When To Send Wedding Rsvp Reminders?

The ideal time to send an RSVP reminder is one week before the deadline, as it allows your recipient some time to respond. RSVPs are essential for wedding planning, and if guests haven’t responded by the deadline, it’s best to send them at least four weeks before the ceremony. Traditional wedding invitations are sent in the mail about six months before the wedding date, but it’s ideal for guests to reply at least four weeks before the ceremony.

To effectively remind people to RSVP, you can consider sending a gentle reminder, going on the offensive, including an RSVP date in the invitation, giving them an update about your wedding planning, or using text message RSVPs. Be polite and avoid messaging anyone who has already submitted a response.

When sending out reminders, make sure not to send this to everyone on the guest list and avoid messaging anyone who has already submitted a response. Be gentle and kind while still firmly asking for the RSVPs by a certain date.

Remember that traditional paper RSVPs should be sent at least eight weeks before the event, and guests should be aware that text messages are an accepted form of RSVP. To give guests ample time to plan and respond, send out the wedding invitations and RSVP cards at least eight weeks before the event.

The ideal RSVP by date should fall three to four weeks before the wedding, and if your wedding RSVP deadline has passed, wait about one week before sending follow-ups to guests who haven’t responded yet. Depending on how much time you have until the wedding, you should wait 1-2 weeks after your RSVP deadline to start following up with guests.

How to politely remind guests to RSVP?

Step 1: Go on the offensive. Before your invitations even go out, be sure to use your invitation and RSVP wording to your advantage. Restraint is the operative word of the day when youre trying to get the info you need while avoiding hurting anyones feelings. A polite but clear reminder on the RSVP form itself is always a good bet to help get your guests moving sooner than later – “Please respond by XX date so that Hubby and I can get excited about seeing you at our wedding!” Youre really saying “You have no idea how much stuff we need to get organized between now and then – and its our wedding!,” but instead youre being nice about it. See? Everyones happier this way. If youve opted to use an online event management platform (like RSVPify) to help manage your event, you may have the ability to easily send email reminders to guests who have not RSVPd.

Step 2: The “Gentle Nudge”. Is it getting close to the RSVP cut-off? Slightly past your deadline? Everyones human, and chances are your outstanding guests just need a gentle nudge reminding them to send along their RSVP. Depending on who the guest is, start with a quick reminder by text message, email or social media. A lot of online guest list management tools actually have the ability to send automated reminder emails to remind guests to RSVP, even if you originally sent traditional paper invitations. If its a friend or relative of the bride or grooms parents, let your parental units do the ‘dirty work with a quick message or phone call. Friend of the bride or groom? No need to come across as pushy. A simple “Hey Veronica, just making sure you received our invitation (a couple didnt make it weve learned…) and wanted to see if youre able to make it to our special day!?” Sure, maybe all of your invites made it. But a little white lie can help take an edge off.

Step 3: The Final Reach Out. The big day is a few weeks out. Its time to finalize your numbers, make sure all your ducks are in a row and provide caterers the all-important headcount. At this point, you need to step up your game a bit. Dont just rely on social media or email – give your missing guests a round of follow-up calls if its been a while – Sure, youve decided to use online RSVPs because you dont want to rely on the old-school methods of organizing a wedding. However, between general forgetfulness and the possiblelearning curve of new digital RSVP services and other online wedding apps, its probably a good idea to check in via phone with those guests youre still waiting for an answer on. Mask it as a simple hello call, with a polite reminder “By the way, Hubby and I would be so happy to see you at the wedding – do you think you can make it?”. Sure, what youre really saying is “Is it a %&#$@% yes or no?!,” but see, you can still be polite about it.

How long before a wedding should RSVPs be due?

When Should Wedding RSVPs Be Due?. Ideally, the RSVP by date should fall three to four weeks before your wedding. Because your wedding invitations should be mailed six to eight weeks prior to the big day, guests should generally have a window of about one month to RSVP. This way, its close enough that your guests feel like they cant put it off, yet its not so close that theyve made other plans, explains Arizona-based wedding planner Chandra Keel, owner of Chandra Keel Events.

Theres a good reason behind this timing: You and your partner need to know who is coming to the wedding before you can make your seating chart. A number of vendors—like your wedding planner, caterer, and transportation company—will require a final guest count to be in ahead of the big day; this helps them plan for meals, order the correct number of tables and chairs, and ensure there are enough shuttles for everyone. A late RSVP can put everyone behind.

6 Ways to Ensure Everyone RSVPs on Time. No one wants to spend the last few weeks before their wedding tracking down RSVPs. While its very likely that youll have to follow up with at least one or two delinquent guests no matter what you do, there are steps you can take to ensure most everyone RSVPs on time.

What to do if guests don’t RSVP?

