Pressing Decisions: Hold Up

Pressing Decisions: Hold Up

March 9th, 2010 @ 1:41 pm by Mrs. Scissors
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If only this post were about putting some pimpin’ into our invites—it’s more of a putting-hassle-and-stress into ‘em.

The one part of the invitation design process that I have loathed is the whole response card mess. It has been the beast that has spurned 1,000 arguments, sleepless hours, and just general angry thoughts in the past week.

Over a week ago, I thought I was 100% finished with the meat of the invitation design––all I had left to do was decide on ink color and all that jazz. I sent the proofs to my mother and Mr. Scissors for a thorough run-down.

Pressing Decisions: Hold Up : wedding diy georgia stationery Invitew invitew

Pressing Decisions: Hold Up : wedding diy georgia stationery Recepwb recepwb

Pressing Decisions: Hold Up : wedding diy georgia stationery Rsvpwbb rsvpwbb

Honestly, I expected four thumbs up, a green light, and much rejoicing. From Mr. Scissors, I got much praise, excitedness, and much pumping-up. It was awesome. From my mother, I got this in response to the fact that there was no specific “number showing up” area:

My response is, how many people know this? I mean, let’s take [names removed to protect the not-so-innocent]. We’ll invite five, but if past history is any indicator, we’ll have at most two.

Now, insert much whining, bitching, moaning, and general not-happiness on my side. I didn’t want to have to re-space the whole dang thing, figure out wording, try not to make it super annoying, and, well, yeah. I wasn’t happy. At all. I told her it was not possible based on the amount of space with which I had to work [not true], that I’d have to re-design the entire suite [not true], and this would be a giant hassle for me [true]. What can I say? I was acting a little like a brat.

I let it sit for a few days, determined not to change it. Finally, I got off of my stubborn horse and made one with a “number attending” part, so now we have two options.

Pressing Decisions: Hold Up : wedding diy georgia stationery Optirsv optirsv

Option 1, of course, is the original design. Still my favorite. Option 2, is the [insert grumbling here] number-attending design.

This decision is still up in the air, and I really don’t know what is the best option. So, which way should we go? Option 1, and call the always-failing-members for guest-count confirmation, or option 2? (Though I know people will screw this up somehow. It’s apparently a proven wedding fact. I vote for a book of butchered RSVP cards). How did you all handle this bidness?

Tags: diy, georgia, stationery |

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68 Responses to “Pressing Decisions: Hold Up”

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Bee

Miss Spaniel (message) 6,792 posts, Bee Keeper

The original version DOES look much better…

3/9/10 @ 1:44 pm (reply)

Guest

Kelly

WOW! The Riddle family must be tall, I’m a Riddles, and all my family is over 6′ tall!! Power to tall people! Especially the tall ladies who rock 3″ heals!

3/9/10 @ 1:46 pm (reply)

Member

Blueshoes2 (message) 2,638 posts, Sugar bee

Ours look like your original card, except they say ___ Number of accepts ___ Number of regrets. That could be an option if you’re not pleased with the second card.

3/9/10 @ 1:48 pm (reply)

Guest

Amy

Although they’re both pretty, I voted for the original version only because I wouldn’t want people to take the number attending space as an invitation to invite as many other people as they want!

3/9/10 @ 1:48 pm (reply)

Member

katiei (message) 54 posts, Worker bee

I like the original version, I think that it just is less visual clutter to me.

That being said, I do understand the potential necessity to add the ‘number attending’ thing, and am struggling with this as we create our invites. Right now, we are figuring that no matter what we add, people will screw it up somehow and we will need to make phone calls anyway, so we are leaning towards leaving this (or something like it) off.

Love your invites!!

3/9/10 @ 1:49 pm (reply)

Member

hisbunny (message) 767 posts, Busy bee

I think that you should go with the number version. I think that it still looks great, and I did that and none of the attending 300 guests forgot to put the number attending. (I invited about 450)

BUT, one RSVP didn’t have a name on it. Seriously? the little M_____________ means WRITE YOUR NAME! HA!

