Is it appropriate to include an insert in my wedding invitation asking guests to RSVP on our wedding webpage?

Question

We are trying to save money and would like to avoid sending out response cards with prepaid postage. Is this tacky?

Answer 1

Let me just save you a lot of time and effort and postage....

I created my own invitations, RSVP postcards, and an insert that had the directions to the event center, info on the hotel for out of town guests, and our website created for free on theknot.com.

The site can be fussy but has the basics: who you are, how you met/got engaged, who is in the wedding, wedding details (times & locations), can even include the menu & your registry. There is also an RSVP function tho it seems to indicate that it will only allow one menu selection per RSVP, so I don't actually use it.

Anyway, we stuffed and mailed the invites and ... I get two or three postcards in the mail every day with NO NAME written in by the guest.

I've asked on here, I've asked family, friends, co-workers (all of whom are probably some of my no-name suspects and are afraid to tell me)...if you've ever been invited to a wedding, you fill your name in on the RSVP. It is not done for you. This should not be a new concept. If you do any kind of RSVP, postcards are cheaper (create on zazzle.com) and number them. Have a corresponding list of numbers with names so you know who RSVPs and who doesn't.

There are only a few days left before my RSVP deadline, and I am missing more than half the postcards. The wedding is 9/15/07 and we have to give final headcount 10 days before the event. We will spend the beginning of September calling people to find out if they are coming or not. I can't wait for the people who protest that they sent their card, so I can ask if they put their name on it...and listen to the silence.

I'd recommend sending "save the date" mailings. I wish I had. Then an inexpensive invitation, people throw them away anyway.

So if you are going to be inviting a lot of younger, internet savvy people, sounds great. You may as well save yourself the time and trouble and cost of RSVPs and postage that just goes to waste anyway, and just call the older folks. You're obviously going to end up doing that anyway. Everyone will wait until the last minute and you have to go out and beat the bushes.

Answer 2

You can certainly do it that way, however, you're making a big assumption that everyone you're inviting has internet access, and knows how to access a web page w/o issues. If Granny or your Aunt Edna don't have internet access, how are they going to RSVP? They're not.

If you NEED a response (mainly for catering purposes) then the best way to get that response is from response cards that you have put postage on. What I would do, is put the web address on the response card, and indicating that guests can also RSVP online as well. But, I'm seriously afraid if you don't include those response cards, you won't get a good response...period. And if you need numbers for a caterer, then you and other family members will have one more chore about 3 weeks before the wedding, trying to get in touch with everyone by phone to get their RSVP.

Answer 3

I plan to offer the option to RSVP on our wedding website, but unfortunately a lot of older people are just not up to it. Everytime I go home I always have to help my grandma with some online thing she has been waiting months for me to help her with such as a family members vacation photos. Maybe at least off an answering service to take phone RSVPs, but that will probably cost you more than postage. I think you can get an 800 number for like 15 cents a call(hook it up to an answering machine), and then people won't feel like they are being a burden by calling the wedding couple with their RSVP.

You need to provide more than the website to RSVP.

Answer 4

Send out the response cards without the pre-paid postage, and on the response card include a web location for them to RSVP.

Keep in mind that, even in this millenium, some people are still not "web enabled"

Many will go to the website, as it is cheaper and easier for them. Those that don't, will have to fork over the stamp for the response.

It is a little more expensive, but if you were going to do it as an insert anyway, not too much more.

Answer 5

The problem with that is what about people who do not have internet access. (Yes I know but believe it or not there are some out there.)

If you are sure that people have access, and will respond then I don't see why not, but you definitely run the risk of people not responding.

The thing about including the return cards is to make it easy for your guests to just drop it in the mail.

If you are having a small wedding it may work, but be prepared to call people who do not respond.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Not tacky, but I would suggest you only give that option to those you KNOW have access to the internet. Many people don't (hard to believe but true nonetheless) and for those people you could do the response cards or give them a telephone number to call with their RSVP.

Amazing how expensive it is to invite people to the wedding, to say nothing of how expensive it is if they actually attend!

Good luck to you!

Answer 7

No, that's actually a really cool idea! Make sure that most of your guests do have access to a computer, but otherwise I love your idea. I think when I get married that is a great idea. Then if some people don't respond it's not wasted postage.

Answer 8

I personally don't think so. Most people now a days will have internet access, and some may even feel its more convenient for them to just jump on the computer to reply. I know a couple who did this and no one thought it was tacky. I don't think most guests will give it a second thought. If they don't have internet access maybe give them the alternative of sending back the reply via mail.

Answer 9

Thats not tacky at all. But I would also note in the response cards that if you are available to internet acess then RSVP on that website...cuz if someone does not have acress to the internet then it would be really hard for them to RSVP to it, and they might forget about it. Otherwise I think its a great idea.

Answer 10

I wouldnt say tacky, but maybe inconvenient. some people may not have a computer (my parents for example, my brother, my father--n-law) and so I'm sure you probably have guests that dont have one either. so in some cases you might end up getting a bunch of phone calls letting you know. and I know with me, I would probably keep forgetting to do it becuase when I have something sitting there that i have to mail out...I usually remember it and eventually get around to it. with something I do online, I would keep putting it off. its up to you, but you may want to rethink it.