Anyone who receives an invitation has an important obligation to reply as soon as possible. And yet so many dont. Some forget; others procrastinate and then feel guilty, so they delay even longer. To many a host on the non-receiving end of an RSVP, it seems as if an invitee is simply waiting for something “better” to possibly come along. One of the sad parts about the demise of the RSVP is that relationships often suffer due to hosts resultant hurt feelings and frustration. It is perfectly polite, however, for hosts to call friends to ask if they plan to attend.In fact, if you want an accurate headcount, you have no choice but to call those who havent responded and ask whether they plan to come to your event or celebration.

Yes, its an awkward conversation. Be friendly, not accusatory. Say something like this:

When should you send reminders?

Advance reminders are easier. You can send those out one business day before the event. Two days before is appropriate if the person has to make elaborate preparations. If you use Calendly, you can easilyschedule remindersto auto-send a certain number of hours before the event.

How do you write agentlereminder email?. Apart from when you send the email, one of the most important elements of reminder etiquette is afriendly tone. You want to strike a balance between urgency and understanding. The gentler you can be, the better.

Below are several examples andtemplatesyou can swipe from — theyll help you craftkindreminderemailsthat drive your point home without hurting any feelings.

Is 6 months too early to send wedding invites?

But, there is a fine line between giving enough notice and sending your invites too early. You certainly dont want to be sending them out a year before your wedding. Dont be mistaken. Its OK to send your save the date cards out 6 -12 months before. However, if you send your invites as much as 4-6 months early, you risk them getting lost or your guests actually forgetting the date as its so far off in the future.

While there is a lot to remember when planning a wedding, its always best to stay ahead and ensure you leave yourself and your guests plenty of time.

For more detailed advice, check out my timeline for stress free wedding invitations.

When should you remind a guest to RSVP?

Before the deadline: how to follow up. You shouldnt start following up with guests immediately after your deadline. Leave some buffer time for RSVP cards that may still be making their way through the mail. Depending on how much time you have until the wedding, you should wait 1-2 weeks after your RSVP deadline to start following up with guests.

Giving that gentle RSVP reminder to guests depends on your relationship with them:

If the guest is someone you regularly see the person, you can simply bring it up the next time you see them.

How early should you ask for RSVP?

To give guests ample time to plan and respond, youll want to send your invitations out at least eight weeks before your big day. RSVP etiquette dictates that its ideal for guests to reply at least four weeks before your ceremony, allowing you time to confirm the numbers with your caterer and venue.

Paperless Post makes it easy to send beautiful digital invitations, and tracks your RSVPs automatically in one place. If you use the Paperless Post app, youll even get real-time notifications when guests confirm. Plus, you can send updates to all guests with schedule changes or reminders. You can also privately message people to follow up on their attendance or questions they may have, if needed.

If you choose to send paper invites, our exclusive print partner, Paper Source, can turn any Paperless Post digital invitation into a paper one. Remember that, when choosing and addressing wedding invitations, you should include a stamped envelope if youre asking guests to send an RSVP by mail.

How to send reminders to RSVP for a wedding?

When should you send RSVP reminders?. If your RSVP deadline is looming and youre still missing quite a few responses, dont worry — you dont have to wait until the deadline to send out a friendly reminder. Simply gather the names of the people who have yet to RSVP, and start reaching out. Send out a friendly email to remind guests that the deadline is approaching; just make sure to BCC each person to avoid public shaming. If you have a social media event for the wedding, you can even create a quick post for a low-pressure reminder.

When the RSVP deadline passes, you might need to get more assertive. Text each person individually, or better yet, pick up the phone and call them. Let them know youre hoping to see them at your wedding, and politely explain that your venue and caterer need a final headcount. Many people will RSVP on the spot, and you can record their preferences in your spreadsheet.

A phone call is also an easy way to avoid miscommunication. When your loved ones can hear your voice, theyre less likely to interpret your reminder as rude or aggressive. Thats not always true with texts, which can seem impersonal or curt.

If youre unable to secure an RSVP by the deadline, you may have no chance but to cut the person from your list. If its someone important, such as a family member or a close friend, you might want to keep them on the guest list just in case.

How do you follow up with someone for wedding RSVP?

As the caterer and venue deadline get closer, you might need to reach out to guests individually. An easy option is to send a personal text:

Hi Catherine, I was just checking the wedding RSVP list, and I realized I havent heard from you. Just wanted to touch base to see if you and Joel can make it on July 14!

If youre planning to make a phone call, start with a friendly greeting and a quick catch-up. Then, you can mention the RSVP and ask if the person can make it to the wedding without seeming abrupt or rude. If you need to leave a voicemail, get right to the point:

Hi Catherine, this is Amy. Im finalizing the guest list for our wedding, and I dont have an RSVP from you and Joel. Can you give me a call or send me a text to let me know if you can make it on July 14th? John and I are so excited to see you both. Talk to you soon!

Browse Truly Engagings RSVP designs. RSVP cards are one of the best ways to encourage guests to respond to your wedding invitation. Explore Truly Engagings RSVP designs to find beautiful cards that fit perfectly into your invitation suite. While youre at it, check out our blog for more wedding-planning tips and information about wedding etiquette.