help with announcement wording?

Question

i am having a beach themed wedding in april. i have made a guest list, but am not sure on about 10-15 people (i am inviting them, would like them to come, but dont think they will. they will say yes to my face, but not really show) i am on a tight budget ($5000) and want to know exactly how many people will show so i know how much food, chair, favors, etc. to get/make.

i am going to send out announcements now so that i can get an idea of how many people will be there. my question is...

so, what kind of wording should i put on my announcemts to let them know that i NEED to know if they will come? i dont want to sound hateful, but i also dont want to spend $100 per person for someone who wont be there.

Answer 1

I had the EXACT same problem as you. I got married 3/28/2007. GOODLUCK every bride on a budget comes across this problem.



I didn't word my invitation differently. Although I did add a RSVP to my invitation seperately in a different envelope already addressed, all they had to do was check yes or no, and put who was coming, (for seating chart purposes). I picked up the blank cards at Target or Walmart the RSVP cards, found a wording/font, look I wanted for them online and did them my self. To suit what I needed.



I also made sure to tell everyone, hey please rsvp, it's very important, that way you will have a seat... lol Made a joke out of it. I didn't put taht on my inviation though, just made a few phone calls after a couple weeks and if I didn't get the card I called to ask them personally, I just wanted to make sure you didn't loose the RSVP card, you won't be able to make it right? You'll even get those "10 maybes" "30 yes" and "9 nos" but when it comes time for the wedding 3/4 of the yes's actually show, 1/2 the maybes show, and even a few of the no's still show!



If you are catering, I suggest you order LESS that what you expect, b/c if you order more, you'll spend more, and if it doens't get ate, you don't get a refund. Not everyone will eat, depending on the time of your wedding. So goodluck.



I have a GREAT ideas for a wedding on a budget, that we did our selves that were a huge hit, so if you have myspace www.myspace.com/joelpole msg me, and I will send you pics and stuff of what we did to save thousands of dollars. Including the invitations/rsvps/favor's etc.

Answer 2

Right now you should only send out either an engagement announcement or "Save the Date" card if your wedding is next April... There's pros and cons to both. An engagement announcement does not necessarily mean you will invite the person to the wedding. And the "Save the Date" card means you intend to invite them to the wedding.



Only invite people who MATTER to you... Let me tell you, the most magical part of your day is saying your vows to the love of your life. You don't remember if Johnny or Susie Q were there... you just remember the sparkle in your lover's eye.



If you're on a budget, then be wise. Cut corners where necessary. Like, print your own announcements/invitations. Rent chairs from a local municiple building or fire house instead of a catering company. Use sand in inexpensive glass jars for centerpieces and a few sea shells on top... There's millions of ways to be thrifty. Don't get caught up on "head count." As far as food, do it buffet style instead of catering to each person a sit-down meal. And find a caterer who will allow you to keep the leftvoers from the buffet service. You can also invite people to the ceremony only and then just close people to your reception. Rent a bridal gown instead of spending thousands on something you'll wear once. Or buy a gently used gown (eBay or Craigslist). Ask around if any friends or friends of friends can handle photography and videography. Maybe a friend of yours has a knack for decorating, so don't waste money on a wedding planner or caterer to do the tables... If you're using a Minister from a local church that you regularly attend, they may have tables/chairs and dinnerware to use for a reasonable donation also. Think it out- you have time.... I planned my wedding in 5 months!



RSVP cards are necessary only with the actual wedding invitation! It would be rude to send them out now with an announcement... How many people know what's going on next April yet? I sure don't!

Answer 3

You can't make people RSVP to an announcement. They RSVP in February and March when the invites go out. I understand you want an approximate count but you shouldn't invite more than you can afford and then hope they won't come. Usually only about 10% or less of people invited don't come. Plan as if they all will come and move on. If you wind up having some extra food or extra chairs that is probably better anyway as most people don't plan to have enough.

