Most Bar/Bat Mitzvahs are planned by the parents or another family member, so if you’re that person, this post is for you.
Firstly, congratulations! Planning a Bar or Bat Mitzvah is a very rewarding experience and the event itself is always a blast. You’ve probably already spent some time buying decorations, creating a guest list and looking at invitations. Now you’re trying to figure out the fastest and easiest way to gather your RSVP replies. Counting up paper RSVP replies is just too much work and you’re thinking about text message RSVPs. Replied App is a great option for your Bar/Bat Mitzvah because it’s simple and you’ll get your head counter faster so you can continue with your other planning activities.
To get started, create an account on Replied App
Visit www.replied.app and click “Sign Up” in the top right. Enter your name and email and you’ll quickly be sent to your main dashboard page.
Next, create your Bar or Bat Mitzvah in Replied App
Click the “+ New Event” button and enter your event name, event planner name (your name), and event date. Remember, your dedicated text RSVP phone number will be released at the date and time of your event.
Get your dedicated text message RSVP number
Next you’ll want to get your dedicated phone number that guests can send text messages to. This is the number where Replied App will automatically communicate with your guests via text message and gather their RSVP information. You don’t have to lift a finger!
Click the “Activate” button on the left side of the screen. Select how many text RSVPs you need for your event (basically – 1 text rsvp per invitation). Enter payment info and click activate. You’ll then be forwarded straight to the settings page
Remember – you can only activate your text rsvps when your event is less than 6 months away. Most invitations go out within 2 or 3 months in advance so that the head count numbers are accurate.
Important! – Set your event settings for text RSVPs
Take a close look at the settings page when you get there. There are quite a few optional questions you can use. You can even add a custom question if you want to ask for something like if your guests have any food allergies. Make sure your event name and planner name is accurate because your guests will see this when they complete their text rsvp.
Include your text rsvp phone number on your invitations
When you’re ready, go to the “RSVPs” page and take a look at your dedicated rsvp phone number. Add this to your RSVP cards or directly to your invitation with text reading “To RSVP, send a text message to [your rsvp number].” You can use paper or digital/email invitations for this, your choice!
Login and watch your RSVPs tally up automatically
Login to Replied App and navigate over to the “RSVPs” page to start watching your RSVP replies come in. You’ll see the total head count at the top. You can even do this on mobile on your phone if you open Replied App in your mobile web browser.
(Optional – but recommended) Send text reminders a few weeks before your event
When it’s only a few weeks until your Bar or Bat Mitzvah, you’ll want to have your guests re-confirm their RSVPs (just in case one of your guests has had something come up and hasn’t let you know). This will verify that your head count is totally accurate.
Go to your RSVPs page and click “Send Text Reminders.” Once you click the “Send Text Reminders Now,” text message reminders will be sent to all your guests who have RSVP’d asking them to update their RSVP if anything has changed. They can do this via text by replying with the word “edit.”