How to Set Custom Reply-To Email Addresses for Booking Notifications
Reply-To Email - Control Where Responses Go
TidyCal's Reply-To Email feature allows you to set a custom reply-to address for your booking type's email notifications. When attendees hit "Reply" to any booking email, their response will go to your specified address instead of the default sender address.
Plan Required: ✅ Agency Plan ($79)
💡 Why Use Custom Reply-To Email?
- Route responses to your support team or assistant
- Use a professional branded email address
- Separate booking inquiries from other emails
- Centralize responses to a shared inbox
How Reply-To Email Works
Without a custom reply-to address:
- Booking emails are sent from
noreply@tidycal.com - When attendees reply, responses go to your TidyCal account email
With a custom reply-to address:
- Booking emails still come from
noreply@tidycal.com(for deliverability) - The Reply-To header is set to your custom address
- When attendees click "Reply", their email client automatically addresses the reply to your custom address
- You can route responses to any email you want
Which Emails Are Affected?
The custom reply-to address applies to all booking type emails sent to attendees:
- Booking confirmation emails
- Booking reminder emails (automated 24hr/1hr reminders)
- Booking cancellation notifications
- Booking reschedule confirmations
- Custom email reminders (if configured)
How to Set a Custom Reply-To Email
Step-by-Step Setup
- Go to Booking Types in your TidyCal dashboard
- Click on the booking type you want to customize (or create a new one)
- Scroll down to find the Reply-To Email section
- Click the toggle to Enable Custom Reply-To Email
- Enter your preferred reply-to email address in the input field
- Ensure the email address is valid and actively monitored
- Click Save Booking Type at the bottom
⚠️ Important: Make sure the reply-to email address is actively monitored. Attendees may send important questions or requests via email replies.
Email Address Requirements
Reply-to email addresses must be valid email formats:
- ✅
support@yourcompany.com - ✅
bookings@yourdomain.co.uk - ✅
assistant+calendar@company.com - ❌
invalid-email(no @ symbol) - ❌
@domain.com(missing local part)
How to Remove Custom Reply-To Email
- Open the booking type editor
- Find the Reply-To Email section
- Toggle OFF the custom reply-to setting
- Click Save Booking Type
After disabling, email replies will go back to your TidyCal account email address.
Common Use Cases for Reply-To Email
Support Team & Shared Inboxes
- Route all booking inquiries to
support@company.com - Let your support team handle booking-related questions
- Use a shared inbox (like Google Groups or Microsoft 365 Group)
- Multiple team members can respond to attendee questions
Assistants & Administrative Staff
- Executive's assistant manages all booking correspondence
- Office manager handles appointment inquiries
- Administrative staff monitors booking questions
Department-Specific Email Addresses
- Sales bookings →
sales@company.com - Consultation bookings →
consultations@company.com - Interview bookings →
hr@company.com - Support calls →
support@company.com
Branded & Professional Email Addresses
- Use your branded domain instead of personal email
- Present a professional image to clients
- Match your company email conventions
Reply-To Email vs Other Email Features
| Feature | Purpose | Who Sees It |
|---|---|---|
| Reply-To Email | Control where replies go | Set once per booking type |
| CC Email Addresses | Copy observers on all emails | Multiple recipients get copies |
| Custom Email Templates | Personalize email content | Changes message body, not reply behavior |
How Reply-To Email Works Technically
Email Headers Explained
TidyCal booking emails use these headers:
| Header | Value | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
From: |
noreply@tidycal.com | Sender address (for deliverability) |
Reply-To: |
Your custom email | Where replies are sent |
CC: |
Your CC list (if configured) | Additional recipients |
Why Use noreply@tidycal.com as the From Address?
TidyCal uses noreply@tidycal.com as the "From" address for important reasons:
- Email Deliverability: Sending from TidyCal's domain ensures emails pass SPF and DKIM authentication
- Spam Protection: Major email providers trust TidyCal's sending infrastructure
- Reputation Management: TidyCal maintains sender reputation to avoid spam folders
The Reply-To header allows you to control where responses go while maintaining high deliverability rates.
Important Notes About Reply-To Email
Per Booking Type Configuration
Reply-to email addresses are configured per booking type, not account-wide. Each booking type can have its own reply-to address.
Fallback Behavior
If you don't set a custom reply-to address, TidyCal automatically uses your account email address as the reply-to. This ensures attendees can always reach you.
Monitor the Reply-To Inbox
Make sure someone actively monitors the reply-to email address. Attendees may send important questions, requests to reschedule, or cancellation notices via email replies.
Booking Owner Notification Emails
Reply-to email addresses only affect emails sent to attendees. Booking owner notification emails (sent to you) are not affected by this setting.
Troubleshooting Reply-To Email
Q: Attendee replies aren't going to my custom reply-to address. What should I check?
A: Common solutions:
- Verify reply-to is enabled: Check booking type settings → Reply-To Email → Toggle is ON
- Check email address: Ensure the reply-to email is valid and correctly formatted
- Check spam folder: Attendee replies may be filtered to spam at the reply-to address
- Test with a booking: Make a test booking and reply to the confirmation email
- Check email client: Some email clients ignore reply-to headers - this is rare but possible
Q: Can I set a reply-to address for existing bookings?
A: Reply-to email addresses only apply to new emails sent after you configure the setting. Existing booking emails retain the original reply-to address.
Q: Can I use reply-to email on Individual Plan?
A: No, Reply-To Email customization requires an Agency Plan ($79).
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use a distribution list or group email as reply-to?
A: Yes! You can use Google Groups, Microsoft 365 Groups, or any distribution list as your reply-to address. This allows multiple team members to see and respond to attendee replies.
Q: Does reply-to affect booking owner notifications?
A: No, reply-to only affects emails sent to attendees (confirmation, reminder, cancellation emails). Booking owner notifications are sent to your TidyCal account email regardless of reply-to settings.
Q: Can I set different reply-to addresses for different booking types?
A: Yes! Each booking type can have its own unique reply-to email address. For example, sales consultations can go to sales@company.com while support calls go to support@company.com.
Q: Will attendees see my custom reply-to address?
A: The reply-to address isn't prominently displayed in most email clients. Attendees will see "From: noreply@tidycal.com" but when they click Reply, their email client will automatically address the reply to your custom address.
Q: Can I use reply-to with CC email addresses?
A: Yes! Reply-to and CC Email Addresses work together. CC recipients will receive copies of booking emails, and when attendees reply, responses go to your reply-to address.
Q: What happens if my reply-to email bounces?
A: If attendees' replies bounce (invalid address), they'll receive a bounce notification from their email provider. Make sure your reply-to address is valid and actively monitored to avoid this.
Q: Can I use a personal email (Gmail, Outlook) as reply-to?
A: Yes, you can use any valid email address including personal email accounts. However, for professional appearance, we recommend using a branded company domain.
Q: Does reply-to work with automated reminders?
A: Yes! Automated reminder emails (24-hour, 1-hour before) and custom email reminders all respect the reply-to setting. Attendees' replies to any booking email will go to your custom address.
Need help? Contact TidyCal support if you have questions about reply-to email addresses.