4 questions answered about the RSVP card

The RSVP card is probably one of the most important elements of your wedding invitation set and I am going to help you understand a bit more about why you need the RSVP card and what information you need to capture, what reply date you should set and also share with you the different types of RSVP cards you can have within your invitation suite.

The reason why I am so passionate about the RSVP card is because I have a strong background in event planning where I was an Operations Manager for an international events company before I did what I do now. I also planned my entire wedding right down to the helicopter landing on the run sheet & assigning guests to the correct buses at the end of the night.

Because your wedding is effectively an event, it means that you need a high level of focused attention to detail and to know how all of the small pieces fit to make the bigger picture. This is where the RSVP card fits in when it comes to managing your guests.

Why do you need an RSVP Card?

There is a lot of information you can obtain from your guests returning their RSVP card.

Details you are going to need to know to plan for are:

confirm your total guest numbers with your venue / caterer
provide a list of everyone with a dietary requirement, including a location to where they are sitting
confirm your guest seating table allocations (who is sitting with who and where)
advise your stationer all of your guest names so you can order your guest place cards
advise your stationer how many guest/table menus you will need
work out how many tables, chairs, table clothes, napkins, cutlery & glasses you will need to hire (if your venue doesn’t provide them)
know how many guest favours to order
know where your guest accommodation locations to arrange transport pick up/drop off locations

rsvp-card-with-song-options-white-cherry-invitations

What date should you set for your RSVP reply date?

I always suggest that you request a reply date approximately 4-6 weeks before your wedding.

If you have a wedding that is being heavily affected by changing restrictions then you might be able to push this back to 2-3 weeks before your wedding but this isn't ideal for normal planning and really should only be considered if you find yourself sending out last minute invitations in an ever changing environment of restrictions due to COVID-19.

4-6 weeks will give you enough time to follow up any guests who don’t reply in time to plan the tasks above and without stressing out too much before your wedding day arrives.

What to include on the RSVP card?

The below guest information captured on the RSVP card will provide you with all of the answers you need to tackle the above tasks.

The RSVP return date
Guest details such as

Full names (including names for any plus 1’s)
Dietary requirements
Mobile Phone Number
Email Addresses

The guest attendance status options
A song request if you’d like to personalise your dance floor playlist
Guest accommodation locations if you have bus transportation to organise
Guest transportation seat allocations and from what destinations
Guest attendance for any pre or post wedding events you are hosting

This may also be the discreet location to mention that your wedding is an adult only affair or if you need to know anything more regarding Covid-19 Restrictions

What are the different styles of RSVP cards that can be used?

There are many different ways you can add an RSVP card to your wedding invitation set that will ensure it matches aesthetically but also be functional, and they are;

A standard landscape or portrait card with a reply envelope

landscape RSVP card with reply envelope