Okay so my RSVP's were due in on the 4th of this month. I had gotten tham all or tracked down everyone, except one person. I assumed (knowing him as well I do) that he propably wouldn't come. After several attempts to contact him vai phone, e-mail and myspace I just marked him as not coming.
TODAY he e-mailed to tell me he was coming + a guest, I was a bit annoyed as I had the steating arrangements all figured out, and the seating chart/escort board thing made for the reception already, the final count into the venue and all payments made.
Now my wedding is in 11 days, and I have a lot to do yet it seems, having to go back and redo several things all because of one person was something I wasn't happy about. So I e-mailed him back and explained that the venue wouldn't allow me to add anyone else because the final numbers were in.
I know it's dishonest, but who waits until 11 days before a wedding to RSVP??? I told him to feel free to swing in to the dance like several of our mutual friends are due to other commitments that day.
Was a huge bitch? I just don't want to start everything over for someone i never see. If it was family I'd do it.
I don't think it's mean. That's why there's an RSVP deadline! If he couldn't be bothered to respond in time, he can't expect you to redo everything to accomodate him. I think that it sounds reasonable that you asked him to come by for dancing.
Nope, I would have done exactly the same thing! (in fact, am planning on doing just this if I have anyone pull the same thing...and just ran it by my FH, who also agrees it is the best way to handle it...) Don't worry about it
I would have done the same thing. There's no reason the person should have waited that late to answer, espicially after you tried to contact him so many times.
You definately have other stuff to do at this late date, and he was not only late but unresponsive when you tried to contact him - so I wouldn't feel bad about it at all. If you get no RSVP, and then no response to repeated attempts to contact someone, you have to assume they are not coming. If you could fit him (and his guest) in without much trouble, I would say that you should. But then, I didn't have seating arrangements, and I had planned for an extra table and a half anyway - just in case - so for me it was really just a matter of checking with the chef. And really, I did that mostly because I have some relatives with health issues, who wouldn't know for sure if they could travel until right before the wedding - so I wanted to be sure I could accomodate them if they showed. That's totally different than someone who just couldn't be bothered to tell you whether the were coming - and you don't really owe someone like that any consideration.
Did he mention a reason he hadn't responded earlier? That would make a difference to me. You know just being lazy/rude vs. having a sick family member or crazy time at work.
I went in the opposite direction and was adding people and chaning table arrangements until about 1am the day of our wedding. I am not sure I would do that again (so much stress!) but I just couldn't imagine telling someone "no" that I cared enough about to invite to the wedding in the first place just because I didn't want to switch some things around.
I know things are stressful with 11 days left, but I think I would have accommodated him and his guest. Actually...I know I would have, since I did...like 20 times. Again, I think I overdid it but if you only had one outstanding RSVP 1- That's a great return rate and 2- I don't think it would be that hard to change. It seems like you told him not to come more because you were annoyed he didn't respond earlier, not because it was too much trouble to change. I'm not sure I'm on board with that.
If you want this guy there -which presumably you do since you invited him you could:
1) See if there is a table where you could squeeze him in. You could always call him back and say the venue found space - but that he wouldn't be on the board and because seating arranagements are finalized, he would likely be seated at a table with slightly random people - but you would love for him to come if he can make it.
OR
2) You can wait until someone cancels - because they will - and then call him and tell him you had a cancellation and would love for him to come but because seating arrangements are finalized .......
Yes it was rude of him not to reply but he is likely nowhere near as aware that there are 11 days until your wedding as you are!! I am sure he meant to respond earlier and was being lazy, was on vacation, trying to figure out if he could make it, whatever. In any event, good luck with these final days - and try to enjoy!!! I don't miss being engaged, but all the excitement and build-up to the wedding is really fun :)
Well I asked him why he didn't respond - and he only said that he didn't think about it, he assumed I would just know that he was coming.
His invitation was kind of a curtosey thing, I'm inviting a whole group of mutual friends and though I don't really care for him a whole lot I found it hard to manage by with inviting them and not him.
I'm not upset he wasn't coming, I was actually relieved.
Like I mentioned I would have done the rearrangement for family or a very close friend even. But the blatant disregard for a simple RSVP on his part really irritates me.
