Invitation etiquette
I was browsing a wedding website today at work, as you do, and there was a small article about wedding etiquette. I had a quick browse, not really paying attention, when one line caught my attention: “You must put return postage on your RSVPs”.
Oh. My. God.
I didn’t even think about this! I was so busy stuffing the envelopes with the invitation, the directions, the RSVP card and the gift registry notice – and the note about accommodation and the post-wedding brunch – that I completely forgot about return postage.
So I sent out 150 invitations with RSVP cards, and no envelope or postage for our guests to send it back to us.
Was that incredibly rude?? Are my aunties, cousins and family friends making snide comments to each other at this very moment? ‘The invitation’s nice and all, but I can’t believe they expect us to post the RSVP on our own dime… it’s just so tacky!’
I called my sister tonight for an emergency bridesmaid conference call, and she seems to think it’s fine. She says our relatives and family friends won’t think twice about posting it, and our friends are more likely to respond via email, phone, or Facebook anyway. And she’s right – most of my friends have emailed their RSVP, and one friend has declined via my Facebook wall, so it seems anything goes.
It’s yet another example of the “politeness” minefield that us brides have to navigate! I’ve tried to be as polite and tasteful as possible throughout my wedding planning, but I’m sure I’ve annoyed people somewhere along the way…
I usually pride myself on being super thoughtful and attentive, so I’m more annoyed at myself for not remembering the postage, than I am worried about people’s reactions. After all, it’s not like I did anything really tacky – like ask for cash gifts to be deposited into my bank account!