RSVP Invitations: Everything Couples Need to Know

Everything You Need to Know About Creating RSVP Invitations with the Experts at Bliss & Bone

As you enter the wedding planning experience, there are plenty of fun—and yes, slightly stressful—moments along the way. To help couples navigate the ins and outs of the stationery planning phase, the experts at Bliss & Bone are here to help. RSVP invitations are one of the most important aspects of the stationery suite, and you can choose from a variety of styles and formats to get the exact look and feel that you want. 

In this guide, we will walk you through what a RSVP invitation entails, provide samples to explore with your partner and even show you how to reply to an RSVP invitation. By the end, we hope you and your partner will feel more confident about creating your own RSVP invitations and continuing on with the rest of the items on your wedding planning checklist. 

What Are RSVP Invitations?

RSVP invitations are sent out to invited wedding guests and share some sort of request to submit a response. These are sent out after your Save the Dates, and expand upon the details shared in that initial form of communication. RSVP invitations are digital or printed, and couples usually gravitate toward one or the other because of their budget or general style preferences.

A RSVP invitation should come with plenty of other details as well, particularly the following:

1. The names of the hosts. Most commonly and traditionally, this is the bride’s parents. You should include their full names and titles.
2. What is being requested, exactly. You want to say what the hosts are asking each guest, and that is one of two things: for the pleasure of their company or for the honor of their presence. This one is all about matching the right phrase with your wedding venue type. The latter (“request the pleasure of your company") is suited for ceremonies held in a church or other formal place of worship, while the former (request the honor of your presence) is best for all other types of wedding venues. 
3. The names of the guests of honor. Hey, that’s you! The wedding couple being celebrated is, of course, a crucial element. The typical setup is for the bride’s first and middle name to be added, followed by the groom’s full name and title. Of course, not all couples will align with this and that is definitely understandable. You need to stick with the language and style that works best for you and your partner. 
4. Where and when the wedding is taking place. Your Save the Date will likely share the date and city where you are getting married. In this part of your RSVP invitation, however, you want to feature even more details about your wedding. You should have the date, time of the ceremony and the name of the venue (or venues, if you are relocating at some point during your wedding). 
5. RSVP invitation details. Next up, you will want to feature how and by when guests will need to submit their RSVPs. There are different ways to spell out the details on your RSVP invitations too, according to the experts at EmilyPost.com. RSVP, R.S.V.P., r.s.v.p. and R.s.v.p. are all acceptable for those looking to follow standard etiquette guidelines. If you are sending out RSVP invitations through the mail, you could also skip the RSVP details on the invite and include a reply card and envelope with all of the information you need to know. 
6. Requested attire. Many couples also have a vision for their wedding, and that includes what guests are wearing. You can keep it simple and standard with black tie or cocktail attire, or you can even ask guests to follow a specific color palette. 

Your RSVP invitations are the formal notice your guests need to know that your wedding is happening and the hosts need to know if you can attend. You should send out your RSVP invitations six to eight weeks before your wedding day, and ask guests to reply by two to three weeks prior to the big day. This will give you and your vendor team plenty of time to prepare with your finalized guest list in mind.

The RSVP invitation deadline is the most important thing, since it will inevitably allow the hosts to finalize their guest list and move forward in the planning process. Later on, we will discuss the different ways to ask guests to respond to RSVP invitations and what to do after you have received all of them. 

The History of RSVP Invitations and Where It All Started

It makes sense that the term RSVP takes us back to France. The phrase Répondez s’il vous plaît directly translates to “Respond, if you please” or “Please respond.” And even though the French people do not commonly use it (“SVP” is more popular as a replacement for “please”), it is a widely used abbreviation for invitations in the United States. But how exactly did it become a part of American wedding culture? In the 11th century, French was spoken by those in the upper class in England and phrases like Répondez s’il vous plaît were used regularly. So, when the British colonized America, similar language and expressions were also brought to the country. According to Slate.com, it first appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1845, and was later believed to be an outdated request from the host to their guests in the early 1900s. Meanwhile, Merriam-Webster says the first known use of “RSVP” as a verb was back in 1953. And while some speculated that it would go by the wayside, it is still put into practice today, and hosts find it crucial to know exact numbers as they prepare for such a massive event. 

