K.G. asks from Keyport, NJ on June 15, 2008
What Does RSVP Mean to You
I want to get some feedback to see what the majority says here. I personally feel when I receive an invitation to any type of party or event and it reads RSVP, then I need to respond wether I will be attending or not. And if I am hosting an event, I expect the same in return.
What do you ladies think of this?
So What Happened?™
Wow, Looks like I opened a can of worms here! ha ha. I am relieved to hear I am not the odd one out with my thinking and expectation on this subject. Here's why I asked for your opinion. A few times each year I hold aa special customer appreciation party. I rent a hall, give away 100's of dollars in prizes, provide snacks, organize fun games, etc... It takes alot of planning and preperation on my part. I love doing it, but it's so difficult to plan accordingly when you don't know who is in fact showing up. I mail and email invites with several way to respond and send a reminder a week before. Everyone who is invited knows me, has been in my home or I in theirs at one point, Or they have elected to subscribe to my newsletter. Generally there may be anywhere from 60 to 100, sometimes more people receiving invitations. When only 5 or 6 people respond, how am I to plan properly? I don't want to sound demanding or mean about it. I just feel like it's common courtesy to say ye or ne to any type of invitation.
I wish I had been able to somehow invite all of you Ladies. At least I would know who would be attending.
Thank you all for taking the time out of your busy day to add your input.
K.
Well, You have all certainly given excellent ideas on how to go about prying RSVP's out of people! I am laughing so hard right now. Some of you are just too funny.
I suppose it takes all kinds to make the world go round. It looks like many of you gals have faced the frustration of no responses too. Even though the events and parties still go on and in many cases are a hit, it makes you worry beforehand and in some cases have to eat the extra expenses for uneaten meals, seating, favors, etc...
That's it! The insanity has to stop! I say we all go on strike and don't feed the people who just show up. ha ha
More Answers
M.Q. answers from New York on June 17, 2008
you are correct. the exception would be where someone wrote "regrets only".
1 mom found this helpful
J.M. answers from New York on June 17, 2008
I agree with you RSVP means respond no matter what and if there is a date on there respond by that date because you never know if the host is ordering food or has to pay for the exact number of people at the restaurant before hand. I just had a baby shower for my sister-in-law and I was getting people RSVPing 2 days before the event. How annoying.
1 mom found this helpful
J.S. answers from New York on June 16, 2008
This is one of my BIGGEST pet-peeves! The day I receive an invite, I try to respond. When I host a function, I get a few RSVP's in the beginning and then nothing! I don't understand how people have gotten through life being so rude! Even my husband's family does not respond. I hate having to call people to find out if they are coming. Even if I have mentioned it to someone, so they save the date, I still expect a phone call, one they receive the invitation. If you receive an invite, you respond! I do not see what the problem is with making a phone call or sending an email! Sorry for the rant, but I feel very strongly about this!
1 mom found this helpful
L.H. answers from New York on June 17, 2008
that's actually a really good question. my first reaction was to say that I would rsvp only if I could attend, but I think one should really rsvp regardless.
1 mom found this helpful
C.R. answers from New York on June 17, 2008
I agree. RSVP means to respond one way or the other. It is courtesy for the person who is planning the event to be able to plan accordingly how many people will be attending.
1 mom found this helpful
I.C. answers from New York on June 17, 2008
I have been hosting parties at my home for years---both adult parties for my husband and me and kids' parties for my two children, who are now 9 and 11. I always put RSVP on the invitations and yet these are the percentages that I have observed over the past 20 years of having parties:
Out of 100 people invited, 50 will not come or RSVP at all. Of the remaining 50 people, 35 people will say YES and 15 will say NO. About 20% of those 35 people, or 7 people, will not show up, even though they've said YES. If you want to increase the RSVP rate, give them an option to email or phone. That helps a little. If you really want to know who's coming and who's not coming, phone everyone the week before who didn't respond. It's annoying and frustrating, but I've found that it's today's reality. Also annoying is people who call the same day as the party and say, "Oh. I'm so sorry. I forgot to respond. Can I still come?" I am always barraged with 5 to 10 calls the day of the party, just while I'm trying to get everything ready for the party. That's life. Thank God I got my wonderful job. I'm a self-employed Mary Kay Executive Director and love my work. I'd love to make you feel special and wonderful with free facials, hand treatments, makeovers, pampering and serious girl talk. Take a one hour break from everything else. All you've got to do is call me at ###-###-####.
1 mom found this helpful
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