Appropriate to Request Prelim RSVP?

[BillysBride]

I'm just wondering....has anyone done or seen a save-the-date with an rsvp request? We just really need a heads up, not a sure count, just SOME idea of who all even will WANT to come. So many things will depend on how many guests we have, its getting difficult to set things up without knowing. And nope, we aren't the couple that has unlimited funds to book food, drinks and seating "just in case" (unfortunately).

 

Help.

[amyh]

We did. We sent out STD’s in March for our July ’08 wedding along with a Preliminary RSVP request (as a postcard). Most people responded. To be honest, I was shocked at how many responded yes and maybe.

 

But there are still a number who have yet to respond. we requested they respond by July 4, 2007- one year before the wedding.

[TATrisha]

Yup... and out of 85 invites I think I have had 4! Stupid. I asked that they RSVP on our website, with an e-mail, telephone call, or in person. I give them all these options and what do I get in return... NOTHING! UGH. Because of this I have decided to send my invites out a month earlier requiring a firm RSVP.

[starchild]

I did. Our std was a magnet with a letter asking to rsvp to our website by a certain date if they are interested. People lag so we sent reminder postcards about 1 month before the deadline we gave.

 

We made it clear that only the people who rsvp'd to our website would receive formal invites to the wedding. It saved money on invites and also gave us a better idea of a head count early on. (Still, we had a few people who didn't rsvp because "we knew they were coming"...frustrating!)

[JessicaM]

I did when I sent out our STD's.....just to respond on our website....like others have mentioned some have and some havent yet.

[BillysBride]

You girls rock! Thats what I needed to know, thanks. We are having the boarding pass std's done, and I had this idea to some how make the prelim rsvp at the end of the pass, it would be perforated and guests could tear it off and the mailing info would be printed on the back with postage. They could just drop the whole thing in the mail and also have the option of rsvp'ing on the web site...BUT evidently there is a glitch as far as the paper we would have to use to have it heavy enough for perforation. I dunno.

 

I'll likely just have postcards in the envelope.

[starchild]

This may be evil, but another bonus to doing a preliminary rsvp is that if some people don't respond then they are out. I.E., if there are a few obligatory invites you could do without and they don't rsvp but try to come later, you can tell them it is too late. We put in our std letter that since it is a DW the process is different so our WC needs a count asap and unfortunately anyone we don't hear from will not be accounted for

[Spazz]

I sent out my STDs and asked that if people were coming to contact my TA by August 15. I had almost 65 people actually do it, which was a surprise! It definitely helps me out to know an estimated number of guests because I'm not sending out formal invitations til the beginning of 2008.

[Can'tHardlyWait]

I sent STD's in late August with an October 31st RSVP date (for my May 25th wedding). I sent out STD to 160 people and so far I have 72 booked. If you do decide to send them out, I definitely have a suggestion: give them something to send back! Now I am stuck having to figure out how to contact the people who haven't responded at all to ask if they plan on coming It's super uncomfortable because I don't want anyone to feel obligated to come, but I need a headcount asap...

[KellyandMatt08]

I did that as well. Out of 61 invitations I only heard back from 25 people. I also sent out a follow up to everyone about 2 months later, still no success. I'm going to send out formal invites to those that responded back with a yes and to those I haven't heard from. I'm not sending invites to people who replied no.