RSVP and ordering food

[SeansMom]

Along the lines of a previous thread, we have a graduation party coming up. Seven of 28 invited guests have RSVP'd. GRRR. Is it okay to call/email and ask the rest if they are coming (and are they bringing all their kidlets, or just themselves?)

Like other posters, I need to decide how much food to order/prepare. Plus, I'm doing a candy bar and that is based on the number of people as well.

My specific question, is it okay to call/email? I don't want anybody to come who doesn't want to, but I need to figure out candy and food and time is running short.

 

[WeekdayDisneyland]

After coordinating many parties & events through work & in my personal life, I've found that the turn-out rate is between 60% and 80%.

I would plan food for 80%. If you are worried about running out (which has never happened to me, even when I planned on 60% of people coming and 80% showed), you can buy some easily stored back up food (hummus & pita chips) that can be pulled out & ready to go in a pinch.

The worst is when you plan on 110% turnout and get 60%--that's a lot of leftovers, not to mention expensive.

Forgot to answer your question: I wouldn't spend my time chasing people down on the phone. I'd just use the formula to finish the party planning.

 

[lastminutemom]

I always call or email.

I use this line -- Hi. Just checking to make sure you got the invitation to.... If you didn't please let me know. If you did and are planning on attending, please let me know by such and such a date or we won't have enough googies for you.

A million thanks!

 

[akenneson]

I always send invites with an RSVP date a week before the event. That way I can contact those people I haven't heard from the day after the RSVP date and still have time to get last minute things done that week. I say it is absolutely ok to ask. A lot of times people just forget. I am contacting people today as a matter of fact for my sister's bridal shower next weekend

 

[kennethsrib]

The 80% is a good rule to follow. Even with that figure in mind if you had 100% show up, people tend to eat less than you think ( depending on the weather etc.)

 

[kennethsrib]

oh and of course I would call. After all these people are friends!

 

[Poohforyou]

Yes, it's ok to call. I'd start by saying you wanted to make sure they got your invitation and hope they are able to make it.

 

[ancestry]

I think it is okay to call or email.

Like I mentioned in the previous thread I honestly always thought you only had to RSVP if you were attending. If one didn't respond I assumed that it was understood that they would not be attending. I was quickly corrected in the post that this isn't the case and that you are supposed to respond if you are attending or not. I would NEVER show up without having RSVP'd in the affirmative.

Point being, I suspect there are many other people out there like me that don't realize that you are supposed to respond with a no/can't attend. Everyone that I grew up with and that I interact with really does think that you only have to respond if you are attending. Here on the boards was the first time I have heard that you are supposed to respond either way.

 

[SeansMom]

After coordinating many parties & events through work & in my personal life, I've found that the turn-out rate is between 60% and 80%.

I would plan food for 80%. If you are worried about running out (which has never happened to me, even when I planned on 60% of people coming and 80% showed), you can buy some easily stored back up food (hummus & pita chips) that can be pulled out & ready to go in a pinch.

The worst is when you plan on 110% turnout and get 60%--that's a lot of leftovers, not to mention expensive.

Forgot to answer your question: I wouldn't spend my time chasing people down on the phone. I'd just use the formula to finish the party planning.

Nice formula. I may just go with that and not take the time to call.

I always call or email.

I use this line -- Hi. Just checking to make sure you got the invitation to.... If you didn't please let me know. If you did and are planning on attending, please let me know by such and such a date or we won't have enough googies for you.

A million thanks!

I love this...although I might say "goodies" instead of " googies"

I think it is okay to call or email.

Like I mentioned in the previous thread I honestly always thought you only had to RSVP if you were attending. If one didn't respond I assumed that it was understood that they would not be attending. I was quickly corrected in the post that this isn't the case and that you are supposed to respond if you are attending or not. I would NEVER show up without having RSVP'd in the affirmative.

Point being, I suspect there are many other people out there like me that don't realize that you are supposed to respond with a no/can't attend. Everyone that I grew up with and that I interact with really does think that you only have to respond if you are attending. Here on the boards was the first time I have heard that you are supposed to respond either way.

Interesting. I wonder if any of my friends think that? Well, if I take the time to email I'll know!

 

[dreamin_disney]

My hubby's family never rsvp and I hate it. Ieven started putting please rsvp by date for food count no such luck. It woouldnt boter me if it was onlou a few but I'm talking 15-25 people and guess what they all show up without letting me know and they are all the first ones in line to eat and they serves themselves double during first serving and they always get 2nds and make themselves a plate to take home way before party is over(atleast 5 make take home plates and reserve sodas)

You can call and get a head count, thats what we started doing and making having food is better then not having enough.


oneday I'm tempted to do tickects those that rsvp get to get in line forst to eat-lol!

