Answers
When should
RSVPs be due?
The date you print is not the date your venue gave you — and printing the venue's date is a mistake that costs you the week you most need.
When should the RSVP deadline be?
Three to four weeks before the event, and at least a week before your venue's final-numbers date. That gap is not padding — it is the week you spend chasing non-repliers and building the seating plan. Larger guest lists need longer, because the final chase is done person by person.
01
How much gap.
| Guests invited | Gap before the venue's deadline | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 120 | 7 days | A handful of calls and one pass at seating. |
| 120–250 | 10 days | More holdouts, and seating takes a second pass. |
| Over 250 | 14 days | The personal chase is per-person work and does not compress. |
02
Why the gap matters more than the date.
Whatever date you print, some guests will reply after it — that is universal and not worth being annoyed about. What decides whether that is an administrative task or a crisis is whether you left yourself room. A late yes inside your gap costs a seat change. A late yes past the venue's deadline costs a phone call to the caterer and sometimes money.
03
Common questions
What if guests reply after the deadline?
Where does the date go?
How should I write it?
Work out the date to print.
Enter your event date, your venue's final-numbers date and your guest count. The calculator works backwards and sizes the gap for you.
Open the RSVP deadline calculator