Two separate rsvps for wedding and reception?

Question

we're having our wedding ceremony in an outdoor garden that requires a head count and charges pp and the reception somewhere about 45min away 2.5hours later, so im assuming not everyone will attend both. would it be okay to have two rsvp cards or two spots on the rsvp which will denote whether they be attending both or just the reception?

Answer 1

I would use one RSVP card where guests can check which events they are attending - it will help you save on postage and paper!

Something like this:

"Please do us the courtesy of sending a response by September 1, 2008.

M___________________________

___ will attend the ceremony

___ will attend the reception

___ will not be able to attend

Number of guests: ___"

Answer 2

I think it would be easiest for your guests to have one RSVP card with boxes they can check if they are able to attend each event or not.

Answer 3

I would do one card. It’s hard enough for people to remember to send in the one, let alone two.

Answer 4

given the situration and distance it would be very smart to do so.  Be sure each is labeld clearly.

Or do one and say

_will attend ceremony

_will not attend ceremony

_will attend reception

_will not attend reception

Answer 5

Although most RSVP cards don't do this, if you need a specific count for both I would...

Answer 6

Here is what you can do:

Kindly Respond by July 31, 2008

M_______________________

___Will Attend the Ceremony

___Will Attend the Reception

___Will Attend the Ceremony & Reception

___Will Not Attend the Ceremony or Reception

If you have entree choices for your reception you can do it this way:

Kindly Respond by July 31, 2008

M_______________________

___Will Attend the Ceremony

___Will Attend the Reception

___Will Attend the Ceremony & Reception

___Will Not Attend the Ceremony or Reception

If attending reception please select  your entree choice

___Prime Rib  ___Chicken ___Vegetarian

Answer 7

If you are really, really serious about having an accurate head count then forget those troublesome and costly response cards and do it the old-fashioned way, by phone. Yes, in the world of Miss Manners people who receive invitation would NEVER be so vulgar as to respond by phone -- they would all promptly sit down and hand write out a response in black ink on the ivory colored formal note cards we all have handy. LOL.

And in that lies the entire tale of how response cards came into being. A clever printer who wanted to squeeze yet more money from wedding customers invented these cute little cards so that considerate brides could make it as simple as possible for those invited to respond PROPERLY -- that is both PROMPTLY and IN WRITING.

If you read Y!A Weddings regularly you will realize that these costly little cards have created many more problems than they solve and most of those problems are addressed by (surprise!) making a PHONE CALL. If you request RSVP by phone in the first place, you could have eliminated that expensive middle step of sending those STAMPED cards. Among the problems avoided are:

No response. You wait 2 weeks and then you (actually, it's better if your helpers handle this) start calling people "to make sure they received the invitation" and request that they have a firm response ready by a certain date.

Improper response. When your helpers talk to guests they should be prepared to say things like "I'm sure Ann and Dave will be looking forward to meeting your new friend, but I'm afraid the wedding can only accommodate people they actually know and care about" or "Yes, I'm certain that the invitation is for Mr & Mrs Ted Knotts only -- not for the Knott children."

Complex response. This is where YOU fit in as do those who want guests to make menu choices, who want to guide guests as to what "evening casual" might mean in the way of clothing, who need to provide complex driving directions, and so on.

An added advantage of RSVP by phone is that during the phone call the invitee will usually ask what sort of gift the couple would like. I agree entirely with Miss Manners that IF AND ONLY IF the guest ASKS about the gift can the guest be told where the couple is registered or that they prefer cash.

Congrats & best wishes.

Answer 8

If you're being  charged per person, then yes you should do 2 separate RSVP cards. I wouldn't assume that your guests would attend both the wedding ceremony and reception. I only attend the reception when I'm invited to the wedding. I'm sure I'm not the only one who does.