Early RSVP and deposits

[Backy]

I am surprised you ladies have the rsvp date so close to the wedding. Mine is next year April, and i am trying to get my guests to rsvp by next months, 9 months before wedding. first, i want to know how many people for reception/ catamarian cruise purposes ( i need to choose either depend on how many guests), then, I am scared if they don't reserve now, the price will go up especially for both flights and hotel, I don't want my guests to pay more than they have to. Third, after the guests reserves, I can finally get ready and prepare the DIY boarding pass mail invitation. But, true, I know some guests can't make the decision until a lot closer to the wedding date, i understand that. But i wish the majority of people would respond.

[Jessica Correa]

I want some time to plan things for the wedding too. My wedding day is June 28th and I said to RSVP by January 31st. This gives me about 4 or 5 months so I can get things together and done for my guests and it also guarantees that everyone gets a room at the resort.

[zeman321]

Originally Posted by Jessica Correa 

 

I want some time to plan things for the wedding too. My wedding day is June 28th and I said to RSVP by January 31st. This gives me about 4 or 5 months so I can get things together and done for my guests and it also guarantees that everyone gets a room at the resort.

We are getting ready to send out STD's. Did you all send any kind of travel or TA info with yours? Our guests can actually book now with a $125 deposit and final payment isn't due until Sept. 1, 2014 for an Oct. 25,2014 wedding. I would like to get that info out there for the people that need to make payments...would it be too tacky to send travel info with STD's?

[Recy]

Thanks for all the feedback. Unfortunately, after following up with people almost no one is coming now including my two maids of honor. Now i'm worried about even having enough for the group rate... 

Dag. sorry to hear. How many people do u need for a group rate?

[Recy]

You are my type of person. Yes. I plan to give my guest at least a year to pay also. I know how it is to plan for a vacation. My wedding is 2015 and I plan to send STD and travel deposit info by end of NOV beginning of JaN 2013.

We are getting ready to send out STD's. Did you all send any kind of travel or TA info with yours? Our guests can actually book now with a $125 deposit and final payment isn't due until Sept. 1, 2014 for an Oct. 25,2014 wedding. I would like to get that info out there for the people that need to make payments...would it be too tacky to send travel info with STD's?

[Recy]

I am praying I will have enough folks for a free travel or resort room. i also plan to research 3-4 travel agencies for the best deals.

We also did it where we picked the resort, chose a TA and she looked into 4 different companies to see where we got the best price.  Transat Vacations gave us the best deal at $1032 pp and every 21st person was free.  We then put a $300 deposit which gave us 30 seats for 90 days.  I sent out the STD and we immediately booked those 30 seats so we requested an additional 30 seats and put another $300 down and only have 2 more remaining (so myself and my FI fly and stay for free and only pay for the taxes).  We still have 3 weeks before the deadline and about 25-30 more people who have RSVP that they were going but not yet put down their deposit.  I sent out our invites last week so I anticipate that the remaining people will put down their deposits soon.  I did send a note attached to the invites thanking the pepole who had already put their deposits and reminding everyone of the deadline.   We also get a one time price reduction. 

[Recy]

So you locked in the resort rate. Did your guest already pay for the resort or just a deposit??

Hi Loreal30, That's awesome that you were able to lock in the Trip with the TA for $1299/person.  Now does that include airfare?... because I was told that the flight schedule does not come out until 330 days prior to departure therefore they cannot guarantee the prices. So right now, we have a locked in rate for resort only, 1 week stay at $875/person.  The TA is bouncing the airfare rates between a few airlines before we lock in.  We have 50+ attending the wedding and therefore may need to divide our group between a few flights. Airfare also looks to be higher this year because of the fee increases.  Right now we are around $550/person from Connecticut to Jamaica.  I'm hoping she can push them down to $400.

[Recy]

This is a wonderful schedule! I will be sure to take notes.

This is how I did it: Picked our resort...shopped around for a TA, found one that got us a great deal ($1299 inclusive per person from toronto). She booked 30 SEATS with a $300.00 deposit from us... that $300.00 would go to our trip at the end. As soon as I had a date for the wedding and the details ironed out with my TA I made boarding pass invitations with all the information for people to book. From the time we put down our orginal $300.00 deposit to when I sent out the invites, it was about a week. I had one month for people to secure their spot. The payments work out as follows: $150 Due by December 10, 2012 $150 Due by February 10, 2013 $999 due by September 10, 2013 I put all of this information on my invites. I did not ask for RSVP (I wasn't about to stress about people returning them). I sent out about 65 invitations. If I got 16 people to book, FI or I would get a free seat. As of December 3 (first deposit not even due yet), I have about 38 people booked. I am completely happy with that. If I get 50 people, my TA travels with our group and organizes everything at the resort for us (this would be a bonus, but not necessary) I have never met my TA, she was recommended by a friend.  I live in Sudbury, Ontario, she lives in Welland, Ontario, all of our correspondance has been by e-mail except for 2 phone calls so far. Alright, I guess that's it!!

[Recy]

Let me know how it all works out. Best wishes.

Oh it's always nice to see threads with brides to be that have the same worries as you. I have sent out my STDs exactly a year out from our wedding date next November 2013. The TA told me that the deadline for putting down the deposits with the hotel block of 30 rooms is Jan30th, but my family are not very willing to commit this early. THAT worried me a lot as I feel like they would lose out on a good deal, and I won't have the numbers to do the rest of my planning. 

[Jessica Correa]

Originally Posted by zeman321 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessica Correa 

 

I want some time to plan things for the wedding too. My wedding day is June 28th and I said to RSVP by January 31st. This gives me about 4 or 5 months so I can get things together and done for my guests and it also guarantees that everyone gets a room at the resort.

We are getting ready to send out STD's. Did you all send any kind of travel or TA info with yours? Our guests can actually book now with a $125 deposit and final payment isn't due until Sept. 1, 2014 for an Oct. 25,2014 wedding. I would like to get that info out there for the people that need to make payments...would it be too tacky to send travel info with STD's?

 

 

Honestly I did not send out STDs. I informed everyone of my plans and how everything was going to happen . I am going to mail out my invitations out early (within the next few weeks.. I actually received them yesterday). With that, I am going to mail all of the information that is needed for the travel agent. I have to figure out how big the envelopes have to be lol. But no I do not think it is tacky to send the info with the STDs. I am sure that your guests will really appreciate the early information so that they can get organized, save, etc.