You are not mean at all!!!! You did the right thing. And I like the way you handled this situation so much that my fiance and I are going to do the same thing if such a situation should arise. If he was a close friend or family member, then of course you would do whatever to get that person in. However, he's not. You've done all you can do.
But most importantly, don't let this bother you. This is such a minor detail in the grand scheme of things and should not take away from you and your fiance's engagement period nor your wedding day.
It sounds like for this person, and this situation, it was the right thing to do. He is not family, not an out-of-towner, not a close friend, or even someone you'd miss if he wasn't there - I think you handled it in a way that is very logical and I'm super impressed you took the low stress route - way to take care of you first!! Yeahh!! I also applaud you for being direct, some people would have been more passive-aggressive, it is impressive you had the guts to be so direct and assertive. We are getting married the same day, and I don't think I can handle something new being dropped on my plate! Let's see pics of this seating board soon.
Sounds reasonable to me! It was a little fib, and after the inconvenience of trying to contact him, you shouldn't feel obligated to do more work for his sake (ethics is my thing:). It's not mean. It's being honest about your human limitations.
My wedding is in three days... and my cousin and his wife just called to say they were coming (after refusing to RSVP because their children we not able to attend due to our adult only policy). I had my seating chart done... and there's nowhere to put them so I have to add another table and start from scratch. Arghghg...
My wedding is also in 11 days.... I know how you feel.... It's RUDE when people don't respond in a timely matter... I'm just going to tell the SLACKERS,,, they can come to the wedding ceremony, but can't say for the reception because I have already finalized the reception.
You did the right thing! RSVPs are sent for a reason. We were amazed at how clueless many of our guests/friends were in regards to sending in their response card in a timely manner with the names of those attending. Basics Mom and Dad taught me way back when...
Angiepie - right on! Boundaries are extremely important - something I learned AFTER planning the wedding. Wish I would've clued in earlier.
I know this kind of stuff is going to happen with our family and group of friends, because in the circle I grew up in... RSVPs were not customary, there was no dinner & dancing at the reception- just cake, punch and the bouquet toss. Anyone could come who wanted to... just bring a gift. AHH! (Does anyone else in the whole wedding planning universe know what I'm talking about?!)
ANYWAY, back on point, I know this is going to be a problem so I already decided to have the wedding out of town to save myself from the trouble of uninvited guests (among other reasons) but reading this & all the responses lets me know that I will be justified in saying no. So I don't think you're mean at all.
<span style="font-size: 7.5pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Bravo! I'm so proud of you! I would have and will do the exact same thing. My wedding is in 16 days. We had a friend who we had not heard from (who's out of town wedding we just attended this spring) not RSVP. My fiancé called him, left several voicemails, texted him, and emailed him and nothing. And finally two days ago he said, so sorry but he couldn't come. My FI wrote back, "you just now thought to let us know this after we have tried to contact you for weeks, and weeks?" The dude felt really guilty and said so, but i think it was the right thing to say.
<span style="font-size: 7.5pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">My head count is due tomorrow as well as my final catering check and if I have any "surprises" I will not hesitate to call and tell them it’s too late. I'm sorry but nothing angers me more than poor etiquette! Especially from people who are fresh off of a wedding and know the drill!
:| i had rsvp no earlier this month on the date of the deadline (she did online rsvp) but then 5 days later i decided i'll suck it up and spend the money cause i really wanted to go, so i called my friend first before i booked the flight... i think that's the least he could have done was to ask you if he's going to be late on the rsvp or give you a heads up....
Okay so my RSVP's were due in on the 4th of this month. I had gotten tham all or tracked down everyone, except one person. I assumed (knowing him as well I do) that he propably wouldn't come. After several attempts to contact him vai phone, e-mail and myspace I just marked him as not coming.
TODAY he e-mailed to tell me he was coming + a guest, I was a bit annoyed as I had the steating arrangements all figured out, and the seating chart/escort board thing made for the reception already, the final count into the venue and all payments made.
Now my wedding is in 11 days, and I have a lot to do yet it seems, having to go back and redo several things all because of one person was something I wasn't happy about. So I e-mailed him back and explained that the venue wouldn't allow me to add anyone else because the final numbers were in.
