Questions hosts and guests may have

Will You Be Attending is an event RSVP and guest communication platform. Hosts create an event, add guests, send invitations, receive replies by email or SMS, and track responses from one dashboard. It is designed to replace the scattered mix of spreadsheets, group texts, inbox searches, and mental notes that usually surround guest management.

Spreadsheets can store names, but they do not chase missing replies, answer repeat questions, remember who asked for an accommodation, or tell you which messages failed. Group texts are easy to start and hard to manage. This service keeps the guest list, conversation history, RSVP status, flagged issues, and exportable headcount together so hosts can make decisions with cleaner information and less last-minute scrambling.

No. The platform started with wedding-style RSVP needs in mind, but it is being built for many event types, including parties, dinners, memorials, fundraisers, corporate events, community events, and private gatherings.

It is for anyone managing guest replies: couples, families, party hosts, organizers, planners, venues, teams, and small organizations. It is especially useful when the guest list is large enough that missed replies, special requests, dietary needs, or unclear answers could affect planning.

The dashboard gives an overview of events, total guests, confirmed guests, pending guests, declined guests, and flagged replies. Each event has its own guest list, messages, invitation tools, headcount export, event details, and response tracking. The practical goal is simple: when someone asks for the latest headcount, missing RSVPs, dietary notes, or problem replies, you do not have to reconstruct the answer from multiple places.

Hosts compose an invitation message from the event page and send it to guests via email or SMS. Each invitation can include a personal RSVP link so guests can respond online in addition to replying directly to the message. Guests can use the channel that feels natural to them, while the host still gets one organized record.

Yes. The invitation composer includes a “Send test to myself” button that delivers the draft message to the host’s own contact information so you can see exactly what guests will receive before sending it to the list.

Yes. Guests can reply naturally, such as “yes,” “no,” “I can be there,” or with questions like “Where is it?” or “Can I bring a guest?” Their replies are stored with the guest and shown in the event dashboard.

Yes. Each event has a shareable RSVP link and each invited guest has their own personal RSVP link. Guests who use the personal link see a pre-filled form with their name and current RSVP status. The shareable link lets invited guests look themselves up by name without needing a personal link. Both options allow guests to confirm or decline, choose meal options, provide the names of permitted additional guests, and add a note. Additional attendees are grouped with the primary guest’s household and do not receive separate messages. The page also includes an Event Details section where guests can review the date, location with a map link, dress code, parking, and other details before responding. After submitting, guests can send the organizer a question directly from the confirmation screen. Include {rsvp_link} in your invitation message and each guest’s link is inserted automatically at send time.

A “Copy RSVP Link” button appears in the event header once the event is created. Clicking it copies the public link to your clipboard so you can share it on social media, in group chats, or anywhere you like.

This is usually a copy/paste issue, an outdated link from before a guest was re-added, or a link shared to the wrong person. Contact support with the guest's name and event and we can look up their current link or issue them a fresh one — their RSVP status and history are not affected.

Clear acceptances and declines update the guest’s RSVP status automatically when possible. The original wording is also saved so the host can see exactly what the guest said.

If the answer is available from the event details or saved Event Notes, the assistant can respond. If the answer is missing or requires host judgment, the message is flagged for review. Depending on notification settings, the host may receive the flagged message directly by email, SMS, Telegram, or WhatsApp. Guests can also send a question from the RSVP page after submitting their response — these go straight to the host as flagged messages for direct follow-up.

The event setup supports RSVP questions such as meal options, dietary details, additional guest names, and custom prompts. Hosts can set how many additional guests each invitation allows, from zero upward. Guests can answer these through the online RSVP page.

When guests mention something actionable in their reply that does not fit a standard RSVP question — timing, seating preferences, dietary needs, or attendance qualifications — the assistant captures a short note automatically and attaches it to the guest record. These notes appear in the guest profile and in the headcount export.

Yes. When sending invitations from an event, hosts can skip guests who have already received an invitation. This is useful when new guests are added after the first round.

The service uses automation and AI-assisted processing for tasks like parsing guest lists, classifying replies, drafting routine responses, answering questions from event details, and flagging messages that need review. The point is not novelty; it is to reduce repetitive coordination while still bringing human judgment into the moments that need it.

It should not. The assistant is instructed to use only the event details, prior conversation, and saved event notes. If a detail is missing, it should say that the information was not provided and flag the message for host review.

Flags are replies that may need attention. A flag can be a normal missing detail, such as an unknown parking question, or something more urgent, such as allergies, accessibility needs, medical concerns, emergencies, serious complaints, or safety issues. Flagged replies appear in the event dashboard, and notification settings control whether they are also sent directly to the host.

Yes. Flag notifications include a short token such as FLAG-123-ABCDEF1234. Reply with that token and the answer you want sent to the guest, and the assistant will deliver it through the guest's available contact channel and clear the flag after a successful send. For example: FLAG-123-ABCDEF1234 Valet parking is available at the main entrance.

Routine questions can be handled quietly when the answer is known. Missing details and host decisions are flagged for review. Hosts can choose whether flagged replies should also trigger direct notifications, and which channel those notifications should use.

Event Notes are reusable host-approved answers for details that may not have a dedicated field yet. For example, if one guest asks whether children are welcome, the host can save an answer as an Event Note so future guests can receive a consistent response. When answering a flagged notification, adding “save,” “remember,” or “event note” asks the assistant to store that answer as an Event Note after sending it.

Yes. The demo is self-serve. You enter basic event information and your own contact details, send yourself a demo invitation, and see how replies appear in a simplified event view.

No. The demo is designed so you can try the flow without scheduling a sales call or waiting for customer service.

