| You would think that when you issue a formal | | | | have not responded to your wedding invitation. If |
| wedding invitation, it should be a given that a | | | | you put a specific deadline on your response |
| response is expected from the guests. In the | | | | cards, wait until a few days after the date has |
| vast majority of cases, wedding invitations even | | | | passed to account for any stragglers. Otherwise, |
| state "RSVP" or "The favour of a reply is | | | | go by whatever deadline your caterer has given |
| requested". In fact, many brides go so far as to | | | | you. If the bride has a wedding coordinator, she |
| include stamped self-addressed reply cards so | | | | should be given the somewhat awkward task of |
| that guests have to expend virtually no effort at | | | | trying to wrangle responses out of wayward |
| all in sending their response. Yet, even with all of | | | | guests. When there is no planner, the job will |
| this, it is far too common for the last days | | | | generally fall to to the bride or her mother. A |
| before the wedding to roll around and the bride | | | | simple call saying, "We did not receive your reply |
| and groom are still left hanging by people who | | | | to our wedding invitation yet, and we wanted to |
| have not accepted or declined the invitation. So | | | | be sure that you can join us." will do the trick for |
| what should you do if your wedding guests don't | | | | most people. If you have to leave a message, be |
| RSVP? | | | | sure to conclude with "Could you please call me |
| Many a bride worries that to track down guests | | | | back at your earliest convenience?" and give |
| who have not responded to a wedding invitation | | | | them the best number to reach you. |
| will appear rude or pushy. As long as it is done | | | | For most people, a reminder call is enough to |
| graciously, however, there is absolutely nothing | | | | trigger a reply to your invitation, but if you still |
| rude about it at all; actually it is the guest who has | | | | don't hear back and crunch time is nearing, it is |
| blown off their duty who is being ill-mannered. | | | | definitely acceptable to make a follow up call. |
| After all, you have to know how many mouths | | | | Keep your tone pleasant, but firm. When leaving a |
| you will be feeding, who to put on the seating | | | | message, say something like, "Sorry to bother |
| chart, and what your final expenditures will look | | | | you, but we still have not received your response |
| like. | | | | to our wedding invitation, and the caterer is |
| For couples who have budgeted their weddings | | | | demanding that I give her a final head count by |
| carefully, it can be very helpful to know whether | | | | Friday. I do so hope you can come to my |
| or not you will be serving dinner to 100 guests or | | | | wedding, but if I have not heard back from you |
| 110. Considering the price per person, the | | | | by Friday, I will assume that means you cannot |
| difference of a few guests either way can mean | | | | make it." |
| hundreds of dollars, and it would be nice to know | | | | Anyone who wants to attend will certainly be |
| if you will have that extra cash to splurge on the | | | | motivated by the final deadline, and a guest who |
| extras like getting the complete sets of | | | | does not bother to reply probably had no intention |
| bridesmaid jewelry as gifts or if you had better | | | | of attending in the first place. Of course, if you do |
| limit your bridesmaid jewelry gifts to just a pair of | | | | get a call two days before your wedding from an |
| earrings. There is nothing worse than paying for | | | | old friend apologizing dearly for being so late to |
| meals that go uneaten, unless it is having guests | | | | reply, the only thing to do is to graciously tell her |
| show up for whom there is no dinner waiting. So, | | | | you are glad she is coming and find a way to |
| by all means, track down those non-responsive | | | | squeeze her in for dinner. After all, friends and |
| guests diligently! | | | | family are more important than punishing |
| A phone call is the place to start with people who | | | | someone for being an inconsiderate guest. |