diff --git a/frontend/src/components/RSVPForm.tsx b/frontend/src/components/RSVPForm.tsx
index d672bac..69c0543 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/RSVPForm.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/RSVPForm.tsx
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ const RSVPForm: React.FC = () => {
     try {
       const submissionData = {
         ...formData,
-        items_bringing: JSON.stringify(formData.items_bringing)
+        items_bringing: formData.items_bringing
       };
       const response = await axios.post(`/api/events/${slug}/rsvp`, submissionData);
       
@@ -198,6 +198,7 @@ const RSVPForm: React.FC = () => {
       setClaimedItems(Array.from(claimed));
       setSuccess(true);
     } catch (err) {
+      console.error('Error submitting RSVP:', err);
       setError('Failed to submit RSVP. Please try again.');
     } finally {
       setIsSubmitting(false);
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index bf8e9d1..c60cda1 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -125,12 +125,15 @@ app.post('/api/events/:slug/rsvp', async (req, res) => {
       return res.status(404).json({ error: 'Event not found' });
     }
 
+    // Create a new RSVP with the submitted data
     const result = await db.run(
       'INSERT INTO rsvps (event_id, name, attending, bringing_guests, guest_count, guest_names, items_bringing) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)',
-      [event.id, name, attending, bringing_guests, guest_count, guest_names, items_bringing]
+      [event.id, name, attending, bringing_guests, guest_count, guest_names, JSON.stringify(items_bringing || [])]
     );
     
-    res.status(201).json(result);
+    // Fetch the newly created RSVP to return in response
+    const newRsvp = await db.get('SELECT * FROM rsvps WHERE id = ?', result.lastID);
+    res.status(201).json(newRsvp);
   } catch (error) {
     console.error('Error creating RSVP:', error);
     res.status(500).json({