What is the difference between sending a RSVP vs Save the date for a wedding?

Question

I'm planning the sending out invitations part of my wedding and cant figure out if I need to send Save the date card, then an RSVP and then Invitations- can i skip the RSVP part just by sending out the save the date card or vice-versa??

ok, so I'll have to send:
1) save the date
2) Invitation
3) RSVP (to make sure they're coming or not)

that seem like alot of money on scrap paper!

am I suppost to include return postage too??

Answer 1

First send the Save the date card well in advance (several months) just so that people keep the date open for your event.

Then send the invitations with the rsvp in the invitation. That is what they respond to.

Here is info on making your save the date's, it's super easy and less expensive than buying them... http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/314905/diy_save_the_date_magnets.html

Answer 2

save the date cards are sent out 10 -12 months before the wedding espeacially if ya have alot of out of town guests or are having a dstination wedding where guest will need to make reservations ahead of time , If you are to the point of sending actual invites you should be about 2-3 months from the wedding so save the dates are useless at this point. rsvp cards are sent with tthe invites and are a good idea if your guest list involves more than 30 people, less than that and they could call, if your having a formal wedding though no matter what the size of the guest list an rsvp is required throught the rules of ettiquitte. Rsvps are ggod cause they are easy for guest to use and help you keep a head count very important for the cateror to have a final head count this will make or break you, if you skip the rsvp and you invited 100 guests but only 50 end up coming and you give the cateror the 100 count you will end up with extra food and paying for 100 peoples meal instead of only 50 see. Anymore questions feel free to email me as i am a studied bridal consultsnt.

Answer 3

Save the dates are sent out a year in advance. A magnet one will be great for the fridge.

Invites (the RSVP is included in this) are official invitations and have an RSVP card inside to be sent back indicating if they can go or not.

Save the Dates are the ONLY ones that are optional.

You need the invite for obvious reasons. The RSVP you definitely need so you know a guest count for caterers and your wedding sites.

I would also include return postage on the RSVP envelope. ALSO I strongly suggest you put their return address on the RSVP card as well just in case you don't get someone putting their name on the RSVP card.

You will still get those rude enough to not RSVP.

Answer 4

The save-the-date card is separate from the invitaion/RSVP card and is sent out well in advance of the wedding to let guests know when the date is so they don't make other plans for that date. They are not needed, except, perhaps, if you are planning to get married on a holiday or are having a destination wedding that people would need time to save for.

The RSVP card is part of the invitation. It is the card that the guest mails back to you to let you know if they are coming to the wedding or not. It lets you get a final count for caterers and to do a seating chart, if you choose. You want RSVPs to be able to plan (you don't have to use a mail-back card: you could give people a phone number and an e-mail address and ask them to get back to you that way if you don't want to bother with the cards and postage).

Answer 5

You do not necessarily have to send a save the date card. They are helpful if you are having a destination wedding and your guests will have to book airfare of if you are having a wedding around a holiday. Other than that, you do not have to send one. Just make sure that you send out the invites with enough time that people can make arrangements (6-8 weeks or so).

We made RSVP postcards for our wedding. On one side we had our address printed and on the other side we put the reply info. This way we saved on paper and we saved on postage (which REALLY adds up!)

Good luck!

Answer 6

A save the date is important if you are getting married in peak holiday season. Seeing as so many couples now plan far in advance you can send out a save the date to ensure that all your friends and family have the date reserved.

Later on you will send out your invitation with RSVP etc.

Answer 7

I would send out the save the date cards maybe like two or three months before you send out the invitations. The RSVP cards will of course be with the invitations and usually people use them to determine how many guests they will have for seating and ordering food, etc. Do not skip sending it out because you have sent out a save the date card, unless of course you are planning on having a big buffet and aren't worried about running out of room or food.

Answer 8

If you don't send an RSVP card people won't RSVP. People are generally either busy or lazy and don't do it. The save the date card only lets people know that you are getting married and an invite is to follow later.

Answer 9

They are different, and just for your invitees to be sure about the event and for you to be sure about your number of guest, I wouldn't skip any one. First I would send out the "save the date" announcement. Then, send the invitation, and include the RSVP card with it. That way your guests are aware of the date before they get the detailed invitation, and they will be able to RSVP back to you when they get the invite so you can be sure of your head count. Congratulations and good luck :)

Answer 10

OMG, I could just KISS you for asking! You are perfectly correct that this is lot of useless and unnecessary trouble and expense. No one had ever HEARD of 'save the dates' or 'RSVP cards' until a greedy printer invented them. Ever since, these scraps of paper have enriched printers, wasted postage money, and made brides miserable.

No, you don't need specially printed 'save the date' merchandise unless you're a dentist reminding patients that it's time for a check up. Use eMail, tMail (traditional, postal mail), FAX and phone to warn friends that the wedding will be "in late June 2008" and to expect invitations sometime in April.

No, you don't need specially printed 'rsvp' cards unless you really like buying headaches. The main purpose of these cards is to allow invitees pretend they don't understand who is being invited and who is not. Back when we did RSVPing by phone, we didn't have that problem. We mailed the invites, waited 3 weeks, and if invitees hadn't phoned us by them, we got on the phone and called them "to make sure the invitation wasn't lost in the mail." During this phone call, invitees asked what sort of gift we'd like and where we were registered and what to wear. We never worried about how to include this information on the invitation since we expected to speak with the guests at least once before the wedding.

My advice is to include a phone number beside or beneath the letters 'rsvp' or 'RSVP' in the lower right of the invitation. You don't need to handle all the phone calls personally; friends and family can make and take phone calls too.

Congrats, best wishes, and smooooooooch!