These days, people use RSVP as both a verb and a noun. For instance, “Did you send over an RSVP?” (noun). Alternatively, “Oh no, I forgot to RSVP!” (verb). People also say things like, “I RSVPed the other day,” which tacks on “-ed” at the end to make it more of a verb. They are used interchangeably and serve as one of the many popular phrases that can do it all. 

The Differences Between RSVP Invitation Online vs. Printed

While printed RSVP invitations were more common in the past, digital versions are becoming increasingly popular. There are several reasons why couples choose one style over the other, and we are sharing the pros of both below:

Why Couples Love Sending a RSVP Invitation Online

• The convenience of sending a RSVP invitation online. A RSVP invitation online is perhaps the most convenient and easy to use piece of stationery, especially in the modern age. Everyone is on their phones these days, and sending a RSVP invitation online will immediately put it into their inboxes. Not everyone regularly checks their mailbox, but sending your invites via email will likely get guests’ attention right away.
• The eco-friendliness of sending a RSVP invitation online. When you create a RSVP invitation online, you do not require any paper to make it. With that, you automatically reduce your carbon footprint. This is important to a lot of couples, and if that is a priority for you, sending a RSVP invitation online can guarantee eco-friendly stationery.
• The cost-effectiveness of sending a RSVP invitation online. By saving on paper, you also reduce your overall costs. Printed RSVP invitations can cost thousands of dollars, but digital options usually cost about $1 each. With this in mind, many couples feel that it is best for their wedding budget to send each guest a RSVP invitation online.

Why Couples Love Sending a RSVP Invitation Through the Mail

• The tradition of sending a RSVP invitation through the mail. Many people love the idea of sticking with tradition and sending RSVP invitations that are similar to those their parents or grandparents sent out for their special days. These are also the types of RSVP invitations that guests are most used to replying to, so the overall experience might be easier for them. 
• The keepsake you get when creating a printed RSVP invitation. While there are many pros to sending a digital RSVP invitation, you cannot store it and save it for later. Sure, you can have it saved on your phone or computer, but if you want a true keepsake, a printed RSVP invitation is recommended.
• The tangible experience of sending a RSVP invitation. Similar to the pros listed above, there is just something about feeling a RSVP invitation. The experience of looking through every piece of stationery is unlike any other, and people can add it to their fridge as a constant reminder of your upcoming festivities. 

There are also three different types of RSVP invitations to send out. The varying ways that show guests how to reply to a RSVP invitation include:

• Online RSVP invitations that ask guests to reply online. These are RSVP invitations sent directly to guests’ emails. Guests will then go to a RSVP wedding website, where they will be prompted to say “yes” or “no” for every guest in their party, and there could be additional questions about dietary preferences or restrictions as well. 
• Printed RSVP invitations that ask guests to send back responses through the mail. The standard and traditional option for couples sending out printed RSVP invitations, these are sent as a bundle through the mail. In it are the RSVP invitations, plus RSVP cards and envelopes. The RSVP cards will ask questions about attendance and reception meals, and they should come with a stamped and addressed envelope for added convenience. Then, all your guests need to do is fill out the reply card, place it in the envelope and drop it in the mail.
• Printed RSVP invitations that ask guests to reply online. If you want the best of both worlds, you can always send out invitations through the mail and include specific instructions about how to reply to a RSVP invitation through your wedding website. You can feature these details on an insert card, a smaller piece of stationery delivered with your RSVP invitation. This can explain the URL for your wedding website and where guests need to go to reply about their attendance to your wedding.

