you often don't get many back...it's sad.

Response postcards are the hot new trend! With the cost of postage continuously increasing, why not save the extra pennies for decor or that designer gown?