Photographer: Michelle Langer Photography
Invites & Paper Details: Tie That Binds Weddings
The term RSVP comes from the French expression “répondez s’il vous plaît”, meaning “please respond.” This may seem like a straight forward request to the guests receiving their invitation, but not all guests follow RSVP etiquette. Below are three tips to the guest and host on how to properly handle RSVP’s
Tips to the Invited Guests of Honor
The moment you receive your invitation, whether it be emailed, mailed or evite invitation, Please open this immediately
Reply: Promptly, within a few days of receiving the invitation or by the RSVP date given. Rule of thumb: Check your schedule and your plus ones schedules that same day and reply A.S.A.P Done and Done. If you know you won’t be able to make it for whatever reason, send a response saying so for good measure.
Plus One: If your invite has only your name on it and doesn’t specify that you can bring a plus one, it is not ok to ask. Your host has already weighed the odds with their spouse and should not receive any sort of feedback on their decision. Never question it. Just take it as you are their special guest of honor and treat it as such.
Canceling an RSVP: This should only be done in case of a medical emergency, family emergency or other urgent matter. Things like a work trip that you knew about, but didn’t remember was on the same day, or simply feeling you have something better to do comes off as rude to your host. If this is done, your host may never want to invite you to another event. I mean, who wants to be blacklisted by their dearest friend? Not me! Consider the time and preparation it took your host to plan for this special day prior to canceling. If you must cancel, call your host or send a personalized note. Sending a gift for the event anyways is always nice as well.
Tips to the Hosts
The hard part is over. You’ve narrowed down your guest and are ready to put together your invitations or maybe you already have. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Stay organized: There are several ways to keep up with all of your RSVPs. If you haven’t sent out your invitations yet, it may be a good idea to have your guests RSVP through your registered event. By doing so, you can better keep track of all your guests, and trust me, this will come in handy when you have to send out your Thank You Cards. Evites are also a hot trend for sending out invitations. You instantly can view when a guest RSVPs and see any comments or questions they may have. However, don’t let these new “techy” inventions shy you away from the traditional way of doing things. Sending invitations in the mail still has its charm, plus it serves as memorabilia for your guests of honor!
While you wait for your guest responses, it’s a good idea to begin your “Thank You” Cards preparation. You can keep your original invitations aesthetic or create a new theme. Have fun with them and make them your own. Thank you cards should be light hearted and personalized. They are also one of the easiest duties on your heavy “TO DO” list for your special day.
Try not to worry: As you await for your guests to RSVP, try to remain calm and patient. Everyone will show up and be there for your special day! Keep in mind the RSVP date you set and try not to freak out if your guests do not reply right away. Set a reminder for yourself to stay on top of the final day you should be receiving your guest RSVPs.