Any of these routes are perfectly acceptable and align with etiquette experts’ preferences as well. You and your partner should evaluate your budget and the aesthetic you like most before you decide on one type of RSVP invitation or the other. 

Understanding the Costs of RSVP Invitations

The three main decisions you make regarding RSVP invitations will impact the overall rates provided by your stationer. It is recommended that couples expect for four to six percent of their budget to go toward stationery. For additional context here, your wedding venue accounts for about 40 percent of your overall wedding budget. And as we mentioned, most digital RSVP invitations are about $1 each, and you only need to send one per household. But remember that if you choose to have a more souped up RSVP invitation connected to your wedding website, you will also need to pay for the cost of the site. 

Printed RSVP invitations come with a more wide-ranging pricing outline. These are the various elements of a printed stationery suite that can hike up your wedding costs:

• RSVP invitation cards: The card itself is, of course, the biggest and most significant piece of this puzzle. Your printing style will contribute to the cost, since digitally printed RSVP invitations cost significantly less than other options. Letterpress and embossing or debossing is a vintage process that involves more manual labor, so prices are higher. Engraving is the most luxurious, expensive option for printing and many couples love the effect and experience of the process. You can switch up the printing process for other pieces in your stationery, or keep it all the same. In addition to the printing process, you can also decide between one- and two-ply pieces of paper. There are near-countless colors and other paper types to look into as well, but the most common is card stock.
• Insert cards: These can function as supplementary invitations to other invites like the welcome party or post-wedding brunch, and it is usually printed out on a smaller piece of stationery. You can also create one that directs guests to your wedding website.
• Reply cards and envelopes: If you decide to create RSVP invitations with replies sent back through the mail, you need reply cards and envelopes. Deciding to add these two items to your order will dip into the stationery budget more than RSVP invitations with instructions to reply online through a wedding website. 
• Belly bands: These are not necessarily required, but belly bands provide organization and extra decor to your stationery design. They are often a piece of ribbon or paper wrapped around all of your stationery to keep it together in the envelope. You can also enclose it with a wax stamp, sticker or glue.
• Stamps: You will need at least one stamp per envelope sent out to your guests. Because of the weight of some paper, you may need to add more stamps to your budget. Plus, you will need more for pre-stamped reply envelopes. This makes it easier for guests to fill out their reply cards and drop them in the mail at their earliest convenience. 
• Calligraphy: Another completely optional part of printed RSVP invitations is how you plan to address the envelopes. You can have them digitally printed in any color you want, or you can hire a calligrapher. Professional calligraphers can add a special touch to the envelope and can further connect the design to the rest of your stationery. Pricing varies based on the number of RSVP invitations you want to send out, but it is a worthwhile investment guests and hosts alike absolutely love. If you are interested in hiring a calligrapher, your stationer can recommend people they often hire for this step in the stationery creation process. 

These are all considerations to have as you build out your stationery suite. We always recommend that couples have a formal budgeting conversation at the beginning of the wedding planning timeline, so you are both on the same page about how much you plan to pay for everything associated with your big day. You can include anyone else who has offered to contribute financially to the celebration as well. After that crucial conversation, you can feel aligned and confident about future decisions you make about booking your venue and hiring all of your vendors. 

RSVP Invitation Sample Ideas to Consider for Your Stationery

You may wonder exactly how to write reply cards or pages on an online RSVP invitation. You can keep it simple, or get creative with it. Either way, you should make the deadline clear and ensure that it is easy to read and follow the directions associated with it. These are the basics required for your reply card, plus a few optional questions to ask them in this section of your stationery:

• A space to fill out the names of the invited guests in their party
• A space to say whether or not they will attend the wedding
• (Optional) A space to share dietary restrictions or preferences. While some weddings have a buffet or family style serving, others serve individual plates to guests. Most of the time, guests are given the option of beef, fish or vegetarian. Your catering team will usually confirm with each guest on the day of the wedding, but asking ahead of time can prepare them to place the appropriate food order.
• (Optional) A space to share whether they can attend other pre- or post-wedding events. Many couples love bringing guests together for a welcome party or post-wedding brunch, especially if they are hosting a destination wedding. If that is something you are interested in, you should include a section to RSVP for those other events on the reply card or in a separate insert card. 

