# How to Set Up an Online Wedding RSVP for Free (Step by Step) **To set up an online wedding RSVP for free, create your wedding event with a built-in RSVP, share one link (or a printed QR code) with every guest, and let replies build your guest list automatically.** Choose named invitations if you want control over exactly who is invited, decide whether plus-ones are allowed, and set a firm reply-by date. With [Convide.Online](https://convide.online/en/wedding-invitation/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=online-wedding-rsvp), weddings with up to 20 confirmed guests are free, and larger guest lists can be unlocked with a paid plan. This guide focuses on the part of wedding planning that causes the most stress in the final weeks: collecting replies, chasing late guests, and handing a reliable number to your caterer and venue. If you still need the invitation itself, start with our guide to an [online wedding invitation maker](https://blog.convide.online/online-wedding-invitation-maker) and come back here for the RSVP workflow. ## Why an online wedding RSVP beats reply cards and group chats Traditional reply cards look lovely, but they are slow. They need stamps, they get lost in drawers, and you end up typing every answer into a spreadsheet by hand. Group chats and direct messages are faster, but replies get buried under congratulations, photos, and side conversations. An online wedding RSVP fixes both problems: - **One source of truth.** Every reply lands in the same guest list instead of five different apps. - **Instant updates.** You see confirmations as they arrive, not two weeks later when the post shows up. - **Fewer errors.** Guests type their own names, so you are not decoding handwriting or guessing who "Sam + 1" means. - **Easy exports.** When the venue asks for final numbers, you download the list rather than rebuilding it. It also works alongside paper. Many couples still mail a printed invitation for grandparents and formal guests, then add a QR code that opens the same online RSVP. ## Step 1: Decide your RSVP rules before you create anything Five minutes of decisions now saves hours of awkward messages later. Agree on these with your partner first: 1. **Reply-by date.** Most caterers and venues want final numbers two to four weeks before the wedding. Set your RSVP deadline a week before their cut-off so you have time to chase stragglers. 2. **Plus-ones.** Will single guests get a companion? Will children be included? Write the rule down so you apply it consistently. 3. **Open link or named invitations.** An open link is simplest: anyone with it can reply. Named invitations give each guest or household a personal link, which is better for weddings where the guest list is fixed. 4. **Channels.** Decide how each group of guests will receive the invitation: email for colleagues, messaging apps for friends, printed card with a QR code for older relatives. **Example:** Priya and Tom are planning a 90-person wedding. Their caterer needs numbers 21 days out, so they set the RSVP deadline at 28 days. Plus-ones go only to guests in established relationships, and they use named invitations so the link cannot be forwarded to uninvited friends. ## Step 2: Create the wedding event with RSVP built in On [Convide.Online](https://convide.online/en/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=online-wedding-rsvp), create a new event and fill in the essentials: - Couple's names and the wedding date and time - Ceremony and reception address (guests can open it in Google Maps with one tap) - A short welcome message and any dress-code or schedule notes - Whether guests can bring companions — this can be switched on or off per event If you designed your invitation in Canva, you can link your own artwork to the event so guests see your design and the RSVP in one place. ## Step 3: Use named invitations for a controlled guest list Weddings are the event where guest-list control matters most. With named invitations, each guest or household gets an invitation addressed to them, and their reply is tied to their name on your list. This helps in three practical ways: - **No surprise guests.** A personal invitation is clearly meant for one person or household. - **Clear status per guest.** You can see at a glance who has confirmed and who has not replied yet. - **Fewer duplicates.** Convide validates duplicate replies, so the same guest answering twice does not inflate your headcount. For a relaxed backyard wedding where you are happy for friends to share the link, an open RSVP link is fine. For anything with a seated dinner and a per-head price, named invitations are usually worth it. You can read more in our guide to [named invitations](https://blog.convide.online/named-invitation). ## Step 4: Share your online wedding RSVP link and QR code Once the event is ready, send the link the way each guest actually reads messages: - **Email** for formal guests, colleagues, and anyone who prefers it - **SMS** for relatives who do not use social apps - **Messaging apps** such as WhatsApp, Telegram, or Messenger for close friends - **Social media** only if you are using an open link and want to reach a wide circle For printed invitations or save-the-dates, add the event's printable QR code to the card. Guests scan it with their phone camera and land straight on the RSVP, so paper and digital replies end up in the same list. **Tip:** Send the invitation in batches. Start with immediate family and the wedding party, check that everything displays correctly, then send to everyone else. ## Step 5: Track replies and follow up before the deadline As replies arrive, your guest list updates automatically. Check it once or twice a week rather than every hour — the numbers move in bursts, usually right after you send invitations and right before the deadline. A simple follow-up rhythm works well: 1. **Two weeks before the deadline:** look at who has not replied yet and send a friendly personal message with the link again. 2. **Three or four days before:** a short, direct reminder to anyone still missing. 3. **After the deadline:** call or message the last few personally. Someone in the family usually knows whether they are coming. Plan these nudges in your calendar so they go out on time. A personal message from the couple tends to get a faster answer anyway. **Example:** Ana and Chris have 74 confirmations, 9 declines, and 12 guests who have not replied ten days before the deadline. They split the 12 between them, send personal messages, and are down to two unknowns by the cut-off — close enough to give the caterer a confident number. ## Step 6: Export the guest list for your venue, caterer, and seating plan When the deadline passes, download the guest list as a PDF. Use it to: - Give the caterer and venue a final headcount (including companions) - Build your seating chart - Print a check-in list for the welcome table on the day - Count favours, place cards, and order of service booklets Keep a small buffer — one or two places — for last-minute changes. Weddings almost always have at least one. ## How much does an online wedding RSVP cost? On Convide.Online, a wedding with up to 20 confirmed guests is free. That covers elopements, micro-weddings, and intimate dinners. For larger weddings, you can unlock more confirmed guests with a paid plan, which is typically far cheaper than printing and posting reply cards with return stamps. If you are comparing options, check how each tool counts guests and companions before you choose. ## Online wedding RSVP FAQ ### How early should I send my online wedding RSVP? Send the invitation with the RSVP link six to eight weeks before the wedding, or earlier for destination weddings. Set the reply-by date two to four weeks before the day, depending on what your caterer needs. ### Can older guests RSVP online without trouble? Yes. Guests do not need to install an app or create an account; they open the link on their phone or computer and confirm. For relatives who prefer paper, a printed card with a QR code leads to the same RSVP, and you can also confirm on their behalf after a phone call. ### Can I control plus-ones on my wedding RSVP? Yes. Companions can be turned on or off for each event, so you can decide whether guests may bring someone. Named invitations help you keep that rule consistent across the guest list. ### What happens if a guest replies twice? Convide validates duplicate replies, so the same guest confirming twice does not count twice in your headcount. ### Do I need a wedding website to collect RSVPs? No. A wedding website is useful for travel and accommodation details, but an RSVP-focused invitation link is enough to collect replies and manage the guest list. Many couples use both and simply link the RSVP from their website. ### Can I download my wedding guest list? Yes. You can download the guest list as a PDF to share with your venue and caterer or to print for check-in on the day. ## Set up your online wedding RSVP today An online wedding RSVP turns the most chaotic part of planning into a list that builds itself. Decide your rules, create the event, use named invitations where control matters, share the link and QR code, and follow up personally before the deadline. When you are ready, create your [wedding invitation on Convide.Online](https://convide.online/en/wedding-invitation/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=online-wedding-rsvp) — free for up to 20 confirmed guests — and spend the final weeks enjoying the run-up to your wedding instead of chasing replies.