Post # 1
Member
62 posts
Worker bee
Just wondering how others have handled non RSVP’ers to their wedding. Its now three weeks after my RSVP date and I am still missing about 15% – despite text, emails and calls. Also, I have quite a few people who have said they are a maybe…
I need to get the final numbers to the cater’s in about a week…
My mum thinks I just need to go with it and if extra people rock up or decide not to come we just need to cater for them. However, having a job where I regularly plan corportate events and know its not that simple. Extra people need extra food, seats, favors, etc., I also need a seating chart and to make sure I have sufficient programs (etc., all need to be printed in advance). Also, its not cheap to have extra people – it costs around $200 per head.
Thoughts?
Post # 2
Member
23 posts
Newbee
You have to bite the bullet and call the non-responders AND the maybes. Make it clear that you have to give a count to the caterers and for the set up. If they don’t answer the phone just leave a message telling them– you will really miss them, but if you don’t hear from them by tomorrow afternoon you will assume they won’t be coming. Call the “maybe’s” (How infuriating and rude!) and let them know the same thing.
My experience with helping others with their weddings is that a number of “yes’s” won’t show up and that will make up for the non-responders showing up.
I think seating charts are a bad idea and unnecessary. If you want to reserve a table for family do that with a sign on the table, but let people sit where they want to. It will make your planning so much easier! And your guests will be happier too!
Post # 3
Member
8872 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
Send them one more message saying if you have not heard by x date then unfortunately you will have to count them as a no RSVP.
If they do turn up on your wedding day then smile graciously and stick them on the odd table at the back. Most places have extra meals and places set.
Post # 4
Member
2967 posts
Sugar bee
if they never responded to my calls, texts and e-mails, then i took it as a ‘no’ and did not reserve a place for them.
Post # 5
Member
731 posts
Busy bee
NowraJanBride: I agree with the others BUT your venue should account for at least 5% more than what you give them (thats what ours said). Good luck!
Post # 6
Member
618 posts
Busy bee
Wow, that’s really annoying! I agree with PPs that you should hound them and give ultimatums to all of the non-responses and maybes.
Post # 7
Member
62 posts
Worker bee
Hi everyone,
Thanks for your advice… With the maybe’s a lot have been well I won’t know until this date as I may need to do this or that so I can’t really tell you till two weeks before….
Not totally sure what you do in this situation. Is it rude to say the caters need to know the numbers so if you can’t RSVP by X date then unfortunately you will not be able to attend. My mum thinks this is quite rude.
Post # 8
Member
1754 posts
Buzzing bee
It may seem rude, but this isn’t a casual get-together… this is a WEDDING. It is very expensive, very difficult to coordinate, and involves a LOT of outside people (caterer, venue, etc. etc.).
You need to tell the no’s that you will need a definite response by X date or there will not be room for them. You also need to get a little real with the maybe’s and tell them that, unfortunately, weddings do not work that way and as you are coordinating with a lot of outside vendors such as a caterer (who will NOT have extra food if extra people show up), you will need a definitive answer.
I would use the caterer and venue as “scapegoats” if you’re worried about backlash. It’s not me – it’s the caterer! My hands are tied! The deadline is set by the venue! Whatever.
If people take it as rude… I don’t know what to tell you. Some of them might – and they will get over it. Sadly, you sometimes just can’t make people understand that it’s rude in the first place to leave you hanging when you’re trying to pay for them to eat and drink and party!
Post # 9
Member
786 posts
Busy bee
If people take it as being rude, you can tell them not RSVP’ing is just as rude.
Post # 10
Member
8872 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
NowraJanBride: Your mum thinks you would be rude to do that? What about how the guests are being rude by not RSVPing? I would remind her of that fact and then tell the maybes that unfortunately unless they can tell you a definite answer by x date then you will have to mark them down as a no. If they think that is rude then I don’t know what to tell you aside from they are wrong.
Post # 11
Member
1000 posts
Bumble bee
We all like to be as accommodating as possible, but it is just not considerate of people to leave you hanging like that. Your mom thinks it’s rude because if this were just a birthday party at your place, it WOULD be rude. But as PPs pointed out, this is not any party, it’s a wedding that involves lots of moving parts & money at risk.
Post # 12
Member
355 posts
Helper bee
- Wedding: May 2015 - The Fairmont, SF
NowraJanBride: Absolutely not – you do not need to let people who were too lazy and rude to RSVP to your wedding just “rock up” and grab a $200 plate of food. That sense of entitlement on their part and lack of regard for your time and energy is horrendous. As for telling them that there’s a definite cut off date, that’s totally within your rights and might help them figure out their other plans more quickly.
My Fiance and I are doing “rolling invites” with two RSVP dates – the first wave will have an RSVP deadline well in advance of the second. We both have large families so as our family members decline, we will be able to invite friends. We’ve agreed to follow up with our late responders once and let them know there’s an absolute cut off date, which will be a week before we send out invites to the second group (not that they’ll know that bit).
The other thing is that our venue can literally only host 80 people for a sit down dinner (and that’s a tight fit!) so if anyone who didn’t respond decides to turn up, they aren’t getting a seat.
Post # 13
Member
1000 posts
Bumble bee
liameowchelle: That is definitely a tight fit! The venue we had formerly picked out was capacity 80 (max 90) and I was tearing my hair out about the guest list..
Post # 14
Member
62 posts
Worker bee
Thanks everyone for your advice… we had planned to do a rolling invite guest list.. However, as we had to chase so many people it has eaten into our ability to send them out 🙁 I am nervous to send our new invites without RSVP from the old ones…
Post # 15
Member
62 posts
Worker bee
I know people are busy but how hard is it to send a text, email or call… I feel a bit like if you can’t decide if you are free on that date or are waiting for something better to come along, maybe you don’t want to be there that much and should just RSVP no…
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