The 3-Day
Response Rule & Promptly saying Thank You
Written by : Diane Morris of The Bride's Butler
Did you know that according to proper wedding etiquette, you’re
to respond to an invite within 3-days? This is perhaps a little unrealistic - but,
etiquette, like any good manners, have rules.
Whether you’re invited to a wedding, bridal shower or rehearsal dinner, I
suggest you do your best to respond quickly – at least within the week you
received the invitation. If that’s
unmanageable, aim for 2 weeks maximum, but definitely before the RSVP due date!
It’s unfair that hosts (mainly Brides) have to call their invited guests to
confirm their attendance. As a guest, you’ve been selected among many and
welcomed to take part in a joyous life event - the least you can do is let the
host know that you’d be honoured to attend…or not.
My take on RSVP…. Respond Sincerely & Very Promptly. (This
also means if you respond yes, keep your promise and go. No one likes to be
blacklisted as the person/couple that didn’t show.)
Now that we’ve informed guests on proper etiquette – what about the Bride &
Groom? They must have some rules to follow too, right? Of course!
Promptly saying Thank You to your guests for everything and
anything that they do for you is a must. Some family and friends do more than
just attend – they give you heartfelt gifts and cards, they offer to help you
with DYI details and even sometimes they offer to look after your pet and or
your house before/during your wedding and honeymoon. Any nice gesture needs a
thank you.
It’s most manageable to write and send out Thank You cards as
you receive gifts before your wedding. This way it doesn’t feel like you have a
whole stack of cards to personalize and sign either before or right after your
big day.
Thank You cards should be sent out no later than 6 months after
your wedding, anything longer than that is simply distasteful. Plus, if you
have a Bridal Shower (or sometimes 2 or 3), you should really strive to have
Thank You cards for those gifts sent out before your wedding day. Usually
guests give you a gift for your shower and for your wedding, thus equalling two
Thank You cards for two separate gifts – one from just you and the other from
both of you as a happily married couple.
Diane Morris, WPICC The Bride’s Butler Wedding & Event Planning –www.bridesbutler.ca Diane’s a certified Wedding Coordinator with the Wedding Planning Institute of Canada. She owns and operates The Bride’s Butler out of Hamilton, Ontario providing services to couples planning their big day.