If you are looking for some inspiration, we have provided RSVP invitation sample ideas to look through:

RSVP Invitation Sample #1:

M

_Will Attend

_Will Not Attend

The favor of your reply is requested by August 31

This is one of the wording samples recommended by EmilyPost.com. It is straightforward and you can always swap out “will attend” and “will not attend” with “accept(s)” or “regret(s).” At the top, the M is traditionally written with a line after it, signaling to guests that they should write out their titles and names. To close out the card, this one also requests a deadline to submit all responses. 

RSVP Invitation Sample #2:

Will You Join Us in Lake Tahoe?

M

_Can’t Wait! _Sorry to Miss It!

_ Welcome Party

_ Wedding (beef, fish or vegetarian?)

_ Post-Wedding Brunch

Please reply by October 1

While it is incredibly convenient to follow a traditional script with your reply card, you are always encouraged to have some fun with your RSVP invitations. This is an example of a RSVP invitation written for a multi-day experience. You can see how there is more of a conversational tone than the first example, and there are places to check off whether guests can attend all or some of the events planned. This one also requests dietary preferences, which you can do in writing or with a symbol of beef, fish or vegetarian (think a cow, fish and vegetable). And again, a deadline is specified at the bottom of this reply card.

RSVP Invitation Sample #3:

RSVP

By September 3

M

_Accepts With Pleasure

_Number of Guests in Your Party

_Declines With Regret

This is another example of a standard RSVP invitation card, and it clearly states the deadline. You should detail this no matter what, but it is especially helpful to place it toward the top of the card. This card also asks guests to state how many people in their party will attend. This gets a bit hairy for some couples, because it is possible for people to add extra guests who were not initially invited. If you experience this and receive a response that does not align with your invited guest count, you may need to give them a call and notify them.

RSVP Invitation Sample #4:

ONLINE RSVP

Please help us save paper (and the planet) by submitting your replies via our wedding website before September 1

www.johnandjackwedding.com

This is an example of an insert card that has RSVP details to respond about attendance online. You can also add that you are interested in saving paper and the planet by taking things to the interwebs. At the same time, it will also encourage your guests to explore the wedding website you and your partner worked on together. It also provides guests with a clear deadline, which will save you a lot of time and effort tracking down replies in the long run.

RSVP Invitation Sample #5:

RSVP

Please scan the QR code below with your phone for more information about our wedding and to RSVP by September 1. 

www.samandjenwedding.com

Some couples create a QR code that allows guests to scan it using the camera app on their smartphone and immediately get connected to their wedding website. And for guests who are not familiar with QR codes, you can also include the URL for your wedding website to eliminate any potential confusion (and texts asking how to scan the QR code). This is a more modern approach to RSVP invitations and it is quickly becoming adopted by couples everywhere. 

These are only a few examples of the RSVP invitation cards you can create for your special day. They can serve as a guideline to develop and inspire your own ideas, or you can simply copy them with your specific event details. Your RSVP invitations are not difficult to make, but they require a few essentials—including your instructions on formally submitting a reply. With these wording samples, it will be easier than ever to stay on track with your RSVP invitations.

Coordinating Your RSVP Invitations with Your Chosen Wedding Theme

Your wedding theme can be as complicated or simple as you want. You can prioritize a specific color palette, draw inspiration from your surroundings, find ideas that fit the time of year or come up with an aesthetic or vibe that reflects you, your partner and your love for each other. If you are feeling a bit lost, we have shared a few of the most popular wedding themes and suggestions for coordinating RSVP invitations below.

