If there is one thing that my clients always seem to have questions about, it’s the reply card. I get it. The reply card is a key piece of the wedding invitation suite and it gives the couple a ton of information about the guests coming to their wedding. To make things easier, I’ve put together 5 tips + tricks that I think will help answer some of those nagging questions when dealing with response cards.
Tip #2 - Your reply by date should be 4 to 6 weeks prior to the wedding. This will give you plenty of time to gather any lingering responses from guests prior to when your venue requires a final headcount.
If you are having a destination wedding, the reply date should be extended to 6 to 8 weeks, just to make sure everyone has travel plans in place.
Tip #4 - Make sure you put the correct amount of postage on your reply envelope or postcard. In order to ensure your responses come back to you in a timely manner, I always suggest placing a stamp for the correct postage on your reply envelope or postcard. It’s also just a courtesy to your guests. Oh. and don’t forget to include your address on the front of the envelope!
Tip #1 - Pick the best style of reply for your wedding. Reply cards are typically offered in three styles: traditional envelope style, postcards or online. Depending on your budget and style, one may be a better option than the other. The envelope style is most traditional, the postcard style requires less postage and the online is perfect for budget friendly weddings. Check out our blog post on this topic for more details.
Tip #3 - If your venue requires meal choice indicators on escort cards, then ask for the guests’ full name or initials when choosing a meal selection. When you get the reply card back from the guest, you can ensure you know which guest is eating which meal, and you can easily indicate that on the escort card.
Tip #5 - Number your response cards. I highly recommend numbering your guests on your guest list. Then, prior to stuffing your invitations, write the guest number in pencil (or invisible ink UV pen) on the back of the response card. Place into the correct guest envelope and mail. Even if your guests return the card, but forget to write their name or you can’t read the handwriting, you can check the number and know who it is!
Hopefully these 5 tips + tricks will make you feel a little better about sending out those invitation and reply cards. And, I’m always here if you have an other questions.