RSVP by email or phone instead of by mail?

[InspiredBride]

I'm working on a very tight budget (cruise wedding) and have found some great ideas on this forum. For my STDs, I did DIY boarding passes which turned out nicely. Now, to cut costs, I'm thinking about doing a travel brochure as my invitation so that I can fit all necessary information (about passport requirements, boarding times, etc.). I was also thinking about simply providing our email addresses and phone numbers and asking guests to RSVP that way, instead of dealing with the formal RSVP cards. We've got about 70 guests coming and 32 of them have already booked their cruise.

Does anyone have any feedback on that idea? Or can anyone see any problems with not doing a standard invite with RSVP by mail card (other than breaking "normal" tradition?)?

 

Any input would be appreciated!

[August2010Bride]

I think the travel brochure invites would be great! As far as RSVP by email or phone, I think you should be fine, as long as you put a date to RSVP by. You will probably then have to follow up by telephone to be sure. I actually plan on people RSVP by phone or on our website.

[jennierin]

I actually did exactly what you are thinking of! I sent out DIY travel brochure invites. We included the week of travel, information of the resort, what was included and little extras. We also included the name of our TA and the cost of the trip. As far as the RSVP was concerned, we decided to have our guests RSVP to our wedding website. I think that it was a great idea and most of our guests that plan on coming LOVED it too! Besides, we like to think that going "green" was the most responsible way to do it.

[InspiredBride]

Thanks for the input. So Jenny, you sent out your invites already? That was my other issue...I sent out STDs and emails with cruise info but was going to wait until June to send out my invites. Otherwise I'm afraid people will lose them (and the information!).

I also have some questions about your website...

Also, it looks like you're using the Ewedding website. I'm using the same one, but can't figure out how to change my URL (the one I have is really complicated). And my other question is about the RSVP feature. Guests have gone on to RSVP for my cruise (not the ceremony since that is happening before we sail), but when I get the RSVP it only tells me how many guests are coming and not their names. Have you figured out a way to get their names to show up?

[August2010Bride]

Jenny, Do you have a pic of your invites...

I've heard of brochures for welcome bags.. but never as invites.. Its really a good idea..

 

Where did you get them? Did you DIY?

[InspiredBride]

I'm using VistaPrints. I read on other threads that they sometimes run promotions with free brochures, and that they're really good quality. So I'm hoping to get some ready for when they run the promotion. They've got pretty user friendly templates on there so you can just put your own info and customize however you want.

 

www.vistaprint.com

[August2010Bride]

Thanks.. These would be great as invites. I might do these as well.

[1elephant]

if i could do it again, i'd have people rsvp via our website. if a few technophobes needed to call instead, i'd be ok w/ phone calls. to me, it was a waste of stamps, esp. b/c tons of ppl never ever sent them back.

[InspiredBride]

That's good to know Lauren! Thanks for that feedback.

 

Also, I just ordered 250 FREE business cards, that I am using as "RSVP reminders" to go along with my travel brochure invitations. On the card it just says to remember to RSVP by July 31 on our website, and it gives our URL.

[Jen_S]

I would totally do the email or phone we sent out 80 invites with stamped envelopes for them to send back to us and we only got about 8 mailed back.