Getting guests to RSVP and book

[MsSmithtobe]

So I'm a planner. My wedding is in March and I sent my invites and RSVP cards out in August. I figured that would give everyone enough time to get their money together.  I sent out 112 invites (60 +guests) so far only 25 pp RSVP but 12 of those are the wedding party and their guests.  The RSVP deadline is Oct 15th, 3 weeks away. I just want to have a good headcount for budgeting purposes. I emailed them to remind them and that got about 4 RSVPs. What are people waiting for?  So far no one has booked their room or flight.  I am getting married in 5 months.  Is this normal and I am just crazy because this is supposed to be the most important day of my life?  I'm getting a little antsy because for most things I need a head count.

[jenrick]

I feel your pain! LOL!!  I'm getting married in April and only a 2  have booked.  It's not going to be a huge group, but I keep getting "We're going to", "We are looking foward to it", or "We can't wait" from the other people.  BUT these same people haven't booked yet.  We're taking a cruise and getting off the boat and getting married on the beach in Antigua.  I want to plan some sort of island tour after the ceremony with the whole group and it's hard to plan and get a price from people when you can't tell them how many are going.  I'm a real planner also, I like everything figured out in advance and ready to go.  I started planning my cruise this past May and booked mine in June so I could start paying on it.  Good Luck!!

[lisanicole]

I sent out 110 save the dates. I am getting married 11/12/10. It was my experience that all the people that were actually going to come RSVP and booked right away. All of those who kept saying they were coming but not booking never booked. Maybe 5 people booked recently. Everyone else that is actually coming booked within a month of my mailing.  I have 67 people booked and am happy with that number. 

[L&J]

I need to agree with Lisanicole. Everyone that said yes RSVPed really quickly and booked the hotel.  I'm 1 week from my final RSVP date and I think only 1 or 2 people that haven't RSVPed yet will be Yes's. Pretty much everyone who was on the fence is a no. 

[josietoms]

I know it was slightly different for me as we are coming from the UK so it is a bigger expense but when we said where we were going to Mexico everyone was like 'i will def be coming' etc - those are the same people than never booked and had no intention of coming.  Those who RSVP first will be the ones who definately come the others probably wont come or may do at the last minute. x  

[MsSmithtobe]

If you guys are right, it will be us, our parents and our wedding party and their guests. lol.  So hopefully I have some procrastinators lol.  I don't mind if they tell me no, I would actually appreciate it lol.

[mochamakes3]

You have me worried that I'm dragging my feet. Our STD just went out last week and we're getting married in April. We already have one couple booked, and we haven't even reserved our room or flights. I've only booked the wedding ceremony.

[sweetluna]

I'm getting married on Nov. 12th.  We sent out the save the dates last Sept to give family & friend lots of notice.  The date for the deposit down was supposed to be the 1st of Feb so we could get a group rate.  Unfortunately, like your guests, a bunch of people didn't even RSVP and we lost our group rate.  I got very upset and explained to those who didn't RSVP how it affects the budgeting for a DW.  (none of my guests had experienced a DW)  Even after "educating" some of my guests, it didn't help.  As it is, I had 2 people book just this past week and we're less than 2 months away from the wedding now.  (I have 26 total coming)

I will tell you that last month I had to put in my order for my custom favours and emailed the guests who were telling me "I yeah, I'll be there" but hadn't put down a deposit yet and gave them one last due date.  I told them that if they didn't get back to me with their flight confirmations then I was going to consider them as not coming and therefore not planning to have favours and whatnot for them. (they were still invited to attend but couldn't expect that we would have gifts for them)  I didn't want to sound mean but it wasn't fair that I couldn't budget or plan because I didn't have a confirmed guest list.

 

It is very frustrating but nicely put your foot down with your guests but do what you can to be flexible too. 

[sunstarsmoon]

I think alot of people wait for any last minute deals that they can find.  Very frustrating as to be able to plan OOT bags etc, you need a head count.

[Teira1031]

Mochamakes3 - don't stress I'm also an April bride an my STDs just went out also. I'm worried about people not booking either though, nobody has really asked me for the TA info and it sounds like a lot of people want to wait for their tax refund to pay but hello that's like a month before the wedding! I'm so stressed and overwhelmed. Not to mention FMIL told FI yesterday that FFIL might now go to the wedding now and FIs brother is already not going. I feel horrible the majority of the people going are my friends and family and FI only has like 4 people coming