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4 Reasons RSVPs Are Unnecessary for a Destination Wedding

Shelli Nornes
Author:
Shelli Nornes
CEO/Owner
Publish Date: January 23, 2025
Last Modified: May 27, 2025

If you’re planning a destination wedding, good news! You can skip the RSVP cards completely. That’s right, no postage, no chasing down replies, and no guesswork about who’s really coming. Here’s why RSVPs don’t make sense for a destination wedding (and what works better instead).

It’s a Waste of Money

Traditional weddings often include formal invitations with RSVP cards tucked inside. But for a destination wedding, those little cards don’t do much. Between printing, envelopes, and postage, you’ll spend money on something most guests won’t even send back.

Today, there are so many quicker (and often free!) ways to invite guests, share details, and spread the word online. Why waste money on cards when you can make the process easier and more reliable for everyone?

It’s a Waste of Time

Destination weddings are more complex than local weddings because of flights, resorts, and travel planning. Instead of relying on RSVP cards, we use guest bookings to track who’s actually attending. Once a guest reserves their room in your wedding block, that’s their RSVP.

This method is way more accurate than collecting cards, and it saves you from scrambling for a final headcount right before your wedding. You’ll always know exactly who’s coming and when!

The False Positives

This one’s a biggie. Traditional RSVPs can give you what we call false positives. Guests may check yes on the RSVP card because they want to come, but in reality, half of them won’t be able to make it due to work, budgets, or family commitments.

That means you could end up planning (and paying) for 100 guests, only to have 50 actually show up. By using bookings instead of RSVPs, you know the numbers are real and can plan confidently without overestimating.

What We Do Instead

Our process is simple: your guest’s room deposit is their RSVP! Once the deposit is paid, you can count them in for your big day. No guessing, no chasing replies, and no stress. Just accurate numbers that make wedding planning easier from start to finish.

Let’s Make It Easy

RSVPs may work for traditional weddings, but for destination weddings, bookings are the way to go. With this system, you’ll save money, save time, and eliminate the stress of false positives.

Thinking about a destination wedding but still have questions? We’d love to help. Contact Romance Travel Group today, and one of our destination wedding specialists will walk you through every step.

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