• Classic RSVP invitations: A classic wedding is all about traditional and timeless elements many couples love. You can expect lots of greenery, lots of white (attire, flowers and decor), venues with traditional architecture, tenting and more. These perennial favorites are timeless for a reason; year after year, couples love the elegance of it all. Your RSVP invitation can match this style easily, and a printed option like the Emily wedding invitation is highly recommended for classic couples. 
• Boho RSVP invitations: The boho wedding theme blends neutral colors with bold floral and decor pieces to create a whimsical and unique celebration. Boho weddings are often held in more original spaces as well, and couples often opt to commit to each other while surrounded by nature. Deserts and mountain ranges are popular places to say, “I do” and they usually help couples choose the right RSVP invitations. The Jewel RSVP wedding invitation, for instance, has romantic neutral colors and flowers that perfectly match the boho theme. 
• Winter RSVP invitations: While countless weddings happen year-round, winter is an ultra-romantic, somewhat unexpected time to celebrate your love. You can bundle up and have a snow-dusted ceremony and reception that people will remember for years to come, and it is important to use the seasonality to inform other decor and design decisions for your big day. The Annabeth RSVP invitation is an easy choice for many couples getting married in the wintertime, since it has deep colors and rustic, natural elements with the appearance of snow. You can also apply this theme idea to weddings hosted in the spring, summer or fall. The colors and natural elements that come with each season can welcome in the most beautiful RSVP invitation ideas.
• Modern minimalist RSVP invitations: Another increasingly popular wedding theme is modern minimalism. Taking a “less is more” approach, the theme encourages couples to use more simple, standard serif fonts and avoid any worries about spacing with their RSVP invitations. Modern minimalist weddings are often hosted in industrial spaces, modern art museums and other more unique wedding venues. It is an understated, slightly off-the-wall wedding theme that eccentric and artistic couples absolutely love. One example of a RSVP invitation is the Mila template, which is all white with the appearance of blind debossing.
• Metallic RSVP invitations: Gold, silver and the more modern rose gold are popular touches to incorporate into the ceremony. From candles to vases, you can explore a variety of decor and design ideas that feature metallic elements. You can even bring metallics into your RSVP invitations, and in print or digital form. There are printed options, like the Avery RSVP invitation, as well as digital versions, including the Celeste RSVP invitation. For all RSVP invitations, you can also add metallics to the template you like most. This special touch can instantly elevate the look of your design and match it to other wedding decor. 
• Black and white RSVP invitations: If you love the idea of a black tie affair, consider a black and white wedding theme. Even celebrities like Kevin Love and Kate Bock got in on this trend, and asked all of their guests to wear black and white as well. It is chic, sophisticated and timeless. Plus, you can always add in a pop of color or metallic to create even more interest in the overall wedding design. And if you want RSVP invitations that go with everything, consider the floral Smith template or the more industrial Hendrix design. There are so many black and white RSVP invitations out there, and you can also create your own using the Start From Scratch template.
• Floral RSVP invitations: There is one thing that almost all weddings have: flowers. All white, bold and bright and muted and neutral, there is almost no limit to what you and your floral designer can achieve together. With that in mind, your floral and greenery choices can inspire your creativity when it comes to your RSVP invitations. You can browse through templates and see which ones fit your floral plan best. A few fan favorites include the following floral RSVP invitations: Tess, Lulu and Luna. 
• Tropical RSVP invitations: Getting married in a tropical destination? The most cohesive, dreamy theme to go with is all about greenery and florals that look like they were grown on or around your venue. On top of that, most ceremonies are hosted on or close to the beach for an effortlessly beautiful and natural setting. You can copy that idea for your tropical RSVP invitations, which can feature palm fronds, monstera leaves and flowers like plumerias, bougainvilleas and birds of paradise. Alternatively, you can choose a more simple design and add in three dimensional objects that match your tropical wedding theme.  
• Vintage RSVP invitations: Transport your guests to a different time in history through your RSVP invitations. For a vintage wedding theme, you may look for decor from a specific time period. For instance, a champagne tower and art deco decor would translate to the ultimate 1920s, Great Gatsby-style celebration. Vintage invites can also have the more authentic printed style, or you can even find plenty of vintage-inspired digital invitation templates as well. Characteristics of these types of invitations may involve metallics, deckle edges (the look of torn edges) and even some florals. The Hayden wedding invitation, for example, has delicate, blush pink flowers, a vintage wax stamp and deckled edges on the paper. Another option is the Serena invitation template, which has a moodier, darker tone to it and lots of florals—and, of course, the deckle edges. 

