Today’s Wise Wedding advice is going to be simple and to the point. Weddings can be expensive, and people often don’t fully understand everything that goes into planning a wedding. This can include not understanding how many people a reception hall allows, RSVPing in a timely manner, and frankly who you actually want to be there on your day.
1. Mistake: Not Clarifying Who is Invited
We want to make sure it is clear to the recipient who the invite is actually inviting. The easiest solution is clearly writing or printing out every guest who you expect to attend on the mailing envelope of the save the date and the invitation. This will provide clarity early on for the guests. If you are wanting to have an entire family/household attend including children, use wording such as "The Williard Family” or write out each name “ Mr. and Mrs. John Williard, Jonothan, Mary and Sarah”. If you would like just the adults to attend, use the wording “Mr. and Mrs. John Willard”. This implies they are the only ones expected to attend. For those with a plus one or a significant other who you would like to attend, write “Jonothan Willard and Guest” or if you know their partner’s name, go ahead and address it directly to the two of them.
For formal weddings, you can use an inner envelope and again write out each name of the people you would like to attend. For those with a plus one, the address envelope should just state the guests name and the inner envelope is the correct space to add the words “and guest” for the parties with who you have given one.
If you would like to go a step further, as talked about last week, you can fill in the number of guests or directly write the guest’s names on the RSVP card who you are expecting to attend.
2. Mistake: Sending out B-List Invites
This may be slightly controversial, but I know most couples have a B-list of guests. Whichever way you fall on this choice if you are to send out invites to anyone on your B-List make sure to print extra invitations and have the RSVP card have a later return date. This will ensure that those guests will have a resturn date that is later than when they receive their invitation. Remember, whoever receives a Save the Date should always receive an invitation, but those who receive an invite do not always have to have a save the date.
3. Mistake: Forgetting to put a stamp on the RSVP
To ensure that your RSVPs get back to you, don’t forget to address the return envelope to the correct person and stamp your RSVP envelope. This simple courtesy will cut out the extra step of guests needing to buy a stamp and will help your RSVP return to you in a timely manner.
In the case of an online RSVP, make sure directions are clear and web address is easily typed out.