3/9/10 @ 1:49 pm (reply)

Member

MissChirpie (message) 730 posts, Busy bee

I would definitely go with the number attending option. I know that you don’t think that it is as visually appealing, but there could be some major mess ups if you don’t have it. If you don’t have the number, you will just be assuming on the actual number attending. This could potentially affect escort cards, seating arrangements, catering count, and so forth. Personally, I’d give up visual perfection for the knowledge of actual number attending.

3/9/10 @ 1:55 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Guinea Pig (message) 1,377 posts, Bumble bee

I vote original, because we didn’t do “number attending” and you’re starting to make me freak out! Also I think it looks better

3/9/10 @ 1:57 pm (reply)

Member

knapper08 (message) 189 posts, Blushing bee

I say change the original design to say “number of accepts” and “number of regrets” — otherwise, what is that little line there for - a check mark? If so, shouldn’t it be a box?

3/9/10 @ 1:59 pm (reply)

10.

Guest

amariem25

i don’t understand why you need the number attending portion. Won’t everyone write their names on the M line? Or are you thinking they won’t write kids’ names there?

Anyways, I voted for the original. Otherwise change the new one to say “number attending” or “regrets”. Take out the “accepts” part.

3/9/10 @ 1:59 pm (reply)

11.

Member

avhill (message) 33 posts, Newbee

Oh Miss Scissors, I understand your pain, but for a slightly different reason. Some of our extended family have the very bad habit of bring uninvited guests so I did 2 completely different RSVP cards. One like your original version and the second, We have reserved __ seats in your honor. I hated doing that but we didn’t have a choice. But back to your dilema, I think the second is pretty, practical, AND will make your mama happy. I say pick your battles and just let her win this one…Good luck!

3/9/10 @ 2:01 pm (reply)

12.

Guest

Sarah

Dontcha hate when the ‘bee agrees with your mom?

3/9/10 @ 2:03 pm (reply)

13.

Bee

Miss Cardigan (message) 8,645 posts, Bee Keeper

I think the original looks much better!

3/9/10 @ 2:04 pm (reply)

14.

Member

bri the bride (message) 67 posts, Worker bee

As much as I want to say stick with your original, since I went through the same debate with my mom… I think you should go with the second or come up with another compromise. It will save confusion and extra phone calls later.
Since we have limited space and are concerned about people bringing uninvited guests, ours actually say “___ out of ___ are excited to attend!” (We are filling out the number of people invited in the second blank on each card.) Tacky? Probably. But in the end, I decided it was the best way for us to be clear.

3/9/10 @ 2:06 pm (reply)

15.

Member

alivoo01 (message) 2,625 posts, Sugar bee

My vote would be for the second one, just so you have a more concise idea on the number of attendees. Plus, like avhill said - let her win this one, and the bigger battles can be yours!

3/9/10 @ 2:07 pm (reply)

16.

Member

bri the bride (message) 67 posts, Worker bee

@amariem25: Oooh, I think I might like this option. It will please your mom but it clears up some space.

3/9/10 @ 2:08 pm (reply)

17.

Member

ladyox (message) 831 posts, Busy bee

I vote for the original. I am getting my RSVPs back now and so far no confusion on who is or is not attending and how many.

Most people have been to weddings before and know what to do. If not, you make a few calls - or better yet get your groom to do it

3/9/10 @ 2:10 pm (reply)

18.

Member

AbbieOinCO (message) 184 posts, Blushing bee

I was so thankful we included the # attending line. It really helped us know how many people were coming… some invites were to parents only, but we ended up with 5 instead of 2 b/c they added on their adult kids! Other times, we invited the entire family & only the parents came. But… we also had seating cards & escort cards, so it was good to know who was coming in advance.

3/9/10 @ 2:11 pm (reply)

19.

Bee

Miss Ribbons (message) 2,018 posts, Buzzing bee

I’ve decided I don’t hate the number attending thing. My official statement.

3/9/10 @ 2:12 pm (reply)

20.

Guest

Vegasmom

Maybe I’ve just been to way too many weddings, because I thought it was understood that you write on the line next to “attending” the number of people attending the wedding.

3/9/10 @ 2:20 pm (reply)

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