Where, when and how you celebrate your wedding can help determine the theme and design decisions you make along the way. During your planning process, think through your options with your partner and planner. Many themes can work well anytime and anywhere, but you and your partner should both feel content with the color scheme and decor you use to create the best wedding imaginable.

How to Build Online RSVP Invitations

If you are considering creating online RSVP invitations at Bliss & Bone, you should know that there are two main options here: You can create a simple RSVP invitation that guests can reply to, or you can take a more sophisticated approach by linking your RSVP invitation to your wedding website. We recommend the latter for couples who want to ask their guests additional questions about attendance to other events, food restrictions, meal choices and more. The former option will only show you the number of guests attending from each party, which inhibits you from knowing exactly which guests are joining you at your wedding.

Here is how the process of building this type of RSVP invitation works:

1. Review your options for online RSVP invitations. There are a plethora of RSVP invitation templates to choose from, and the colors and patterns range. From mountain wedding-inspired RSVP invitations to styles best suited for a summer celebration, you can choose the one that fits your wedding aesthetic the most. After you have looked through all of them, make your pick and click on it. Then, hit the “Customize” button.
2. Make all of your changes and customizations. In the online RSVP invitation builder, you have the opportunity to add in your own text, change up the font, move objects and text around and much more. You can use these templates as starting points to create your dream RSVP invitations with just a few clicks. After you are done, click “Next.”
3. Edit your email that will go to your guests. The email is the first thing your guests will see, and they will direct them to the full invite page you designed in the previous step. Here, you can add a note to send out to your guests and share details about the date and venue where your celebration will take place. Then, click “Next.”
4. Personalize your event page. The event page features your card, and it includes the necessary details about RSVPing. You want to make sure that “Collect RSVPs” is toggled on, and then you can edit the language filled in for the “Yes” and “No” buttons. At this stage, you can also add a comment section, interactive map and much more. When you are happy with how everything looks, click “Next.”
5. Add recipients’ details. In this section, you will be instructed to include all of your guests’ names and addresses. Keep in mind that you only need to send one invitation per household, but you should include the names of all of the invited guests within the party. If you opt to collect RSVPs this way, you also need to be clear about specifying the number of guests invited with each RSVP invitation. You also only need email addresses, since this goes directly to their virtual inboxes. 
6. Send your RSVP invitations. At this stage, it is time to send out your one-of-a-kind RSVP invitations. Double-check the details and guest list and then press “Send” and wait for the RSVPs to start coming in. 

Around this time, you should also make sure that your wedding website is set up to receive your RSVPs. You can see an example of what this part of a RSVP invitation looks like here. If you want to do this, make sure you build a page within your wedding website. So, guests can receive your RSVP invitations and know to head over to your website to respond. There, they can answer more specific questions about the people in their party attending, if they can make it to other events, their dietary restrictions, meal choices and more. In fact, some couples have used this part of the wedding website to ask about where people are staying and other details about their travel plans. 

