I have an event next week for work, and the responses are trickling in.  Of the 75 people we have invited, I believe we have heard from 20 of them. Seriously.

I know this is in an area in which we all struggle. Who hasn’t thrown a party, shower, dinner party, event or wedding where getting responses isn’t like pulling teeth? It can be the hardest part of the event– to find out who’s coming!

I read a great op-ed that says that our faster, electronic based, twitter filled world has made society last minute in our decision making– we want to know if something better will come up. I love his solution. Instead of R.S.V.P., he says to use R.V.O.M.– Répondez Vite — ou Mourez, or Respond Now Or Die!

But I wonder if the time it takes to make and send the invite is related the amount of responses received?

Don’t get me wrong– I love the ease of email, especially when I am an inviting a lot of people.  E-vite is especially nice for something like a house party when you don’t need exact numbers. Sure, there are stragglers in responding, but you get enough information. Usually the day before or day of and it all works out.

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But, don’t we all get tons of email? I generally have to check my email daily just so the junk mail doesn’t pile up. Sometimes I am so anxious to clean up my inbox, I don’t spend as much time on some items as I should.  Or– if an email falls below my viewer window,  I might forget all about it, invite or not.

On the other hand, when I receive an invitation in the mail, I take the time to open it, admire it and check the date. I respond as quickly as I can, post the date on my calendar, and may even put the invitation on my refrigerator.

Granted, for a wedding they make it as easy as checking a box and licking the envelope. But even for invitations that I sent with no response card– they were requested by email, online, or by phone– I heard from more people, more quickly.  And besides– who doesn’t like getting mail?

So, while I am not advocating for those late, or non, responders, I think there might be something to email vs mail, in terms of response rate.  Invites might take you longer to put together and mail, but it might save you time with phone calls and follow up emails later on (note to self).

What do you think? As a guest, do you prefer mail or email invites? Does that preference determine which you will use for your next party?