Picking a date everyone can agree on starts with deciding whose attendance is essential and which options are realistic. Offer a few dates, set a reply deadline, and explain how you will choose if there is no perfect match.
GetTogether Planner brings date options, place voting, and RSVPs into one shared event link. The Free plan allows one event per month with up to three guests per event; review the current allowance before inviting a larger group. Start Planning
The goal is not to collect every possible free hour. It is to turn a vague idea into a decision people understand.
Set a decision rule before the poll
For a birthday, the guest of honor may be essential. For a casual monthly dinner, the group may prefer the date that works for the most people.
| Situation | A useful decision rule |
|---|---|
| One person's celebration | Confirm their availability first |
| Regular friend meetup | Choose the option with the most definite yes responses |
| Shared booking or travel | Confirm the people paying before making a nonrefundable commitment |
| No date works well | Reduce the scope or choose another window instead of extending the poll indefinitely |
Tell the group the rule before they vote. That avoids making a last-minute decision look arbitrary.
Step-by-step: how to run a date poll that actually closes
- Pick your candidate dates , 2–3 specific dates (e.g., "Saturday July 19," not "third weekend of July").
- Create the poll , In GetTogether Planner this takes two minutes: name the event, add dates, copy the link.
- Write a clear message , Give context: what, roughly when, and where. Don't send a bare link.
- Set a public deadline , "Voting closes Wednesday night" converts passive responders into active ones.
- Ping non-responders once , A single bump after 24–36 hours is enough.
- Close and confirm , Pick the top date, send confirmation with full details.
See how to make plans with friends when schedules clash for what to do when no date gets a clear majority.
When to use a group planner vs. just picking the date
You don't always need a poll. For two or three friends, pick the date and confirm it. Polling a group of two creates unnecessary friction. Here's a rough guide:
Just pick the date (no poll needed):
- 2–3 people
- The group is very flexible or one person's schedule is the hard constraint
- It's a spontaneous plan (same day or next day)
Run a poll:
- 4+ people
- Mix of different schedule types (shift workers, parents, travelers)
- Date is more than two weeks out and requires coordination
Use a full planning tool:
- 6+ people
- You need RSVPs, not just date votes
- There are logistics beyond the date (venue, costs, what to bring)
For events with venue bookings or shared costs, how to coordinate group dinner reservations and how to send group invites that get RSVPs extend the process past the date poll.
Send a poll people can finish
I am choosing between [option one], [option two], and [option three]. Please respond by [deadline]. We will use [decision rule], and I will confirm the final date afterward.
Once the date is settled, stop polling and share the plan. Use the group planner when location, activity, and RSVPs also need coordination, or read how to get friends to commit if responses keep drifting.