How to Build Printed RSVP Invitations

Similar to creating your dream online RSVP invitation, the printed version requires a little more lead time. You want to give yourself a few weeks, at least, to determine the best template, add in your specifications and send it off to a designer. Here is the exact process involved in making printed RSVP invitations:

1. Pick your favorite among the many printed RSVP invitation templates. There are near-countless designs to choose from, so you can find one that works for your modern-minimalist, boho or any other wedding theme. When you have found “the one,” go to the individual product page and then select the “Customize + Price” button. 
2. Design the ultimate RSVP invitation. You can select the quantity and paper type (including size, color and one- or two-ply), alter the text color and make changes to the envelopes you are about to purchase. Once everything works for you, click “Next.”
3. Input your card details and order additional stationery items. In this next section, you want to write out all of the text that will appear on your card. Plus, you will need to know every guest’s mailing address, since printed RSVP invitations are sent directly to their homes. From there, you can decide whether you want an insert card, reply card or reply envelope. And if you have any questions or concerns to share with your designer, you can share that in the “Notes to Designer” section. After that, click “Next.”
4. Review your order. Take a scan of the selections you have made in the previous sections and verify that the overall cost of your RSVP invitations are good to go into production. You will then add in your payment details and then send them off to the designer.

At this point, your RSVP invitations are out of your hands (phew!). A designer will get to work on a digital proof, which you should receive within two to three business days. If the first round of proofs is not exactly what you were expecting, you can send notes back to the designer since a second proof is included in every order. All additional proofing rounds will require additional fees, but once you have given your final approval, the RSVP invitations will immediately go into production. You can expect them to ship out 12 to 15 business days after that, but rush services are also available if you are in a pinch.  

Matching Your RSVP Invitations to the Rest of Your Stationery Suite

Your RSVP invitations account for only one part of your stationery suite, which is essentially the set of paper or digital products you purchase to inform people about your wedding. If you are just starting your wedding planning process, you will want to understand all of the pieces that make up your stationery suite. These include: 

• Wedding website: As we have explained, wedding websites can streamline your entire process by giving guests access to every detail they need for your wedding. You can include the URL in your Save the Date or RSVP invitation, and it can show guests a digital photo album of you and your partner, suggestions for where to eat and visit near your venue and of course, how to RSVP. These should be completed about six to nine months before your wedding, which is typically when you send out your Save the Dates. 
• Save the Dates: Save the Dates are the first notification guests get about your wedding—minus, of course, the excited text you may have sent out once you finalized your wedding date. This is a digital or printed card that tells guests only the basics: where and when your wedding is happening. You should also specify if there are more dates that guests need to know about. Your guests require time to organize their travel plans and take time off of work, so it is best to let them know ASAP (around six to nine months prior to the big day). And if you are planning a wedding weekend or week full of events, you should ask guests to save multiple dates. Phrases like “Save the Weekend” are highly recommended for those hosting an action-packed weekend of festivities.
• Rehearsal dinner invitations: Your rehearsal dinner is an event typically hosted by the groom’s parents the night before your wedding day. The guest list is usually considerably smaller, and comprises immediate family and the wedding party. And while you may not be in charge of hosting, you can suggest ideas for the rehearsal dinner invitation design. Similar to the Save the Dates, you can prepare rehearsal dinner invitations that are sent through the mail or to your guests’ emails. 
• Wedding menus: This is the most delicious part of your stationery suite, and it is a printed piece that is displayed at every seat at the reception. Guests can take a seat at their assigned table (more on that later too!) and review the upcoming courses they will be served by your catering team. You can also add in your names and wedding date to personalize the wedding menu even more.
• Wedding logo or monogram: If you want to learn more about customizing your stationery, we highly recommend looking into wedding logos and monograms. Your custom wedding logo can feature your and your partner’s first names, new shared last name, wedding date, wedding location and even a special drawing or design. You can review your options and then order the one that matches your stationery best. It is also available as a purchase you can use on Bliss & Bone products only, elsewhere or both. Couples get really creative here, and team up with a designer to come up with the perfect logo or monogram. We have seen these used on cocktail napkins, aisle runners and even on dance floors. 

