Ugandans and their annoying invitation card etiquette.

It is a life skill to learn  invitation card etiquette .Two UK mothers became embroiled in a bitter Facebook battle over an invoice handed to one of their sons for missing the other's birthday party. Tanya Walsh and her partner Derek Nash were appalled when their son Alex, five, arrived home from school with a £15.95 bill for missing his classmate Charlie Lawrence’s big day at a local ski centre. After refusing to pay, Alex's parents were threatened that they would be taken to court. Since then Miss Walsh and Charlie's mother Julie Lawrence have become entangled in a war of words. Read full story .The story teaches us a lot about invitation card etiquette? It puts you in shoes of a   disappointed event organiser.

Whether it is baby shower, wedding reception, house warming, birthday party, dinner, graduation party, introduction ceremony, bridal shower, or award Gala, you will be sure that Ugandans will surely disappoint you on spot with invitation card etiquette. To some Ugandans the rules are humiliating as they feel restricted. It is truly Ugandan not to honour event card invitations. Invitation cards today carry rules on the dress code, programme, and right of admission especially numbers of people and their age bracket. Invitation cards help to ensure that the invited person have the best experience at the event. It is only proper that you follow instructions on these cards.

RSVP is one thing most people do not pay attention to on invitation cards. RSVP is French phrase Répondez s'il vous plaît to notify the invited guest to get back to organisers on any enquiries. It is unprofessional not to do anything about RSVP. The Phrase simply means please respond. Invited people are mandated to reply promptly. You have been chosen from millions to attend, so act like you understand that simple fact. Event organisers have to put a lot into consideration to pull off a great show. Feedback from invited guest is useful on things like planning for numbers, dietary arrangements, and security. Invited people must respond to RSVP whether they are attending or not.

Our poor reading culture just takes disrespect for invitation cards to yet another level. There is this time I had an event. The security team called me to help talk to a V.I.P who was causing a scene after he was denied entry. He had not carried his invitation card and seemed not apologetic that he had actually not carried his card. There was no other way of identifying who was invited and not. The card had clear instructions. Card holders had to carry the card to the Award gala. The card has specific dress code instructions but you are shocked to anger to see that someone has not even bothered to incorporate one colour of the day’s dress code. A card has ‘black tie’ but someone shows up in a T.shirt.When the bouncer does his job of asking you to go home and adjust, you cause a scene for all to see.

Some do not follow basic rules on cards which baffles any event organiser. We all feel let down if we do not get the respect and honour that we deserve. You send a relative an invitation card to your wedding reception and you are summoned to a clan meeting simply because it has limits on who should come. They feel it is automatic for their family to attend. Even when it is clear we are in harsh economic times where people invite manageable guests than shock on loans after inviting the entire world. Some even refuse to attend out of pride and anger. There are some who will just ignore the communication of this card admits only one (1) person and flood the event with their family. Imagine those who children when it is strictly an adult event. Event organisers have to run around like a headless chicken to set up a kids play area. It is as if rules are an inconvenience. Its Africa but time should still mean money. Even when the card has the programme, you will still have people come six hours after the official time.

Refusal to follow any invitation card etiquette is just inexcusable. Ugandans have always issued cards or received cards for different events. The levels of rules have increased but the culture is still the same. The lack of etiquette for even the e-cards invitations just shows that we need to do more. For Facebook event tool gives optional for someone to share feedback if they are attending, may attend or not attending. Surprisingly someone will confirm attendance but not show up for even a minute. Event organisers should reward those who respect invites for example recognise the best dressed guest according to the theme of the night and first guests to arrive. The idea of reminding invitees that their cards must be carried to the venue so they enter a raffle draws to win prizes could motivate many to respect card invitations.

Ivan .N.Baliboola

PR and organizational diagnosis specialist

nbaliboola@gmail.com

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