Responding To A French Wedding Invitation: What To Write

When replying to a French wedding invitation, it's important to consider the level of formality required in your response. The tone, verb choice, word choice, and sentence structure will depend on whether you're responding formally or informally. In formal responses, the language is more elevated and polite, with complex sentences. On the other hand, informal responses are more casual and light, with shorter and more direct sentences. When accepting a wedding invitation in French, you can use phrases like J'accepte avec plaisir (I accept with pleasure) or Je viendrai avec plaisir (I will be glad to come). If you need to decline the invitation, you can say Je me vois malheureusement obligé de refuser (Unfortunately, I'm obliged to decline) or simply Je ne peux pas (I can't). It's also common to express appreciation when replying to an invitation, whether it's a formal or informal one.

Formal vs informal

When replying to a French wedding invitation, it is important to consider the level of formality of the invite and respond accordingly. The tone, verb choice, word choice, and sentence structure of your reply should all match the style of the invitation.

Formal

A formal wedding invitation calls for a response that upholds the highest standards of politeness. This means using the very polite conditional mood in the main clause of your sentence and opting for the polite "vous" form of the main verb. Your language should be elevated, and your sentences should be more complex.

For example, you might write:

> Mr and Mrs Smith accept with pleasure your kind invitation for Saturday, 7th July.

Or:

> Dear Mr and Mrs Morrison,

> Thank you for the kind invitation to your wedding. We are looking forward to the celebration. Both Mr Johnson and myself will be accepting the invitation.

> Is there a gift registry?

> Thank you very much.

Informal

When responding to an informal wedding invitation, it is appropriate to use the simple present tense in your reply. Your response can be more light-hearted and breezy, with shorter sentences. Feel free to use the informal "tu" form of the verb.

> J'accepte avec plaisir. (I accept with pleasure.)

> Je viendrai avec plaisir. (I will be glad to come.)

> Je vous remercie. (I thank you. / Thank you.)

Expressing Appreciation

Regardless of the formality of the invitation, it is always a nice touch to express your appreciation. If you have accepted the invitation, you can thank your hosts at the beginning or end of the event. Here are some phrases you can use:

> I appreciate the invitation.

> Thank you for inviting me.

> Thank you for having me / us.

> I had a wonderful time.

> I thoroughly enjoyed the wedding.

Verb choice

When replying to a French wedding invitation, verb choice is crucial. The French language uses three irregular verbs in this context: "vouloir" (want), "pouvoir" (can), and "devoir" (must). These verbs are conjugated differently depending on who is being addressed, and they are followed by the infinitive form of the second verb in a sentence. For example, "tu veux dinER" is the correct structure.

When accepting a wedding invitation in French, common verbs and expressions include:

• Volontiers – with pleasure
• Avec plaisir – with pleasure (less common)
• Oui, d'accord – yes, OK
• Je veux bien – OK, I'd love to; yes, I accept
• "Oui, je veux bien aller au cinéma avec toi, merci." – Yes, I'd love to go to the movies with you, thanks.
• "D'accord, à quelle heure ?" – OK, what time?
• "Volontiers, merci, c'est très gentil." – With pleasure, thank you, that's very kind.

When replying to a French wedding invitation, it is important to convey your enthusiasm and gratitude. Using the appropriate verb forms and expressions will help you effectively communicate your acceptance and pleasure in attending the wedding.

Word choice

When replying to a French wedding invitation, it is important to consider the tone of the response, which should match the tone of the invitation. If the invitation is formal, the response should also be formal, and vice versa.

In French, there are three irregular verbs that are commonly used to make, accept, or refuse an invitation: "vouloir" (want), "pouvoir" (can), and "devoir" (must). When using these verbs, the "ent" is usually not pronounced, but the L in "veulent" is.

• Formal: "Cela me ferait grand plaisir." (I would be delighted.)
• Formal: "C'est gentil (de votre part)." (That's kind of you.)
• Formal: "J'accepte avec plaisir." (I accept with pleasure.)
• Informal: "Bonne idée !" (Good idea!)
• Informal: "Ça va être génial !" (That'll be cool!)
• Informal: "Ça va être sympa !" (That'll be nice!)

If you want to express that you are happy to accept the invitation, you can use phrases such as:

• "Nous sommes très heureux d'accepter..." (We are very happy to accept...)
• "Volontiers – avec plaisir." (With pleasure.)
• "Oui, d'accord – yes, OK, I agree."
• "Je veux bien." (OK, I'd love to.)

