Rant #2: RSVPs
Boy howdy, this one has me steaming mad.
I was planning this party for our friends and neighbors that had an activity that required a minimum number of participants, let's say the minimum is 13. The maximum number of participants is 21. Before choosing the date, I poll the invitees to make sure that I have chosen an acceptable date. I also make sure there are no major sporting events scheduled for the evening in question. Once the date has been chosen, I prepare invitations and mail them out 2 months ahead of the party, giving plenty of time to arrange babysitters and such. The invitations clearly request an RSVP by the one-month-to-party date, reminding guests that this will give the hostess one month to replace them in the activity.
On the last date of the RSVP exactly nobody had RSVPed. So, I waited another week. Still nothing. So, I called the people myself to ask if they were coming. Most said yes. One couple said no. Two couples said maybe.
So, the next week I begin to find replacements for the negatives. I find replacements. Then, the last week of the party (party scheduled for Saturday) I find out on Wednesday that 1 of my "yes" couples and one of my "maybes" both can not attend, for different reasons. So, I scramble to find replacements and I get them covered. Friday afternoon I go home to prepare for the party expecting 15 guests. This still includes one couple who is a maybe, but even if they don't end up being able to come, I still have 13 and the activity can go forward. Right?
The party was set for 7 pm on Saturday night. At 5 pm I found out that one of my "yes" couples weren't coming. Apparently they couldn't get a babysitter. Now, here's my beef: First, they had 2 months to find a sitter. Second, even if they were planning on having their older daughter to the babysitting and her plans changed, they still knew this LONG BEFORE two hours before the party. Third, because they chose to send this information through a third party, they distinctly withheld from me the hostesses gracious offer that they could bring the children along.
But, I held my temper, figuring that the maybe would probably come through as a yes.
An hour later, the maybe called. She was still at work but it looked like she'd get out in about an hour, and they'd make it, though it was possible she'd be late. No problem, I said, call me when you are sure you are or are not attending. She agreed.
And she never called. And they never arrived.
So, I want to perform a public service. I believe the problem is that these people do not know what RSVP means. I'm going to inform them all.
R.S.V.P. is short for "Repondez, s'il vous plait" which is French for "Please reply." It is used by party planners, hostesses, and wedding planners world wide to gain information from the invited guests to determine how many will be attending, how many will be eating, etc. If the hostess has to hunt you down and you still can't commit to whether or not you will be attending, you are committing a faux pas. It would be far better to decline and not earn the hostesses aggravation.
Several people have earned my enmity over their social antics this weekend. I sincerely regret to inform that these individuals may find it a very long and cold winter in hell before another invitation is presented to them from me. I'm sorry, but your actions amount to an insult and amount to callous disregard for me, my husband, and my other guests.
Have a nice day.