I know it's dishonest, but who waits until 11 days before a wedding to RSVP??? I told him to feel free to swing in to the dance like several of our mutual friends are due to other commitments that day.
Was a huge bitch? I just don't want to start everything over for someone i never see. If it was family I'd do it.
posted by Sweeney2Be 1,488 posts 3 months agoHi!
I don't think it's mean. That's why there's an RSVP deadline! If he couldn't be bothered to respond in time, he can't expect you to redo everything to accomodate him. I think that it sounds reasonable that you asked him to come by for dancing.
Good luck!
posted by StrawberryBaby 106 posts 3 months agoNope, I would have done exactly the same thing! (in fact, am planning on doing just this if I have anyone pull the same thing...and just ran it by my FH, who also agrees it is the best way to handle it...) Don't worry about it
posted by jlsween 44 posts 3 months agoGood on you. My wedding is the same date as yours, and I would be pissed if this person was trying to pull that on me at this point.
Dishonest, yes, but it saves you time and stress, so it'd be worth it to me.
posted by Sharona 13 posts 3 months agoI would have done the same thing. There's no reason the person should have waited that late to answer, espicially after you tried to contact him so many times.
Good luck with the last two weeks of planning!
posted by TurningGreen4 26 posts 3 months agoYou definately have other stuff to do at this late date, and he was not only late but unresponsive when you tried to contact him - so I wouldn't feel bad about it at all. If you get no RSVP, and then no response to repeated attempts to contact someone, you have to assume they are not coming. If you could fit him (and his guest) in without much trouble, I would say that you should. But then, I didn't have seating arrangements, and I had planned for an extra table and a half anyway - just in case - so for me it was really just a matter of checking with the chef. And really, I did that mostly because I have some relatives with health issues, who wouldn't know for sure if they could travel until right before the wedding - so I wanted to be sure I could accomodate them if they showed. That's totally different than someone who just couldn't be bothered to tell you whether the were coming - and you don't really owe someone like that any consideration.
posted by suzanno 1,955 posts 3 months agoDid he mention a reason he hadn't responded earlier? That would make a difference to me. You know just being lazy/rude vs. having a sick family member or crazy time at work.
I went in the opposite direction and was adding people and chaning table arrangements until about 1am the day of our wedding. I am not sure I would do that again (so much stress!) but I just couldn't imagine telling someone "no" that I cared enough about to invite to the wedding in the first place just because I didn't want to switch some things around.
I know things are stressful with 11 days left, but I think I would have accommodated him and his guest. Actually...I know I would have, since I did...like 20 times. Again, I think I overdid it but if you only had one outstanding RSVP 1- That's a great return rate and 2- I don't think it would be that hard to change. It seems like you told him not to come more because you were annoyed he didn't respond earlier, not because it was too much trouble to change. I'm not sure I'm on board with that.
posted by MrsSpitzer 75 posts 3 months agoIf you want this guy there -which presumably you do since you invited him you could:
1) See if there is a table where you could squeeze him in. You could always call him back and say the venue found space - but that he wouldn't be on the board and because seating arranagements are finalized, he would likely be seated at a table with slightly random people - but you would love for him to come if he can make it.
OR
2) You can wait until someone cancels - because they will - and then call him and tell him you had a cancellation and would love for him to come but because seating arrangements are finalized .......
Yes it was rude of him not to reply but he is likely nowhere near as aware that there are 11 days until your wedding as you are!! I am sure he meant to respond earlier and was being lazy, was on vacation, trying to figure out if he could make it, whatever. In any event, good luck with these final days - and try to enjoy!!! I don't miss being engaged, but all the excitement and build-up to the wedding is really fun :)
posted by Janna19 340 posts 3 months agoWell I asked him why he didn't respond - and he only said that he didn't think about it, he assumed I would just know that he was coming.
His invitation was kind of a curtosey thing, I'm inviting a whole group of mutual friends and though I don't really care for him a whole lot I found it hard to manage by with inviting them and not him.
I'm not upset he wasn't coming, I was actually relieved.
Like I mentioned I would have done the rearrangement for family or a very close friend even. But the blatant disregard for a simple RSVP on his part really irritates me.
posted by Sweeney2Be 1,488 posts 3 months agoYou are not mean at all!!!! You did the right thing. And I like the way you handled this situation so much that my fiance and I are going to do the same thing if such a situation should arise. If he was a close friend or family member, then of course you would do whatever to get that person in. However, he's not. You've done all you can do.