There are so many components that factor into your stationery suite, but with Bliss & Bone’s assistance, it is easier than ever with curated collections. Our designers have crafted stationery sets that feature coordinating templates for all of the items listed above. This can take a lot of the guesswork and time required to build out your stationery suite, and can allow you to focus on the other tasks on your wedding to-do list. Along with these products, you will also want to find place cards and thank you notes, among other stationery must-haves. These can all connect with your stationery suite, or you can mix it up a bit.

What to Do After Receiving Replies from Your RSVP Invitations

Creating your RSVP invitations is a major part of developing your stationery, but the work does not stop there. Once your guests have submitted their RSVPs, you have a few steps to follow to complete this area of your wedding efforts before the epic celebration. This all happens in the two to three weeks leading up to your wedding, so it is important to stay as organized as possible. These steps include:

• Making sure everyone has submitted their replies: Even with a clear deadline, you cannot always guarantee that guests will stay on top of their RSVPs. You should double check your response tracker and then take note of anyone who has not yet replied. If there are any holdouts, you and your partner should divide up the list and conduct some outreach. This is a taxing part of this, and it can feel a bit frustrating, but it gives you a chance to confirm details while also catching up with a few of your favorite people.
• Contacting relevant vendors with your finalized guest count: When you officially have the total guest count, reach out to let your vendors know. Of course, you do not need to let your florist or stationer know the total, but there are a few who should be in the loop: Your planner, venue coordinator and catering team will want to know exact numbers. Your venue should have this to understand how many chairs to set up at the ceremony and reception, and your catering staff should know how many plates to prepare. 
• Determining where you and your partner are sitting at the reception: Next up, you and your partner should talk about where you see yourself sitting at the reception. Part of this requires speaking with your venue coordinator to determine what arrangements are feasible. Some venues have circular and long rectangular tables on hand, while others may require you to rent out tables from a third party. You also have the option to sit at a sweetheart table, which only fits the two of you. This provides the perfect opportunity to spend a little alone time with your new spouse, but other couples want to be surrounded by loved ones constantly. For that group, you can opt to sit with family or members of your wedding party and their plus-ones.
• Figuring out all other seating arrangements for the reception: After you have resolved where you will sit at the reception, it is time to place everyone else invited to your celebration. There are two primary choices to make here: To seat your guests at individual chairs, or to assign them tables only. Choosing a seat for each guest allows you to fully control the reception setup, but it does take a lot of time. You will need to group all of your guests into tables of about eight to 10, on average, which is not always easy. If you have less time or do not want to deal with an extra task, you can simplify this step by giving a table number to every guest. This way, your guests can head to their table and have the freedom to choose their own seat. 
• Creating your seating chart display: Finally, you want to think of the display that will appear at the cocktail hour. Guests can meander over and scope out their table number or name. You can number every table, or give it a special name that connects to your theme or relationship. For instance, the names of your favorite ice cream shops or the countries you have both visited as a couple are creative ideas couples have used in the past. Taking it a step further, the displays can be a board on an easel with lists of tables and corresponding names, or a map of the world—or really anything else you can think of. 

Just when you think you are done with your RSVP invitations, there are a few steps to follow later. Next up? Having the best time at your wedding. There is so much to look forward to at this point, and you are only a few steps away from dancing the night away with your new spouse.

Getting Started on Designing Your RSVP Invitations

Your RSVP invitations come with a lot of choices to make about your stationery. From the type—printed versus digital—to the paper, printing style, questions you want to ask guests beforehand and so much more, there is a lot to work through with your partner and stationer. To help you navigate, you can also enlist a professional planner, who can provide support and guidance about all things related to your celebration. These experts have years of experience and connections to leverage as you plan out your special day. And when you are ready to start your stationery, the team at Bliss & Bone is ready and eager to assist you and your partner. If you have any questions along the way, feel free to reach out to us by contacting us through a form online or sending an email to hello@blissandbone.com. And after that, you can tackle the rest of your to-do list and get even more excited about your once-in-a-lifetime wedding day.