The 411 on RSVPs

Posted on July 17, 2018 at 1:34 pm by Carisa Lockery

There's so much information that needs to be relayed in a response card. Who's eating what? How many guest responses are included on that card? It can get confusing, but keep reading because here's the 411 on RSVPs!

The date on your RSVP card should be about 3-4 weeks before your wedding. There will ALWAYS be those people who you have to hunt down to respond last minute (BTW, DON'T be that person for someone else's wedding). Allowing a buffer of 3-4 weeks allows for those last minute slackers to respond and helps reduce your stress of having to put together a floor plan. Most venues or caterers don't need your final head count until 1 week before the wedding, so you should be ok there!
Your little cousins are totally adorbs, but you don't want them at your reception. How do you convey this information nicely to your aunt? Simple! On the RSVP card, simply state "We have reserved 2 (or 1) seats in your honor". This should give them the hint that the children are not invited. *Side note: The outer address envelope should also read "Mr. & Mrs. Jones" as opposed to "The Jones Family". This is another indicator that it is adults only.
With all of the dietary restrictions these days, it's hard to completely accommodate everybody (gluten free, vegan, lactose intolerant, the list goes on and on). Whether you are having a plated dinner or buffet, leave a line on the RSVP card to note any dietary restrictions. Your caterer or venue should be able to accommodate most.
Want a packed dance floor at your reception? Your guests want to dance to the songs they know and love. On one side of your RSVP card, leave a line asking for your guests' favorite songs.

If you love the info we share with you, feel free to share with others!

Happy planning!
xo

About the Author

Carisa Lockery

Thanks for stopping by. I'm so excited that you decided to learn more about me!

First and foremost, I am a wife and mother to 2 boys, Kyle and Mason. They're part of the reason that I continued to pursue my dream of being a business owner. Having the ability to make my own hours and still be present for them is invaluable, and an experience for which I will forever be indebted to my amazing husband.

As a kid, I was always organizing everything. I loved stationary and paper and pens and markers and journals and planners and anything else that allowed me to plan and organize. Trapper Keepers and Lisa Frank? Yes, PLEASE! As I got older, that love for organization became a love for planning, particularly fun things like events. I woke up one day with the thought, “Could I actually make a living doing this?”. I had gone to Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT for my Bachelor's Degree in Communications, so I had a little knowledge about business and how they worked. When the idea began to formulate more and more in my head, I decided to take my education even further and pursue a Master of Business Administration Degree. Right after I earned this degree, I had my first son, so the timing was perfect! I was able to be home with him during the week while my husband worked, and work at night and on the weekends, when most events took place!

More than 10 years later, I still love bringing the idea and concept of a wedding or event into reality. Each one plays out differently, and I love that! It keeps things fresh and exciting! I can't wait to hear from you and learn all about how I can help with your next event!

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