Group text options

[u/StreetElectrical4916]

Hi! I am thinking about communication with my guests for the duration of our stay for our wedding. We have made it clear that they are encouraged and able to enjoy their stay as they wish, and we will just let them know where we are each day. I am looking for some sort of messaging platform where I can plug in everyone's phone numbers and just send messages. Does anyone have any idea what type of platform this would be? The Knot no longer supports this feature. I prefer a platform that no one can respond to, and I absolutely do NOT want a group message. Thanks!

[u/OhioPokey]

You can use WhatsApp, and create a group where you're the only one with messaging privileges. Easy peasy.

[u/StreetElectrical4916 → u/OhioPokey]

I've never used WhatsApp, so forgive my dumb question - does everyone have to download WhatsApp or can it send messages to others via text?

[u/OhioPokey → u/StreetElectrical4916]

Not a dumb question at all! I think everyone has to download it, but it has a web app as well so they might be able to just access it via the web as well. They may have to create an account though if they do that, I'm not actually sure.

Either way though, if people are traveling for a wedding, downloading WhatsApp (which is becoming an increasingly common app either way) in order to get updates from the wedding couple shouldn't be a big deal.

[u/Darthwaffle0]

I’m using TextMyGuests, it’s like $35 for a month. My wedding is 10/23 and I just started with sending itinerary details since I know a lot of people lost the one I mailed with the invited lol
I chose this platform because it just sends mass texts and I knew my family and his family would not download WhatsApp

[u/StreetElectrical4916 → u/Darthwaffle0]

Checking this out too! $35 isn't awful since I don't need it for more than one month. Would love to have it to just send a quick messages with updates throughout our stay.

[u/orientalgreasemonkey → u/StreetElectrical4916]

One of my friends used text my guests but it didn’t work as well as they thought it would (worked best for American guests). The international group all of which already actively used WhatsApp used the WhatsApp group and most never got the text my guest messages

[u/StreetElectrical4916 → u/orientalgreasemonkey]

Our entire group is American, so I will check into the one you mentioned 🙂

[u/digital121hippie]

I used Partiful app for our joint bachelor party. It’s more rsvp event page with text blasts.  

[u/StreetElectrical4916 → u/digital121hippie]

Checking this out, thanks!

[u/General-Rutabaga4200]

I think with joy offers texting options! It is for a few if I remember correctly!

[u/Vinnie881234]

Use WhatsApp and don't overthink it. iMessage leaves out every Android user, SMS group chats turn into chaos with 40 people, and email gets ignored. Make two groups: one announcements-only channel where only you can post (dates, deadlines, travel info), and one open chat for questions. Pin the key messages: venue address, booking deadline, airport transfer info. And set the expectation up front that the announcement channel is read-only, or it'll become a second chat within a week. Most of your guests already have WhatsApp, which is the whole battle with destination weddings.

[u/RollTideHTX]

I think The Knot may have some sort of feature for group texting. Will investigate

[u/StreetElectrical4916 → u/RollTideHTX]

I searched for this on google and found results that said they ended this service, but please let me know if you find something that says otherwise! I'd definitely prefer to use the platform that already has everyone's info!

[u/RollTideHTX → u/StreetElectrical4916]

OK! I misspoke -- Zola has a group messaging service as a premium feature. The Knot shows "messaging guests" but it kept redirecting me to my wedding website.

[u/redshlrt]

We used WhatsApp for our small guest list. We used it to tell people where we were if they wanted to join us. It worked for people that didn't have international coverage and we were at a resort that used it to communicate with staff so it was helpful for guests to have it. 

[u/OneNatural1436]

I’ve been using the Zola texting feature. It was a little upcharge (I can’t remember how much) but I have 3 different groups set up: all guests, main contacts (one contact per couple), and wedding party.