Harold B. Lee Library

Check Yes or No

A ‘check yes or no’ invitation takes away the stress of replying creatively to a creative invitation. Instead of waiting up to three days for a clever response, a person who utilizes a ‘check yes or no’ invitation can expect near instantaneous answer.

Examples of ‘Check Yes or No’ Invitations From the Special Collections Archives

Preference Dates at BYU (FA 01 580)

A friend of the inviter dressed up as a Page, played a trumpet fanfare, and read a scroll to the invitee.

Dear [invitee],

In the year of our Lord, [year], Lady [inviter] requests the pleasure of your presence on a Preference Date. If you accept this invitation, return her lady’s kerchief.

The invitee returned the kerchief on a silk pillow while riding a borrowed horse.

Instructions told the invitee to put a sign up in the window if yes. Appropriate signs may read “[inviter] is a babe” or “[Inviter] is a 10” or any variation thereof that makes use of the inviter’s name in some complementary way.

Special Creative Dating Invitations (FA 01 692)

The inviter presented the invitee with a bouquet of flowers. If yes, the invitee was to return a pink flower. If no, a white flower would be appreciated.

The inviter left a box full of ribbons on the invitee’s doorstep. If yes, the invitee was to tie a green ribbon on the inviter’s door. If no, a yellow ribbon would do.

Creative Dating Invitations (FA 01 765)

The inviter left two cake mixes in different flavors on the invitee’s doorstep. The invitee was to bake one flavor if the answer was yes, the other flavor if the answer was no. The invitee baked a checkered cake instead.

Creative Dating Invitations (FA 01 863)

The inviter wrote an invitation on a break apart ticket for the varsity theater. The invitee, who’d job was to collect tickets, was instructed to return the correct half of the ticket at the end of the movie.

The invitee was instructed to drink a glass of water if the answer was yes, dump the glass on a potted plant if maybe, or dump it over herself if no.

The invitee was given a puzzle invitation with the instruction to say yes by providing 12 dozen roses. This was done in shifts by all the invitee’s young cousins, bringing roses three at a time for an entire day.

An invitation was written in the snow. The invitee had to set fire to the answer, yes or no.

Creative Invitations and Responses (FA 01 1144)

The inviter left two helium balloons, one red for yes and the other blue for no, and the invitee was to free the balloon with the correct designation.

The inviter made a large picture book chronicling a fake date adventure, with a ‘choose your own ending’ twist. The invitee was just required to choose the preferable ending and return the book.

Hey, Baby! Do You Want to Dance: Cultural Insights through Teen Invitations to Dances in Mormondom (FA 01 1473)

The inviter left a bucket of ice water on the invitee’s doorstep with a note instructing her to pour the water on herself if the answer was yes, or pour the water on him if the answer was no. The inviter and a friend hid in the bushes with a camera.

Asking and Answering: Ideas for Creative Dates at BYU (FA 01 1553)

A pizza was delivered to the invitee’s house with a note: “If yes, eat the pizza and return the box. If no, eat the box and return the pizza.”

Creative Dating Invitations (FA 01 1660)

The invitee was required to do a somersault if the answer was yes, a complex gymnastic move if the answer was no.

Utah Traditions of Creative Dating (FA 01 1963)

The invitee was given ingredients for a dozen cookies and instructions to bake one batch of cookies for yes, two batches for no.