rsvp date/menu selection

If your final numbers are due to the venue two weeks before you will want at least a week buffer to call back anyone who doesn't respond at all - so Four weeks seems maybe a little early but reasonable. You don't want your RSVP date to be one or two days before your final numbers are due because some people will wait until the due date to mail them out, and others simply won't respond at all.

As far as the menu options you need to speak to the designer and let them know you aren't deciding until June so they know and can help you plan accordingly.

I'd definitely speak to the designer about the dietary/menu cards. Maybe they can print them at a later time but print your invites first so you can still get those and have them? You don't really have to send out invites until July at the earliest (assuming your date is September 2018) so I don't see a problem having to wait until June to print them, you'll still get them in time. I'm going to set my RSVP date 3 weeks before. Our caterer needs final count 2 weeks before so I have a week to track people down. 1 month seems like a lot of time, especially if it's a local wedding. I think I'd consider 4 weeks if I was inviting over 200 people because there could be a lot you need to track down.

I don’t think 4 weeks is too soon. As PP’s states you will need a buffer for the RSVP’s to arrive. Your invitation designer should be accustomed to following the vendor set timelines for tastings and final food choices etc. just speak with her and she can tell you how it has all worked for her with previous clients.

You need to finalize your menu earlier if people need to make a choice of meal when they RSVP. Are you sure they do? (I've never been to a wedding where that is done.) I would put response 3 weeks in advance and send invites at 6 weeks. I was amazed how bad responding was, but a week should be enough to chase people down. Also, speak with invite designer and see last possible date for printing RSVP cards so you have them on time.

Sounds about right for rsvps. You could wait til closer to do the menu cards, I have honestly been to a bunch of weddings that you don't know the food til you get there. It never bothered me.

1-2 weeks before final numbers are due is normal for RSVP deadlines. We set ours 2 weeks before our venue needed final numbers (venue needed final numbers 1 week before our wedding, so the RSVP date was 3 weeks before the wedding). I can say that 1 week was enough time to track everyone dien who didn't send their RSVP back. You could change it, if you want, or leave it as is.

When are you getting married and how close to your date is the June menu selection appointment? The week before I was going to mail our invitations, our venue contacted us to say the phone number for our room block reservations had changed. I called my local invitations lady and asked if I had any options to get my details inserts reprinted, and she made it happen (and our venue, the hotel where we had blocked rooms, paid for those suckers). There will likely be a fee for a rush order, plus an upcharge for expedited shipping, but you probably will have the ability to get your RSVP cards quickly at a later date.

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Maybe I'll set the RSVP date just three weeks before, because I am a teacher with the summer off, and have plenty of free time to track people down lol.

Wedding is September 1, and I planned to send invitations right after my July 8 shower. I haven't made the menu appointment yet, but they recommended two months ahead, or earlier if I wish. Perhaps I will just ask for an earlier appointment.

That is crazy about the phone number! I'm glad it worked out for you.

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Guests definitely need to pick between chicken, beef, or seafood (or vegetarian or other dietary restrictions) when they RSVP. I wonder how many details they need though. I believe we are only decided between three options for each to offer guests.

I suppose I will call both venue and designer tomorrow. Thanks!

View Quoted Comment Yeah, I'd request an earlier appointment so you can get your RSVP cards sometime in June and have a couple weeks before you plan to mail your invitations in July to actually stuff your invitations.

I had over 40 of our 73 invitations stuffed when I got the email about the room block number. I was piiiiiiiiiiiissed. Unstuffing those invites in the next couple days may have been one of my least favorite wedding planning moments. Fortunately, I hadn't sealed anything, so I didn't need to wreck the envelopes to undo everything.

Our caterer needs final numbers 30 days before, so I gave myself 2 more weeks to hunt down stragglers.

I can't help with menu, as we are doing buffet with many options to ensure just about all can eat something.

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Ugh, the stuffing sounds worse than actually paying for new cards!

If you want to include menu selection on the cards but don't have specific entrees picked out yet, maybe you could just indicate generic choices like beef, chicken or fish? I think if you call the caterer and explain that you are ordering specialty invitations and need to know your menu selections earlier, they would be happy to work with you and arrange an earlier meeting.

For the RSVP date, I think three weeks before your wedding would be fine, though it's worth asking the stationer if she specifically needs four weeks to produce and mail menus or place cards or something. Are you ordering place cards with entree choice on them or anything that might have to wait until after RSVPs have been received?

I think 4 weeks is okay, there are a lot of caterers who want preliminary numbers 30 days in advance, so it’s not nutty. But fine to wait another week if your caterers don’t need numbers til 2 weeks.

If you know the meat types but not the specific dishes, it’s fine to just include those on the RSVP card. This has been my standard experience with reply cards, they’ll just have a “__chicken __fish __beef” option , so I think that’s fine to do, if you can’t change your menu appointment (though may as well try that too).
You could always put the full
menu on the website if you have one once it’s settled so people can make a more informed choice.