Question:
Open-invite wedding?
marcyp06
18 years ago
We are having our wedding at the fairgrounds so the space is pretty limitless. We are also cooking everything ourselves so there is no worry for head counts for a caterer, and there is always WAY TO MUCH FOOD left over after the party!

When sending out invites, what is a good way to phrase that the wedding is pretty much open-invite? I have been chatting with people, telling them the day and inviting them, and having them ask "Can I bring my husband/boyfriend/child?" Of course you can! You can bring your second cousin's teacher, if you want! As long as I get an RSVP with the number of people you are bringing (so I can set up chairs) we're fine!

How can I word this on a formal invite?
Ten answers:
mattsbaby125
18 years ago
Something along the lines of "guests are more than welcome" at the bottom near the RSVP or something like that. I LOVE this idea. Very different! Congrats on the wedding!
gileswench
18 years ago
I think the biggest problem you face with this idea is that open invites and formal invites are two very different things, and you're trying to combine them.



If you truly want people to bring along everyone they've ever known, that's never going to be something I consider negative. Generosity and open-heartedness are great qualities. I'm all for them.



Alas, opening up the guest list to such a complete free-for-all immediately indicates to guests that they don't actually have to say whether they're coming and how many people they're bringing. It's hard enough to get people to respond when the invitiation is very clear about who is and isn't invited and begs for a reply by a certain date. If the invitation gives the same impression as a college kegger, then you're going to get even less replies.



There is no correct wording for this in place because in most cases people are either inviting people to appear randomly and bring all their friends OR they issue formal invitations.



I'm not saying it can't be done, but I will tell you it's going to confuse a lot of people because it's neither fish nor fowl and folks haven't run across anything quite like it before.



So if this is truly what you want to do (and it's your day, so if you really want your second-cousin's third-grade teaching assistant to show up, then who am I to argue?), then you're going to have to a) come up with a wording of your own AND b) be prepared to call your entire formally-invited list to find out whether they're coming and whom they plan to bring with them.



I'd recommend something along the lines of: the better to share our joy, we invite you to bring as many guests as you please. RSVP with complete number of party by x date.



Then be ready with the phone list the day after x date so you can plan enough food and chairs.
dre
9 years ago
no, you can not do that. the nice factor to do is to head over your visitor record and make an try to come to a decision approximately what number of could be consuming founded for your potential of the men and women who're invited. so much marriage ceremony visitors don't drink greater than two beverages at a marriage ceremony until they're heavy drinkers and you understand who the ones men and women are. you'll additionally prohibit the open bar to a cocktail hour after which have wine served with the meal and upload a champagne toast to scale down for your charges.
anonymous
18 years ago
GOOD LUCK! I think you may need it with this one!



The suggestions above are good for a way to word it, but I think you may be asking for trouble. I agree with Wine is Fine on this. You may end up with a lot of people there who aren't a part of your life in any way. DO you really want to be meeting your second cousins teacher on your wedding day? It will be awkward for you and the teacher ("Um Hi... I'm your second cousins teacher. Nice wedding.") So be careful!! You may want to think twice about this!



Best wishes!
Answer Girl 2007
18 years ago
Honestly, this is a bad, bad idea. You say that there is always enough food left over, but what happens if there isn't? Secondly, if it's an open invite, you don't think people won't be bringing guests without RSVPing.



Third, why would you want people who you don't even know there. I would think people would just start showing up b/c there is free food.



This just sounds like a huge unorganized disaster waiting to happen.
Kasandra
18 years ago
It's always nice to put some of yourself into your invitations. I would just slip a little not in there that says, what you just said 'Second cousins teacher more then welcome'. Make it fun, but put it on a seperate slip of paper, so that it can be easily tossed away.
Christina V
18 years ago
i think you should put on the invite who you want to attend. i think seating would be a big issue. every person needs a seat, even if you think they will be standing a lot. so i would say the "smith family" and have that little line that says number of people attending ____.
lmnop
18 years ago
I think you should say "Please RSVP with the number who will be attending." This implies that you are open to stragglers. Good luck and congratulations on your upcoming nuptials.
corinne1029
18 years ago
Just put "Guests are welcome." And then make sure you have a blank for the # on the RSVP card.
anonymous
18 years ago
What I was thinking doing for mine was saying Mr. and Mrs. (their last name) and family. best of luck to you.


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