Sarasota Wedding Planner

Whether it’s an invitation to a wedding, a shower or a dinner party, an invitation usually comes with an important obligation…to RSVP!

RSVP comes from the French phrase “répondez s’il vous plaît”, meaning “please respond”.  If RSVP is written on an invitation it means that you must tell the host whether or not you plan to attend…no problem right?  But what is the proper protocol when that familiar ‘fill in the blank’ response card is not included?

Once upon a time, response cards didn’t exist.  When you received a written invitation, you would respond with a hand written note on your own stationery.  Because frustrated hosts were making numerous follow-up phone calls to inconsiderate invitees, the “reply card” was invented, much to the dismay of Miss Manners who calls them “horrid”.  

Few people today still abide by that time honored tradition of not including response cards, but in the event you do receive a formal invitation that does not include one here is the correct format to write your formal RSVP.

Always mirror your reply to match the original layout and formality of the invitation.  Pay attention as to whether the lines are centered (they often are) and if so just follow suit.  Handwrite the response and refer to yourself in the third person, such as:

Mr. And Mrs. John Franklin Smith
accept with pleasure
the kind invitation of
Mr. And Mrs. William Paul Bradley
for Saturday, the twelfth of April

If you are unable to attend, just replace “accept with pleasure” with “regret that they are unable to accept.”  Note that abbreviations are never used…everything is always spelled out in full, including the date. 

You should respond promptly as it is considered bad etiquette to leave your response to the last minute….but most important of all, have a fabulous time!