Pre-RSVP??

[JaxTeach]

Ok I have question that is related to this... We've sent out Save the Dates (mid-June) and a newsletter. These were only sent to people who we think will come. I am hearing from both sets of our parents that people don't know what to do. People don't know who is invited (since we are an Intimate both sets of parents have told our relatives that we are limited-- which has really upset me because I don't want people to think they aren't welcome ). My thinking is if you got a newsletter, you will be invited.

DF and I talked last night about sending out a pre-RSVP so people will maybe understand that they are invited. With just our immediate families, we have 11. We can't have over 18 guests, but we would like to have some friends and extended family. I'm afraid we're going to end up with no one!

Do you think a pre-RSVP would be acceptable to both let people know they are invited and for us to get a rough estimate? I was planning on sending invites out in October for our December wedding. Maybe that's too late?

 

[hmgolden]

Its perfectly acceptable. There have been lots of brides around here that have sent out a sort of pre-RSVP asking people if they are definitely coming, maybe coming, or definitely not coming as a way to help figure out their numbers. Its an easy way to clear up the confusion.

 

[RangerPooh]

Before our oficial save the dates were sent we sent a letter and postcard to everyone who was invited. The letter gave them some information about where our wedding was taking place, and who it was that we each were marrying (I mean they should really know who each of us was marrying) and asked them to send the postcard back to us with with an indication if they will or won't be able to attend (the wedding wasn't for ~10 months). The response was not quite what we had hoped for but it got the point out that they should be marking their calender.

When al of the details were finalized a few months later Disney sent out the oficial save the dates and we followed up by sending the official invites.

 

[JaxTeach]

Thank you ladies!

I bought some blank cards to mail and then a blank postcard to insert. Here is what the card will say inside:

Dear Family and Friends,

We hope that you all have received our Save the Date magnet and 1st Wedding Newsletter. We are very excited to share our wedding adventure with all of you.

As our wedding day quickly approaches, we must have an estimate of how many people will attend our wedding day festivities. Below is a brief itinerary of our wedding day:

December 14, 2007
2:30pm Wedding Ceremony
5:00pm Reception
9:00pm Dessert Party

It is our hope that each of our family or friends receiving this card will be able to join us on this most joyous occasion. We certainly understand if you are unable to attend.

To assist us in our final planning, please return the enclosed postcard to us by September 1, 2007.

We will be sending out another Wedding Newsletter and formal invitation in the coming months.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions relating to our wedding or your visit to the Walt Disney World Resort. You may call us at home or reach us by e-mail.

Inside the card will be a stamped & addressed postcard which will say:

Please indicate your selection below and return this postage paid postcard to us by September 1, 2007. Thank you!

M_________________________

_____ At this time we expect we will be able to attend

_____ We regretfully will be unable to attend

_____ Adults
_____ Children (infants-age 9

Do you think that will be okay? I'm not sure what the etiquette is on this one.

 

[RangerPooh]

It soudns really good. I think that your guests will have a better understanding of what's going on now.

 

[stitchfan18]

That sounds perfect. We're thinking about doing the same things, so we know how much money we need to allow for reception, welcome bags, favor, etc. I really like the idea of sending out a newsletter too!

 

[pixie08]

we did this and I think for a destination wedding it is perfectly acceptable! It did give us a good idea how many people where coming. Of course in the letter attached I just let people know it was not a formal rsvp and nothing they commited to was set in stone

 

[noochez]

JaxTech....I love that idea. I may have to borrow it. We are having a custom wedding and had initially said we were going to have 75 people. Well we are up to about 120. I know they say the no show for a DW is more than a local wedding, but I have a feeling we are going to wind up with all 120...and that is down from 140!!

 

[JaxTeach]

It's really hard to say who might decide to come for a Disney wedding. I think a lot of my cousins (especially the ones with children) are considering it because they have never been to Disney World before. The more the merrier to me, but DFTW will need to know if I have more than 18 and bump me up to a Custom!

Here is what I did last night for our "Pre-RSVP's". It's not much, but hopefully it will get the word out and we will received at least some responses. After a lot of trial and error with the printer, here is the final result:

 

[orangetiggs]

Love it!!! The colour is fantastic

 

[noochez]

I love it!!!! I hope you get the response you are looking for! I definetly think I am going to do something like that. It will definetly be helpful for us, we have so many people we want to invite, so if we know some people are definetly not coming, then we don't necessarily need a "B list" for the invitations!!!