Stress-free RSVPs — how to collect replies on time

"Please reply by…" — the sentence half of your guests read and forget. Yet without their answers you can't order the menu, plan the seating or know how much cake you need.

When to send the invitations

• Wedding: 6–8 weeks before the date. With guests from abroad, 3 months, with a save-the-date first.
• Christening and birthday: 3–4 weeks.
• Prom and party: 2–3 weeks.

When to ask for a reply

Set the deadline 3–4 weeks before the event. The venue usually wants the final number two weeks ahead, and you will need one more week to chase the silent ones.

Make replying easy

The fewer steps, the more replies. Ideally just one: the guest opens the link and taps "I'm coming" or "I can't". If you ask about the menu, plus-ones or allergies, ask at the same moment, not in a second message.

What to do about the ones who stay silent

1. A week before the deadline, send a short reminder — only to those who haven't replied.
2. After the deadline, one personal message or call. Usually they simply forgot.
3. If there is still no answer, count them as "not coming". It's easier on everyone.

Keep everything in one place

A notebook list, chat messages and a spreadsheet drift apart in no time. When every reply lands in one place, you always see how many are coming, how many aren't, how many are pending — and exactly who.

In InviteCards replies arrive in the event dashboard instantly, with each guest's choices next to their name.

RSVPs collected on time are half the planning. The other half is enjoying the celebration.