R.S.V.P.....lost in translation?

Répondez, s'il vous plaît....maybe we should be writing this in English instead? Is that where everything falls apart?

There has not been a single wedding or event that I have thrown where I haven't had to chase down invited guests to find out if they planned to attend or not. And, if they were attending, were they flying solo or bringing a guest? Oh, and what are they eating? It always amazed me at the amount of people I would have to call, email, or text to find out what their plans were.

My clients, especially my brides, are planning huge events that require a lot of time and energy. There are frequent tough decisions that need to be made and in that last 6-8 weeks leading up to the big day, there can be some major stress that they have to deal with. The absolute last thing my clients need is to be finding out what the final headcount is. Hence, I do it for them. 

However, I had to write a blog about this, because I wanted there to be an understanding about R.S.V.P'ing. When an event is planned, the caterer or the venue needs a final headcount typically between 10-20 days prior to the date of the event. This typically means headcount along with what everyone will be eating. A phone call to a bride 72 hours before the event to RSVP just doesn't fly. Especially when the bride has ordered linens which are based on the table size which is based on the headcount which was needed 2 months ago.

Then there are the hotel blocks and the transportation needs. For a wedding, there are typically a block of rooms set aside for guests. The hotel holds these rooms until a specific date (which was probably included in the invitation or on the wedding website) and after that, the rooms go away. I cannot tell you the number of phone calls I receive from my brides 1-2 weeks before their wedding because Aunt Millie called them to say "the hotel is out of rooms, what am I supposed to do?" Should've thought about that sooner, right?

Of course, typically my clients go another step to think even more about their guests and provide shuttles and transportation. The transportation companies sometimes request that these shuttles are booked months in advance. This means that you cannot suddenly decided on the day of the wedding that you're going to hop on board. If there is no room, sitting on someone's lap isn't cool either. Yes, I have seen it almost happen.

I guess this blog is a desperate plea. Please, if you receive an invitation to any kind of event, but especially a wedding, RSVP right away. Like, while the invitation is in your hand. Just walk on over to the calendar (I still have one hanging on my fridge) and see if you can make it. Then either pick up the phone and RSVP or send in the RSVP card (do what the invitation asks...because sending a text to say that you are coming when you are supposed to mail back the card that they paid to have put together is not acceptable). Then, boom! You're done! You have RSVP'd, it's on the calendar and you have made my clients very happy. Oh, and me too. I know we probably won't even meet until the day of the event, and maybe not even then, but trust me that I'm thankful. 

Please do not make my clients or me chase after you. There really is no reason for it. It's awkward. Like walking in on someone using the bathroom and that someone is your ex's new significant other, awkward.

RSVP. Please.

...and thank you.

-Danielle

Same Sex Wedding Giveway- NEW JERSEY!

YES! New Jersey finally made it legal for our gay friends to get married! We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate this than to launch a contest and giveaway an all-inclusive wedding to one lucky same-sex couple in New Jersey! Rothweiler Event Design has partnered with the amazing Wilshire Grand in West Orange, New Jersey, and along with very talented vendors, will be providing a dream wedding to a couple in 2014! This wedding will include everything from catering to decor to music to photography and more than you can imagine! You can nominate yourself and your special someone, or you can nominate a special couple that you feel deserves this amazing prize! Don't wait! Share this everywhere you can because the contest ends on December 13, 2013! Below are the rules and how to enter! Good luck!

Full Contest Rules:

1. Contest is open to all same sex (man and man, or woman and woman) couples that reside in The State of New Jersey and are engaged to be married. Couple must not already be married in New Jersey.

2. Couples must each be 21 years of age or older as of the launch of the contest (November 11, 2013).

3. Couples must write an essay of approximately 500 words in length as to why they deserve an all expense paid wedding package. Pictures of the couple are also required and should not exceed 3 total. Video submissions are encouraged and can be submitted via YouTube. Essays and photographs must be emailed directly to info@rothweilereventdesign.org on or before December 13, 2013 by midnight. Any entries received after this time will not be opened.

4. Couples agree to allow their essays and photographs to be published on the Facebook page of all of the vendors that are giving away their services. These pages include, but are not limited to, Rothweiler Event Design and The Wilshire Grand. Couple agrees to allow all of their video submissions to be shared.

5. Couples are encouraged to direct their friends and family to "like" their stories on the Facebook pages of the vendors involved. A complete vendor list with their facebook pages will be available at www.facebook.com/rothweilereventdesign.

6. Finalists will be contacted on or before December 17, 2013. If, for some reason, any finalist is unreachable, or unable to be contacted by noon on December 19, 2013, they will forfeit their spot and another couple will be selected.

7. All contestants must follow Rothweiler Event Design (@RothweilerEvent) and The Wilshire Grand (@WilshireCaterer) on Twitter. Each contestant must mention both Rothweiler Event Design and The Wilshire Grand on twitter after submitting their entry by using the hashtag #samesexweddinggiveaway.

8. Each contestant agrees to be present for the announcement of the winner on January 9th at 7pm at The Wilshire Grand in West Orange, New Jersey. The couple must be present at this cocktail party to win the grand prize. If the winning couple is not present at the cocktail party, a runner up will be selected.

9. The winning couple will be selected by the participating vendors. All decisions are final and may not be questioned.

10. The winning couple agrees to work with each individual vendor that is giving away their services for their wedding day. This includes, but is not limited to: music, photography, decor,  catering, officiant, etc. No outside vendors will be allowed to participate in the wedding planning or wedding itself.

11.The winning couples agrees to allow their wedding to be photographed and published in multiple media outlets.

12.The winning couple agrees to allow their wedding to be recorded for future media and television use.

13. The winning couple agrees to hold their wedding on a date already selected in 2014. This date is non-negotiable. Should the winning couple not agree to this date, they will forfeit the prize, and another couple will be selected.

14. The wedding guest count will not exceed 70 guests, which will include the couple as well.

15. The winning couple agrees to be interviewed for the media and multiple publications regarding their wedding planning, their relationship, etc.

16. The winning couple will be awarded various prizes that will total a complete wedding package. The prizes given from each individual vendor are already decided and are non-negotiable.