Responding To A Wedding Invitation: Etiquette And Tips

Wedding invitations are exciting, but before you start planning your outfit or stressing about a plus-one, you need to respond promptly. Whether you accept with pleasure or decline with regret, there is a right way to respond. This paragraph will discuss the etiquette of how to answer a wedding invitation, including the importance of responding on time, how to fill out an RSVP card, and what to do if you can't attend.

RSVP card – the right way to respond

Responding to a wedding invitation as soon as possible is considered good etiquette. It is also important to follow the couple's instructions to ensure your attendance at the wedding. RSVPs can come in the form of printed cards, online websites, or emails. Here are some tips on how to respond to a wedding invitation:

• If there is an RSVP card included with the invitation, use it to let the hosts know if you can attend or not.
• Include your full name(s) and the name(s) of anyone else who has been invited, including your plus one if you have been given one.
• If the name on the invitation is not accurate, use the reply card to provide your preferred full name.
• Indicate the number of guests, including yourself, who will be attending.
• If the meal is structured with a choice of entrées, place your initials next to your food choice.
• Mention any dietary restrictions or allergies.
• Send the RSVP card back as soon as possible.
• If you are unable to attend, it is still important to respond to the invitation and politely decline.
• If you are close to the couple, it is considered a nice gesture to send a handwritten note or call them in addition to expressing your regrets.
• Do not change your mind once you have responded.
• If you need to cancel after accepting the invitation, inform the wedding planner, maid of honor, or best man, rather than the couple, especially if it is on the day of the wedding.

Respond promptly

When responding to a wedding invitation, it is important to respond promptly. This is your first duty as a guest. Check your schedule and consult with anyone else included in your invitation, then respond as soon as possible. This allows the couple to invite someone else if you can't make it.

If you are invited with a plus one, you must decide if you want to bring someone and let the host know. If you reply only for yourself, don't bring a date or companion to the wedding.

If the invitation includes an RSVP card, fill it out and send it back as soon as you can. Include your full name and specify whether you are bringing a plus one. If there is space, add a cute congratulatory note.

If there is no response card, reply in writing or by email. If the invitation is formal, write in the third person, following the wording of the invitation. For example:

> Mr. and Mrs. Harold McGowan accept with pleasure your kind invitation for Saturday, the nineteenth of June.

If the invitation is informal, a personal note is more appropriate. For instance:

> Dear Ann and John, Rob and I are delighted to accept your invitation to Margaret and Tom's wedding on June nineteenth. Yours sincerely, Brittany.

If you can't attend, let the couple know as soon as possible. This is courteous, and they may want to invite someone else in your place.

Include your name

When answering a wedding invitation, it's important to include your name and the names of any other guests who are also attending. This is so the couple can create a master guest list and make table place cards. The names should be written clearly so that they can be read easily.

The first letter of the title (Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss) is usually included before the name, with the "M" provided on the response card. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith". If the guest's name doesn't start with "M", you can write their name first and then add the title, for example, "Ms. Jane Pearson".

If you are attending with a spouse, date, or children, their names should also be included. For instance, "Ms. Jane Pearson and Mr. Jason Brown". It is important to only include the names of those who are invited. If the invitation envelope does not indicate a plus one, don't add one. If there is no indication that children are invited, they should not be included either.

For same-sex couples, the formatting is the same, for example, "Mr. and Mr. James Wilson". If you are an unmarried couple, the woman can use "Ms." or "Miss" as her title. For example, "Ms./Miss Marissa Porte and Mr. Henry Satre".

If there is enough space, you can include the first names of any children attending. Otherwise, you can indicate the number of children in the space provided for the number of attendees.

Specify the number of guests

When answering a wedding invitation, it is important to specify the number of guests who will be attending. This is usually done by filling out an RSVP card, which will indicate how many people from your household are invited and how many will be attending.

Firstly, check the names listed on the outer and inner envelopes of the invitation. If your children's names are not listed on either envelope, it is likely that only the parents are invited. The same goes for plus-ones; if "and guest" is not listed, only the person addressed is invited.