Answer 4

I may be misunderstanding your question...I had to read it again just to make sure but if I'm understanding it correctly, you're wanting to send out an announcement now, kind of like a "Save the Date", correct? If so, you don't request their response if you're only announcing that you're getting married and what your wedding date will be and an invitation will follow shortly. An announcement is only to "announce your wedding". You don't start asking for responses until you've sent the wedding invitation out which is when the guests mail back the response cards. Even if you know a guest is not going to be able to attend the wedding just from hear-say, it's still nice to send them an invitation to your wedding.



I also wouldn't send out invitations to people unless you actually want them there and can accommodate for them. From experience, you may have people say yes that you didn't think would come and you may have people say yes and never show up. It's just what happens so make sure you prepare for the unexpected.

Answer 5

Well, the only 'proper wording' would be 'RSVP required' ... but that doesn't work in 'real life' ... and you'll just sound 'whiney' if you have anything that 'states' I really need to know whether you are really coming or not, because I have a tight budget and must watch every penny, so please spend 41 cents and a few minutes to write and tell me 'for real' whether you are going to come to my wedding and reception or not.

You need to 'get a grip' on yourself and your 'wedding plans' ... my husband and I were 'way below the poverty line' when we got married ... we 'cleaned the cupboards' and gave that and $50 in food stamps to the 'caterer' (a friend of my husband who was a chef, the 'catering' was his 'gift' to my husband, as my husband had 'catered' his wedding earlier, as his gift) and we actually fed nearly 200 people ... it was a 'total FEAST' for about 25 cents 'spent' per person. Another wedding we attended had a 'bring a dish to the reception if you can, but if you can't come anyway' ... and that was a WONDERFUL reception too. The 'bride' was Vietnamese, and the 'keepsake' of that wedding was a pair of 'training chopsticks' ... they are 'hooked together' for us 'white people' who don't know how to use them ... and it was a 'cute way of saying 'We are 'now one person in two bodies' ...

So ... 'rethink' your reception and 'take down your high standards' for the 'menu' ... what you will want to 'remember' is how everyone had a WONDERFUL TIME, and not how everyone 'ate every bite of that too expensive meal' when you think about it in the future.

Answer 6

Word the invitation with the normal RSVP instructions and then as soon as they 've had enough time to reach all of your guests in the mail CALL these people on the phone (the 15 or so you're talking about) and ASK them to tell you if they are coming. Be polite of course, just say you are double checking on guests because you want to make sure they got their invitations and tell them, because you 're on a tight budget you'd like to know if they're coming and if so how many people will attend.

Answer 7

Just leave all the school career out, concentrate on what you do now, when and where you met, etc. For example: john and jane doe from x-town are delighted to anounce the engagement of their daughter liz with james smith, son of bob and mary smith from y-town. liz is currently working as x, while james is employed with y. The couple met (fill in your story). Liz and Jame plans to wed on (your date) at (your place).. This is not too short and doesn't make your fiance look like a loser for not graduating high school. Remember, a wedding anouncement is not a job resume!!!

Answer 8

The BEST way may be to include a "rsponse card" in your invitation. Thatw ay, they don't have to feel embarrassed by calling you and declining the invite. (WHich in any case, they may not even bother to send the card back if you assume they wouldn't go anyway.) The response card can say,

"____ Decline

____ accept"

Send each card witha self addressed STAMPED envelope so they will use it. ALSO, include a date when the RSVP card HAS to be back to you by.

Answer 9

You request that they "RSVP" by a certain date. Include a self addressed envelope so they will not have to pay postage. The people who are handling your wedding invitations can give you some advice on how to do this.

Answer 10

RSVP by a certain date. If they don't respond, they're not coming, and if they come anyway, then they go hungry.

Usually plan that 10% of those who say they are coming will not, so you will have some wiggle room.

Answer 11

Just tell them you need to know for seating purposes, like there is limited seating available or you need to know how much food to order.

Answer 12

"please RSVP by March 1" & if they do not respond, don't count them in...use the money that would have been spent on them, for your honeymoon or anything else you might want to do/enjoy



Congrats!

Answer 13

Usually R.S.V.P by date works...

if they don't respond then theyre not coming.

or call them and make sure if they do respond, 'yes'.

Answer 14

How about...



Due to limited resources, your RSVP is an absolute must.