Wedding Invitations

RSVP Wedding Invitation Wording

The common RSVP used on the wedding invitation is simply the abbreviation for the French expression “répondez s’il vous plait”, translated as “please reply” or “please respond”. It would be appropriate for guests to give an attendance response until de required date, usually being with six weeks before the actual wedding ceremony. This RSVP makes the planning of the wedding easier, since the future married couple knows exactly what final arrangements are to be made for their perfect wedding day. The RSVP basically means that the invited guests must give an answer to the hosts, whether they do or do not plan to attend the wedding party and if the intention was to wait for an answer only in the case when the guest doesn’t plan to attend the wedding, the expression “regrets only” would’ve been used.




The best part about the RSVP card is the fact that there isn’t a correct way of response wording and there are certain wording styles suited for a casual or formal ceremony and sometimes depending on the bride’s and groom’s personal preferences. The same goes with the wording used for wedding invitations or the ‘save the date’ wedding cards. Below are two common examples of RSVP wording.
“The favor of a reply is requested
by July 16, 2010.
M__________________________
____Accepts with pleasure
____Declines with regrets”

The guests simply check one of the options mentioned, whether they will attend or not to the wedding.

“M_____________________________
Will ______ Attend”

On the first line, the guests will add their names and add a “not” between the “will” and “attend” if the attendance response is negative or leave the space blank if the answer is affirmative. Some people will not use an RSVP card and add a contact number on the wedding invitations. I’m not sure how elegant they will look with the RSVP added but it is also true that as long as you receive an answer, the wedding etiquette doesn’t seem that important or doesn’t have to be too strict.

Other styles of RSVP wording are listed below.

“___________________________
____is/are looking forward to dining and celebrating
____has/have to miss the fun”

“Kindly reply before June 16, 2005
Name(s)
_________________
___Can’t wait!
___Can’t come!”

“We look forward to
celebrating with you.
Please reply by July 16, 2010
M___________________________
____ accepts _____ regrets”

“Please take a moment to fill in the blanks:
____________!
(Exclamation)
_____________ is/are ____________ to attend
(Your name{s}) (able/unable)
There are
___________ people in our posse.
(total number)
Kindly mail by June 16, 2006”

“We have reserved two seats in your honor.
M___________________________
{ } Accept with pleasure
{ } Decline with regret
Please respond by July 16, 2010”

To find out exactly the number of attendants or guests you can also add this line: “____ number attending”.

In the case when a large number of invited families come with children you may add a separate line such as: “Number Attending Ceremony _______ or
Number Attending Reception ______ “

An RSVP could be added even on the ‘save the date’ wedding card but you should be aware of the two major inconveniences: the recipients will most likely forget about giving a response, because we are talking about several months in advance and lots of things may happen in this long period of time and sometimes they won’t even be able to keep with their promises or in a good case scenario, they will mark the date of this event on the calendar so they won’t forget to send an attendance response in the required time. Another option would be to pre-address and stamp a returning envelope and include a phone number and email address.

This advice is for the guests who receive a wedding invitation with a RSVP card: try not to forget about replying to the RSVP because the attendance response is essential for all the wedding planning, especially when the number of guests is large and you find that time is not by your side.