If guests don’t RSVP in time, can you fine them?

My friend Chris, who is a librarian by trade, sent me a link to one of the most clever invitations I’ve ever seen.

I love the due date stamp!

Diana and Scott, also librarians, obviously went all out when designing and crafting their wedding stationery with an in-your-face library theme. I wouldn’t have thought it so, but book borrowing and nuptials have a lot in common. Due dates, reservations, and forms all come to mind.


I’d eventually have to stick it to a book…maybe a weddingish book

Not being a librarian myself, I naturally didn’t get the joke on the envelope, but Chris was nice enough to explain it to me.

“One thing that caught my eye, and was clarified in the comments, was the call number…365.49. I thought, hey, 365 isn’t weddings, which are in the 390s! 365 is ‘penal and related institutions’ and .4 is ‘specific inmates.’ .49 doesn’t exist — Diana and Scott made up their own category of specific inmate.”

Ack! More forms to fill out!

I was slightly skeptical about the form RSVP until I looked at it more closely. Now I’m absolutely enamored by it, though I’d wager that some people might take one glance and decide to respond via telephone.

4 Responses to “If guests don’t RSVP in time, can you fine them?”

  1. Ladyjane April 10, 2008 at 11:41 am #

    Brilliant! Makes me wish future husbandy-guy and I had professions in something a little more tangible than youth work.

  2. Twistie April 10, 2008 at 11:52 am #

    (goes all giddy with geekish delight)

    Now that’s a wedding I want to attend!

    If Mr. Twistie and I ever decide to reaffirm our vows (which I’m guessing Mr. Twistie won’t see much point in doing since they’ve lasted just fine all this time, thanks), I think I would strongarm him into designing an invitation that looked like a concert poster. He’s really talented with the graphics.

  3. Laura April 10, 2008 at 1:43 pm #

    My fiance is a pilot! I want to do a boarding pass!

  4. La BellaDonna April 11, 2008 at 12:22 pm #

    Heh. I note that not only is it “365.49;” it is “365.49 LOVE” – which appears to equal “Prisoners of Love.”