Yes. Demo sessions are handled separately from live event workflows. Multiple people can run demos without affecting real event data.

The demo only knows the details entered for that demo session. If you did not provide a guest policy, parking note, dress code, or similar detail, the assistant should say it does not have that information rather than guessing.

Guests are managed inside each event. You can add guests manually or use the guest import tools from the event page. Each guest can have multiple phone numbers and email addresses — useful when a primary contact method may not be reliable. Dashboard-level guest actions are intentionally kept out of the global dashboard because guests belong to specific events.

Rows without a name, or without any usable email, phone, or mailing address, are skipped rather than added as broken records. After importing a file, the review screen shows exactly which rows were skipped and why, so you can fix the source file — usually a missing name or contact column — and re-import just those guests.

Yes. When adding or editing a guest you can add additional phone numbers or email addresses. Contacts are ranked by priority and delivery is attempted in order — if the first method fails, the next one is tried automatically. The Messages tab shows which channel succeeded and notes any delivery failures.

The platform tries each of the guest's contacts in priority order. If all attempts fail, the guest is listed in the Failed Deliveries summary on the event page along with the reason. Guests with no contact on file appear in a separate Unreachable list. You can add a contact and resend to both groups directly from those views.

If a guest replies STOP to any text, they're opted out of all future SMS/MMS messages everywhere — that's a carrier compliance rule, not a bug. You'll get an email as soon as this happens so it's never a mystery, and the guest can text START to the same number to resume. They can still be reached by email in the meantime.

Yes. Guests can be removed from an event from the guest detail view.

Yes. The RSVP Deadline field is in the Event Details tab. Once set, a countdown card showing the days remaining appears above your event, and the deadline is marked on the event timeline.

Yes. The Export Headcount button opens a dialog where you choose which columns to include — RSVP status, meal choice, household links, dietary notes, AI-captured guest notes, flag reason, and contact info. You can filter to confirmed guests only and export as a print-ready formatted page or CSV, which is useful when caterers, venues, planners, or family helpers need a current list.

Event-wide messaging is available inside an event. This keeps messages scoped to the correct guest list and avoids accidentally contacting guests from the wrong event.

Event details save automatically. Changes are committed about 1.5 seconds after you stop typing or adjusting a field. A "Saved" confirmation appears in the top corner of the form. There is no separate Save button to click.

Yes. The Seating Planner is a visual floor-plan builder available from within an event. You can add round or rectangular tables, set seat counts, drag tables around the canvas, and assign guests to specific seats. Guest RSVP statuses, meal choices, and captured notes appear alongside the plan so you can seat with full context.

Yes. The Room Setup tool accepts a plain-language description — for example, “20 round tables of 8 and two head tables that seat 16” — and builds the layout for you, including mixed table types. You can also resize the canvas or add tables manually at any time. Existing tables are kept unless you delete them.

Yes. You can paste free-form notes such as “keep the Smiths and the Johnsons apart” or “Grandma near the front,” and the planner proposes matching rules against your guest list. You review and confirm each proposal before it takes effect, and rules can be overridden for specific guests or tables.

Seating Planner access is added per event for a one-time $20 fee. Check the Pricing section of the website for current availability and pricing.

No service can guarantee delivery. Email and SMS depend on third-party providers, carrier networks, spam filters, recipient settings, and other factors. The platform records status where available and helps troubleshoot delivery issues.

Email and SMS are both supported for sending invitations and receiving replies. Guests can also respond online through their personal RSVP link or the shareable event RSVP page. WhatsApp and Telegram are not currently used for outbound outreach.

An event organizer — someone you know, such as a host, couple, or planner — added you to their guest list and sent you an invitation through Will You Be Attending. The organizer is responsible for confirming they have your permission to contact you. The messages you receive are event-related communications such as invitations, reminders, and RSVP confirmations sent on behalf of that organizer. Will You Be Attending does not sell or share your mobile number with third parties for marketing purposes.

Reply STOP to any SMS message you receive from Will You Be Attending and you will be removed from future text communications. Reply HELP to receive assistance. Message frequency varies depending on event activity. Standard message and data rates may apply.

The event host is responsible for ensuring they have the right, permission, consent, or other lawful basis to provide guest contact information and send event-related messages.

The service may store guest names, email addresses, phone numbers, RSVP statuses, raw replies, meal selections, household and additional guest details, message history, and other event-related details provided by the host or guest.

Hosts or guests can contact hello@willyoubeattending.com to request help with correction or deletion, subject to legal, security, and operational limits.

For security, password reset links expire one hour after they're requested and can only be used once. If a link stops working, request a new one from the login page — only the most recently requested link is valid.

Check your spam or promotions folder first. If it's still missing, contact hello@willyoubeattending.com with the email address on your account and we can resend the verification link.

Accounts, unlimited events and guests, email invitations, RSVP tracking, flags, notes, and the dashboard are free. There are no subscriptions or monthly tiers.

SMS and MMS are deducted from a prepaid messaging balance. Seating costs $20 per event, and mailed 6×9 postcards cost $2.50 each.

If you have a saved card, WYBA can charge the exact deficit so a send is not interrupted. Optional auto-replenishment can also buy your selected credit pack when the balance drops below $5. If payment fails, the messages are queued and you are prompted to update payment.

Messaging credits are non-refundable, but they never expire. Once purchased, credits stay in your account until you use them for this event or any future event. Fulfilled postcards and activated seating access are also non-refundable unless required by law.

Contact hello@willyoubeattending.com. Include your account email, event name, and a short description of what happened so the issue can be reviewed faster.

Yes. Feature feedback is welcome, especially around event setup, guest import, response handling, message templates, and host review workflows.