If you are hoping to bring children, check the invitation suite for any indication of an adults-only wedding. If you are still unsure, it is best to ask the couple getting married.

When filling out the RSVP card, there may be a blank space for you to fill out the number of attendees. If there is no space, you can write a note on the back of the card or reach out to the couple directly. It is important to respond promptly, as the couple will be creating a seating plan and confirming numbers with vendors.

When indicating the number of attendees, only include the names of those who are actually attending. If only one person from your household can attend, they should fill in their name and then put a "1" next to "accepts" and a "1" next to "declines".

If you are unable to attend, it is still important to send your RSVP card back and indicate that you cannot make it. This will help the couple with their planning and avoid any last-minute confusion.

Add your well wishes

When writing a wedding card, it's important to tailor your message to the couple and your relationship with them. Whether you're writing to a family member, friend, or colleague, your message should be heartfelt and offer the couple a positive wish for their marriage. Here are some ideas for adding your well wishes to a wedding card:

Formal Wedding Wishes

• Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness.
• May your special union bring unbelievable joy to your life.
• May the years ahead be filled with lasting love and happiness.
• May today be the beginning of a new tomorrow that you will cherish forever.
• Wishing you nothing but a lifetime of love.
• May your love burn brighter every day as you grow in love.
• Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness.
• Always remember this special day and why you’re saying, “I do.”
• May your years ahead be filled with lasting joy.
• Congratulations on your marriage and best wishes for a happy and fulfilling future.
• Wishing you a beautiful wedding day and an enduring love.
• May your love continue to thrive to infinity and beyond.
• Wishing you nothing but endless love.
• May your wedding day be the start of forever.
• Blessings on your nuptials.
• May the two of you continue to love unconditionally. Congratulations!
• Wishing you love, joy and happiness today and always!
• May today be the start of a love that will never end.

Casual Wedding Wishes

• Wishing you lots of love and a lifetime of happiness.
• We love you. Congrats!
• Lots of love today and beyond.
• Wishing you a long and happy marriage.
• So proud of you both on this special day. Congrats!
• Here's to a long and happy married life!
• Wishing you the best—today and always.
• So happy to celebrate this special day with you both!
• Let the adventure begin!
• Wishing you a wonderful life together.
• Here's to a long and happy marriage!

Funny Wedding Wishes

• Congratulations! You’re finally getting hitched!
• Thanks for inviting me to the best party ever! Oops, I meant your wedding. Congratulations!
• Enjoy your special day because tomorrow the real hard work starts!
• Your free booze was greatly appreciated. Wishing you a lifetime of wedded bliss!
• Here’s the secret to a successful marriage…oh wait, no one has figured that out yet. Good luck!
• Congratulations on signing away your freedom and privacy!
• Never forget that this might be the happiest day of your life. It’s all downhill from here! Best wishes.
• Best of luck to your new spouse. They don't know what they’re getting into. Thankfully, they love you unconditionally!
• Now you’ll both have someone to laugh at your corny jokes!
• Eat, drink and be married!

Inspirational Wedding Wishes

• Your love inspires me—here's to my favourite couple.
• You've come so far and your future together is so bright. Happy wedding day.
• Talk about the wedding of the century! Same time next year for your anniversary?
• I can't wait to see how the rest of your love story unfolds.
• Power couple alert! Congratulations!
• May every day together see your love grow deeper.
• Today is just the beginning, it gets even better.
• Thanks for giving me an example of what true love is.
• You shine so bright together.
• Your love is truly one for the ages.

Religious Wedding Wishes

• May your marriage be blessed!
• Wishing you a marriage as strong as your faith.
• Sending you prayers for unending love and happiness.
• Love is the greatest blessing.
• God bless you both on this day with a lifetime of shared love and joy.
• "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." – 1 Corinthians 13:13
• "No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." – 1 John 4:12
• "Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." – Ephesians 4:32
• "Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." – Mark 10:9
• "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs." – 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

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