How to collect RSVPs for an Indian wedding

A simple plan that works

1. 1

   Build one guest list

   Families, not just names: who is invited, their mobile number, and which side they are from. Group close family into a list for the private functions.

2. 2

   Ask only what you need

   Coming or not, how many with them, any food preference, and which functions. Every extra question costs you replies.

3. 3

   Give a reply-by date

   Tell guests when you need an answer, about three weeks before the first function, so the caterer and the venue get numbers in time.

4. 4

   Nudge once, then call

   Send the invite again to people who have not replied. Call the elders yourself; many prefer it.

The usual ways, and where they fall short

• Spreadsheet and phone calls. Personal, and elders like it. But one person does all the calling, and the sheet is out of date the moment someone changes their mind.
• An online form. Free, and answers land in one sheet. But a single form rarely fits a family replying for several people across several functions, and guests still need somewhere else for timings and venues.
• A WhatsApp poll in a group. Quick for a yes or no. But a poll cannot take plus-ones or food needs, everyone sees everyone's answer, and replies get buried under the chat.
• A guest page with RSVP. The invite, the details and the reply in one link. Each guest replies for their family, picks their functions and adds food needs, and the headcount for each function adds itself up.

What to ask, and what to skip

• Ask: coming or not, how many people, any food preference, and which functions.
• Skip: anything you can ask later, closer to the day, or in person.
• Say the date you need replies by, in the invite and again in a pinned update.

When a guest page is worth it

• Weddings with two or more functions, where each needs its own count.

• Families with many relatives who reply for a whole household.

• Hosts who want the replies, the venue maps and the updates in one place.

RSVP questions families ask

• Starter

  Free first year

  Up to 50 guests

  then ₹499 a year

• Classic

  ₹14,999 one-time

  Up to 400 guests

  then ₹1,499 a year

• Grand

  ₹29,999 one-time

  Unlimited guests (fair use)

  then ₹2,999 a year