🔍 Why This Was Added
Previously, RSVP verification always required a phone number and/or email — which some couples found too restrictive for their guests
Many couples requested a simpler way for guests to verify themselves, without needing to enter contact details upfront
In response, TTO introduced a By Name verification option as an alternative
⚙️ How to Turn On "By Name" Verification
This is controlled under your RSVP settings, specifically:
Go to Advanced settings in your RSVP setup
Under Identification, you'll see the question: "How can guests find their invitation?"
Two checkboxes are available:
Email or phone — Guests enter an email or phone number from your guest list (this is the default)
Name — Guests type a name and pick from suggestions
📌 Note: Both options can be checked at the same time, meaning guests would have the choice of either method when identifying themselves — it doesn't have to be one or the other exclusively.
⚠️ Important privacy note: If you enable the Name option, be aware that anyone with the RSVP link can see matching guest names as they type - including who they're grouped with (i.e. their household). This means guest names and household groupings become visible to anyone attempting to identify themselves this way, even if they aren't actually a guest. Couples with privacy or safety concerns about their guest list should weigh this carefully before enabling name-based identification.
⚙️ Default Setting
By default, all weddings remain set to Email & Phone verification — existing setups are not automatically changed
If you'd like to switch to name-based verification, this can be turned on manually using the settings above
👤 How "By Name" Verification Works
The guest starts typing their name into the search field
Matching happens based on first name, last name, or full name - guests don't need to type their exact full name to find themselves
Once they see their name appear in the list, they select it to identify themselves
If a guest's name isn't found on the guest list, they can choose "Continue without matching" - this lets them proceed even if they aren't recognized
📌 Note: Continuing without a match is optional, not mandatory — guests are not blocked from completing their RSVP just because their name wasn't found. If a guest proceeds and completes their RSVP despite not being found on the guest list, their response will go directly to the Unmatched Guestlist, rather than being tied to an existing guest record.
⏭️ The "Skip" Step After By Name Verification
After a guest identifies themselves using By Name, they'll be shown a screen asking for their phone number and email (e.g. "Can [Couple Names] reach you?")
This step is entirely optional — guests can click Skip to bypass providing contact details and continue on with the rest of their RSVP
This is different from the mandatory contact fields required under Email & Phone verification, where this same information is required upfront just to identify themselves
💡 Tip: This means couples using By Name verification may end up with some guests who complete their RSVP without ever providing an email or phone number, since it's not enforced. If having contact details for every guest matters to you, this is worth keeping in mind when deciding which verification method to use.
🔄 What Stays the Same
Once a guest identifies themselves (either by name or by email/phone), the rest of the RSVP flow is unchanged — they continue on to add guests, answer questions, and complete their RSVP as normal
If required fields (like children's names) are left blank, the system will show a warning, but this does not block submission — guests can continue
⚠️ Key Difference from Email & Phone Verification
With the standard Email & Phone method, certain fields (like children's info) can be set as mandatory — attempting to continue without filling them in will throw an error and block submission
With By Name verification, this same mandatory requirement does not apply in the same way — guests are not blocked by missing optional fields