RSVP Organization

OK, after months of creating the perfect RSVP card, I am now stuck with the one dilemma that every bride worries about, what if my guest does not fill it out properly? I have seen before where there is a small handwritten number on the back of the RSVP, but after spending the time to carefully craft and design my RSVP's I didn't want to have anything handwritten appearing on them. So, I used my sleuthing detective skills and came up with a solution. I just bought an invisible pen! The numbers will not show up on the cards, but upon their return, I will simply use my new tool to detect the number in place. This way even if my guest forgets to put their name, I can revert back to my records and determine who it came from. Brilliant I tell ya!

Pieces of our Day

I have been searching for a unique way to create a guest book. I decided to make a mosaic table using tiles signed by our guests. I am using white unfinished tiles that are 1.5" square. To fill in, I will use colorful mosaic tiles that can be purchased at any craft store. I will also start shopping for a table I like, and will have a recessed level routered on the table top, leaving about an inch border. Our guests will signed each tile individually with a permanent black sharpie marker, and the will be stored safely on our wedding night. I will later finish each one with a sealant so they will not smear. I can then start arranging the tiles on my table top, and finish with a light amount of grout. I will also allow room in the center for one larger tile with our names, and wedding date. This will make for a great conversation piece, and will be perfect for displaying our wedding photos in our new home.

Addressing the Issue

I have started taking on the task of compiling addresses for all of my guests. If you have ever had to do this, you know it is no easy task. I began my search by asking others first. But if you have simply exhausted all methods for detecting one’s address, it will not necessarily break any rules of etiquette to ask that person yourself. I chose to start this task now, right before the Holidays, in hopes that people will just figure I am updating my address book for sending out Christmas cards. I don’t know for certain if my method will prove as coy as I have hoped, but in any case, the addresses are rolling in.

Once you do compile your addresses, it is a very smart idea to cross check them with Mapquest, or Google Maps to make sure that exact address really does exist somewhere on this planet. Be sure to address your invitations exactly how they appear once you have looked them up. For example, most people may be accustomed to leaving off the street prefix and suffix, which may cause postal confusion down the line. Lastly, be sure to incorporate a person’s apartment or unit number after their street address, if they live in a multiple unit building.

A typical USPS approved address should look like this:

555 S. State St., Unit 2
Chicago, IL 60605

As for the actual names of your guests, this is entirely up to you. I really depends on how formal or informal your wedding will be. Here are a few simple guidelines:

Married couple:

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

Married couple with children under 18:

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, and Family

Single guest:

Mr. John Smith and Guest

If you choose to invite children of guests, and those children are under 18, they can simply be included on their parent’s invitation. If the children are older than 18, they should receive their own invitation.

It is appropriate to include a guest with all single invitee’s. Including a second name on an invitation is usually considered more informal, but that significant other may feel insignificant if they are labeled as just a “guest.” This is up to you.

If you are inviting single’s that are not in a serious relationship, it is still expected to account for a guest in attendance with them.

If numbers are an issue, as most formal dinner receptions are, make sure your RSVP cards allows your guest to denote exactly how many they will have in attendance.