 

[cari12]

As it didn't say in the OP whether the guests are family or classmates. If family, I would call as you are on a more familiar basis. If the guests are classmates, I would not call and just plan for 80%.

 

[scrapquitler]

When I have a party like that, I don't bother to ask for an RSVP anymore. I just assume that 80-90% of the people will show up, and plan food for that. If I have extra, we eat leftovers of party food for a couple of days.

 

[Irin997]

I would definitely call or email them. I don't understand why people find is so hard to just let someone know whether they are coming or not. I'm currently in the process of harassing those that haven't RSVP'd to my wedding in 3 weeks. Grrr....

 

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

I had to do this exact thing this past weekend for my sister's graduation party. We needed a head count so we would know how much food to order. Out of nearly 60 people we are at 42 attending.

So to answer your question, I would call them to get a head count.

 

[crisi]

When I have a party like that, I don't bother to ask for an RSVP anymore. I just assume that 80-90% of the people will show up, and plan food for that. If I have extra, we eat leftovers of party food for a couple of days.

Yep, and plan food that can be frozen for later. Anyone want brats? - we have extra from Memorial Day. . Sloppy joes or pulled pork or chili are all great for that.

With something like an open house, I find a head count isn't great anyway. One eighteen year old high school male will eat more than four grandparents. For memorial day, I had my husband's coworkers and all I knew was they had kids "about our son's age" - he's a going on 13 year old boy. You know what - ten and twelve year old girls do not eat like 14 year old boys.

 

[powellrj]

I know this isn't a popular answer, but I have never seen an RSVP for a graduation open house. We have been to many and we have had 2 and to be honest, once they put the announcement in the church bulletin and the kids post it on facebook, you really have no idea how many people will be there.

Maybe Open Houses aren't popular other places like they are here, but like I said, people sent out announcement and then post it on facebook and the church and we had over 200 attend and only sent out 40 invitations. What usually happens is people just make a day of it attending all the ones that are happening. We had large groups of people that would have a bite to eat and then move on to the next one.

 

[shoney]

Along the lines of a previous thread, we have a graduation party coming up. Seven of 28 invited guests have RSVP'd. GRRR. Is it okay to call/email and ask the rest if they are coming (and are they bringing all their kidlets, or just themselves?)

Like other posters, I need to decide how much food to order/prepare. Plus, I'm doing a candy bar and that is based on the number of people as well.

My specific question, is it okay to call/email? I don't want anybody to come who doesn't want to, but I need to figure out candy and food and time is running short.

I was always a person who thought it was rude to call and just assume they were a no. I had an embarassing situation once...a boy in my sons class, who he was good friends with, didn't respond. A year later I was talking to the mom about the party that "he didn't attend" and she said "he wasn't invited!" Yikes all that time she thought he wasn't invited, but ofcourse he was...I should have called/e-mailed.

I would wait until the party was a week away and call/email. I once had someone call the day of the rsvp date and I was planning on calling. I thought I had until midnight I thought that was a bit aggressive..LOL

To me RSVP means to respond either yes or no. I have a friend who always puts RSVP regrets only.....so she doesn't get tons of calls if it is a yes.

 

[scrapquitler]

Maybe Open Houses aren't popular other places like they are here, but like I said, people sent out announcement and then post it on facebook and the church and we had over 200 attend and only sent out 40 invitations. What usually happens is people just make a day of it attending all the ones that are happening. We had large groups of people that would have a bite to eat and then move on to the next one.

That's the way it works here, too. Everyone has an open house (like 12-6 or 2-?) and people just stop by at some point for a little while. Most everyone has their party on the same day or two, and the kids all want to visit each other's party, so they just go party hopping all day long.

Most people put out some munchies for a while, then at some point they grill burgers and dogs, later they'll put out other foods or deserts, and people just eat whatever is out when they are there. All very informal, and nobody expects RSVPs.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Like I mentioned in the previous thread I honestly always thought you only had to RSVP if you were attending. If one didn't respond I assumed that it was understood that they would not be attending.

RSVP stands for Respondez-vous, s'il vous plait - ultimately, "please respond". With formal invitations, RSVP cards are included so the invitees can let the hosts know whether or not they're coming. When the invitation is less formal, giving a phone number and e-mail address and asking for a response makes sense and is proper etiquette.

I'm not sure how the topic turned to not expecting responses for open houses. Based on the original post, that's not what the OP is having; she seems to be holding an invitation-only party with a specific guest list.

 

[hellomark]

My friend is celebrating his 25th anniversary and contact me to get advice about food ordering.