But most importantly, don't let this bother you. This is such a minor detail in the grand scheme of things and should not take away from you and your fiance's engagement period nor your wedding day.
Have a great 11 days!!!
posted by Valerie 16 posts 3 months agoIt sounds like for this person, and this situation, it was the right thing to do. He is not family, not an out-of-towner, not a close friend, or even someone you'd miss if he wasn't there - I think you handled it in a way that is very logical and I'm super impressed you took the low stress route - way to take care of you first!! Yeahh!! I also applaud you for being direct, some people would have been more passive-aggressive, it is impressive you had the guts to be so direct and assertive. We are getting married the same day, and I don't think I can handle something new being dropped on my plate! Let's see pics of this seating board soon.
Congrats!
posted by enmoore66 217 posts 3 months agoSounds reasonable to me! It was a little fib, and after the inconvenience of trying to contact him, you shouldn't feel obligated to do more work for his sake (ethics is my thing:). It's not mean. It's being honest about your human limitations.
posted by bluegreenjean 118 posts 3 months agoYou go girl. Boundaries are a good thing to have--don't feel bad about reinforcing them!
posted by Angiepie 27 posts 3 months agoMy wedding is in three days... and my cousin and his wife just called to say they were coming (after refusing to RSVP because their children we not able to attend due to our adult only policy). I had my seating chart done... and there's nowhere to put them so I have to add another table and start from scratch. Arghghg...
I think he deserves it.
posted by maureen9004 256 posts 3 months agoMy wedding is also in 11 days.... I know how you feel.... It's RUDE when people don't respond in a timely matter... I'm just going to tell the SLACKERS,,, they can come to the wedding ceremony, but can't say for the reception because I have already finalized the reception.
You were not mean at all.
posted by angelinyc2003 5 posts 3 months agoYou did the right thing! RSVPs are sent for a reason. We were amazed at how clueless many of our guests/friends were in regards to sending in their response card in a timely manner with the names of those attending. Basics Mom and Dad taught me way back when...
Angiepie - right on! Boundaries are extremely important - something I learned AFTER planning the wedding. Wish I would've clued in earlier.
posted by megs08 63 posts 3 months agoI know this kind of stuff is going to happen with our family and group of friends, because in the circle I grew up in... RSVPs were not customary, there was no dinner & dancing at the reception- just cake, punch and the bouquet toss. Anyone could come who wanted to... just bring a gift. AHH! (Does anyone else in the whole wedding planning universe know what I'm talking about?!)
ANYWAY, back on point, I know this is going to be a problem so I already decided to have the wedding out of town to save myself from the trouble of uninvited guests (among other reasons) but reading this & all the responses lets me know that I will be justified in saying no. So I don't think you're mean at all.
posted by kayteebug 27 posts 3 months agoyou were not mean! period. You did the right thing at this point in the game.
posted by wizard 34 posts 3 months ago<span style="font-size: 7.5pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Bravo! I'm so proud of you! I would have and will do the exact same thing. My wedding is in 16 days. We had a friend who we had not heard from (who's out of town wedding we just attended this spring) not RSVP. My fiancé called him, left several voicemails, texted him, and emailed him and nothing. And finally two days ago he said, so sorry but he couldn't come. My FI wrote back, "you just now thought to let us know this after we have tried to contact you for weeks, and weeks?" The dude felt really guilty and said so, but i think it was the right thing to say.
<span style="font-size: 7.5pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">My head count is due tomorrow as well as my final catering check and if I have any "surprises" I will not hesitate to call and tell them it’s too late. I'm sorry but nothing angers me more than poor etiquette! Especially from people who are fresh off of a wedding and know the drill!
posted by LaborDayBride 101 posts 3 months ago:| i had rsvp no earlier this month on the date of the deadline (she did online rsvp) but then 5 days later i decided i'll suck it up and spend the money cause i really wanted to go, so i called my friend first before i booked the flight... i think that's the least he could have done was to ask you if he's going to be late on the rsvp or give you a heads up....
posted by superstar 152 posts 3 months ago