STD wording to "encourage" guests to book a.s.a.p.?

I know I've read some suggestions somewhere on here, but I couldn't find them - so I thought I'd start a separate thread.

 

I want to encourage people to book their travel a.s.a.p. - what is the best way to word that on the STD without coming across as rude?

 

What have some of you ladies done?

I think the website is the best way to do that. You can take up a whole web page just to reiterate how they need to book asap. That way your STD's don't look all cluttered and overwhelming.

 

On our website I put something like "Dreams books to capacity almost 100% of the time. Book as soon as you can. We would hate for you to miss out on all the fun!"

Since I am staying at Dreams PV - I may just copy/paste that right in! That's what I was trying to avoid - the STDs being cluttered. I just have this fear that no one will look at the website!

I feared the same thing but everyone has looked at the website several times - i feel bad that I haven't added anything new to it! I found it helpful to have them enter their email in order to access the site so that I know who is going on and when - its cool to know who is super excited and who hasn't even checked it out!

I did the same thing Sarah. There are some people that are seriously on my website every day, and then there are many many other who have never visited.
I agree that directing your guests to a website is the best way to share info. I post updates on my welcome page in bold letter so if people actually do make it to the website they know immediately what is new.
I wish I could have put more on the STD for the computer illiterate, but I just didn't want the clutter. I also have decided that it does not matter what you do, people will wait until the last possible second to do anything, and that will only be after 5 emails and 3 phone calls at a minimum!

Ann, We sent out Magnets that just said the date and then for more information check our website and gave the name. Then in the envelopes we printed on card stock and this is what we wrote...

 

hello name,

We set a date, June 22, 2007! We have also created a website, gave website info, which outlines all of our wedding details. Please RSVP, on the website, by December 22, 2006. We hope to see you in Mexico.

 

Love, Natalie & Lance

 

 

Then we sent out X-Mas cards first week of December and I also slipped in a note that reminded everyone that if they would like to join us with the discounted rate we have reservevd they need to RSVP to our website and call Tammy and we gave them her phone number again. by December 22, 2007. We pretty much made it sound like that if you didn't book by the 22nd you loose out big time! We have to release our first set of room blocks in a couple of weeks so we needed to see how many people were coming.

 

Then we sent out emails to everyone that hadn't responded yes or no on our website just giving them the heads up!

 

I have to say it has worked out really well. We invited 200 people and now we know that we have 82 people coming. And most of them have contacted Tammy and reserved there rooms! Also as of right now we have no one staying off of the resort. So that is even better! But then again we didn't give anyone other choices in Hotels. If we ended up having people stay off of the resort we were just going to pay the fee for the wedding day.

Wow, great info., Natalie - especially since you and I are on about the same timeline. Well, you're way ahead of me - I haven't sent my STDs out yet, but they're going out this week! I'd like to do the same thing - get them to book, and RSVP so we get a much better idea of who is coming. And I am all paranoid about losing $ or rooms because people take too long too book. I guess we'll just have to pester people!

 

Thanks for the info. - very helpful!

We just sent the STD's out with the website on it. People were surprised they received them so early, but my response is that I want to make sure they book early to get the best prices and to give them plenty of time to get a passport!

Natalie - You set the RSVP deadline for 12/22, so 6 months before the wedding? I want to set it that early too, but didn't know how soon was too soon.

 

Actually, I'd like people to have to say yes/no by tomorrow, but since the STD's aren't out yet I guess that won't happen.

i have to say, i was pretty impressed with natalie and her guest-control.

 

they were calling and emaling right away to book their room...there were times i had 3 of her guests calling at once.