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How I Used Twilio, Python and Google to Automate My Wedding

twilio.com

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Re: How I Used Twilio, Python and Google to Automate My Wedding

#211

Post by Markoff »

sumeno wrote: post #38
andrewguenther wrote: post #23

In my opinion, this makes the whole process very impersonal. I invited people to my wedding because I care about them and wanted them to share that day with me. Although it was a lot of effort, I was happy to make save the dates, invitations, and hand write thank you notes to every singe one of them. If you're not willing to do that, then you're inviting too many people in my opinion.

Not everyone cares about the same things you do. I used paperless post for my wedding because it was easy, free, and physical wedding invitations are not important to me or my wife in any way. Nobody complained, it took a couple hours to get everything set up the way we wanted it, and within a few days we had around a 90% response rate. Only 1 person RSVPed as no so it doesn't seem like anyone got the impression we d…

don't forget the ecology argument, that's always saver if someone doesn't wanna admit they are just cheap

Re: How I Used Twilio, Python and Google to Automate My Wedding

#212

Post by Markoff »

cheeze wrote: post #51

> It is a cash bar, so please bring sufficient money with you as there is no nearby cash machine. Are guests expected to purchase their own alcohol at their wedding?

wow, something i hear first time, it would be scandal in my country or country of my wife to ask guests to pay for anything, though in China is pretty much mandatory to give red envelope containing money at entrance pretty much as ticket, people even keep databases for future weddings do they won't pay too much more or less than they got

Re: How I Used Twilio, Python and Google to Automate My Wedding

#213

Post by Markoff »

randlet wrote: post #97
cheeze wrote: post #51

> It is a cash bar, so please bring sufficient money with you as there is no nearby cash machine. Are guests expected to purchase their own alcohol at their wedding?

I think the author is in the UK where I believe cash bars at weddings are more socially acceptable. I've been to a few weddings here in Canada with cash bars. Some people really frown on it, but it's not a big deal to me. Some people just can't afford it.

would not be then better to have smaller wedding with amount of guests one can afford without asking them to pay for food or drinks? it's very odd idea for me to invite me somewhere and then expect i will pay, of course i can give some gift to couple, but expecting hard cash at bar or waiter, sorry but I'm that case i will rather go to normal restaurant of my choice and pass on such wedding

Re: How I Used Twilio, Python and Google to Automate My Wedding

#214

Post by Markoff »

paulcole wrote: post #6

>invites are not environmentally friendly As opposed to the sustainability of dozens of people traveling from near and far.

yeah, live streaming wedding ceremony and feast would be much more eco friendly and cheaper for OP, not sure why he insisted on physical presence, heck they could even send some Tesco gift voucher so people can buy some drink for watching it, it would cost less than catering company for sure

Re: How I Used Twilio, Python and Google to Automate My Wedding

#216

Post by jhardcastle »

cableshaft wrote: post #209
wccrawford wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We were repeatedly told that nobody remembers the food at a wedding and not to worry about it. We insisted on a good caterer who could actually serve hot food, instead of that limp cold mush that usually ends up out of those serving trays. It was amazing food and they did an amazing job with it. And people remember it as one of the great parts of our wedding. Totally worth it.

I'd say don't try to get too exotic or fancy with the food. Just make sure it's good quality (doesn't have to be great, just good). Do that, and you'll have beaten over half of the wedding receptions I've been to. If I can go to a local BBQ joint, spend $10 on a pulled pork sandwich and baked potato, and feel like I had a 3x tastier meal than the $40+ you spent per plate at the wedding (or whatever crazy number it is…

Food was by far our largest expense, but not because we choose the fancy fish and steak options. Instead we picked lots of food we wished we had been served at weddings we had been to. Tasty comfort foods, like a mashed potato bar (add your own toppings) and buffalo chicken sliders and lots of little tapas-style treats. We got so much positive feedback on the simple items, and continue to do so to this day. So glad we resisted the urge to serve uptight "fancy" selections!

Re: How I Used Twilio, Python and Google to Automate My Wedding

#217

Post by srtjstjsj »

andrewguenther wrote: post #23

In my opinion, this makes the whole process very impersonal. I invited people to my wedding because I care about them and wanted them to share that day with me. Although it was a lot of effort, I was happy to make save the dates, invitations, and hand write thank you notes to every singe one of them. If you're not willing to do that, then you're inviting too many people in my opinion.

OP also went to "a lot of effort" to build a cute automated solution, akin in spirit to your cute invitations. Same art, different medium.

Re: How I Used Twilio, Python and Google to Automate My Wedding

#218

Post by srtjstjsj »

hx87 wrote: post #190
eldavido wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Counterpoint: it's also worth considering the costs of breaking with tradition. I mean, sure, nobody has to get married. But then you might not get custody rights over your children. It might be more difficult to pick your kids up from school. Perhaps it will complicate inheritance. You won't get the tax breaks. You'll have to explain your relationship every time you're introduced to more traditional people, which mi…

What are the costs of breaking with "tradition" (mostly 19th century inventions) on a wedding?

Honest answer: ask your parents, your spouse, and your spouse's parents.

Re: How I Used Twilio, Python and Google to Automate My Wedding

#219

Post by srtjstjsj »

Steeeve wrote: post #152
mixmastamyk wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hysterical but not worth mentioning, eh?

Sorry... I don't know how to put it into words. There was an immediate pause felt by everyone within earshot, including her. You could tell she was deciding whether the pressure of being in a public social atmosphere was enough to get her to go forever diamond-less. Then the sense of frustration and being offended took over. There was a shriek. There were animated movements. There were at least 7 different facial exp…

That's really sad because he was 98% on the right side of the issue, bullied by jerks in the service of a criminal enterprise (deBeers).

Re: How I Used Twilio, Python and Google to Automate My Wedding

#220

Post by srtjstjsj »

zimzam wrote: post #199
x1798DE wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wasn't offended by lack of a physical invitation, but a friend of mine got married and invited my wife and I in a very informal way with a text message. We ended up waiting until way too late to book tickets, because my wife was expecting a physical invitation to follow the informal SMS save-the-date, and we ended up missing the wedding because flights got ungodly expensive (and involved many complicated connection…

Isn't the point of the save-the-date so people can book travel in advance though?

when they get an official save the date, not a tentative SMS about it
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