When declining a French wedding invitation, it is important to be tactful and not hurt the other person's feelings. Here are some examples of how to politely decline:

• Formal: "Je me vois malheureusement obligé de refuser." (Unfortunately, I'm obliged to refuse.)
• Formal: "C'est dommage, mais..." (It's too bad, but...)
• Informal: "Désolé, mais..." (Sorry, but...)
• Informal: "J'ai quelque chose de prévu." (I have something planned.)
• Informal: "Je ne peux pas." (I can't.)

Sentence structure

When replying to a French wedding invitation, it is important to consider the level of formality of the invitation and to respond with an appropriate tone. The sentence structure of the response should align with the style of the invitation. Here are some examples of how to structure your sentences when replying to a French wedding invitation:

Formal Response:

If the wedding invitation is formal, it is customary to respond with a high level of politeness and formality. In French, this involves using the very polite conditional mood in the main clause of your response. Additionally, it is more appropriate to use the polite "vous" form of the main verb, and to employ more elevated language throughout your reply. Here are some examples of sentence structures for a formal acceptance:

• "Nous sommes très heureux d'accepter votre aimable invitation à votre mariage." ("We are very pleased to accept your kind invitation to your wedding.")
• "C'est avec grand plaisir que nous acceptons votre aimable invitation à votre mariage." ("It is with great pleasure that we accept your kind invitation to your wedding.")
• "Nous vous remercions de votre aimable invitation à votre mariage, et nous serons ravis d'y assister." ("We thank you for your kind invitation to your wedding, and we will be delighted to attend.")

For a formal declination, you can use sentence structures such as:

• "Nous regrettons de ne pas pouvoir accepter votre aimable invitation." ("We regret that we are unable to accept your kind invitation.")
• "Malheureusement, nous ne pourrons pas être présents à votre mariage." ("Unfortunately, we will not be able to attend your wedding.")
• "Nous vous remercions de votre aimable invitation, mais nous sommes au regret de ne pas pouvoir y assister." ("We thank you for your kind invitation, but we regret that we will not be able to be present.")

Informal Response:

When replying to an informal wedding invitation, simplicity and a more casual tone are key. In French, this involves using the simple present tense in your sentences. The informal "tu" form of the verb is typically used, and the language is often light and conversational. Here are some examples of sentence structures for an informal acceptance:

• "Oui, avec plaisir! Merci beaucoup pour l'invitation." ("Yes, with pleasure! Thank you so much for the invitation.")
• "Je suis ravi(e) d'accepter ton invitation. Merci beaucoup!" ("I am delighted to accept your invitation. Thank you so much!")
• "Bien sûr, je serai présent(e) à ton mariage. C'est très gentil de m'inviter." ("Of course, I will be there at your wedding. It's very kind of you to invite me.")

For an informal declination, you can use sentences like:

• "Désolé(e), je ne pourrai pas venir. J'ai déjà un engagement ce jour-là." ("Sorry, I won't be able to make it. I already have plans that day.")
• "Je suis déçu(e) de ne pas pouvoir accepter ton invitation, mais je suis occupé(e) ce jour-là." ("I'm disappointed that I can't accept your invitation, but I'm busy that day.")
• "Malheureusement, je ne serai pas en mesure de participer à ton mariage. J'espère que vous comprendrez." ("Unfortunately, I won't be able to take part in your wedding. I hope you understand.")

Tone

The tone of your reply to a French wedding invitation should match the tone of the invitation itself. If the invitation is formal, your response should be formal and cordial. If the invitation is informal, your response can be more casual and light.

When responding to a formal wedding invitation in French, it is customary to use very polite language and complex sentences. You should use the polite "vous" form of the verb and choose sentences with a polite conditional mood in the main clause. For example, you could write, "Nous sommes très heureux d'accepter votre aimable invitation à votre mariage." This expresses that you are happy to accept the kind invitation to the wedding.

On the other hand, if you are responding to an informal wedding invitation from a close friend or family member, you can use a more casual tone. You can use the simple present tense and the informal "tu" form of the verb. For example, you could say, "Merci pour l'invitation. Je serai là!" or "Oui, avec plaisir!" These responses convey your excitement and happiness about attending the wedding.

In general, when accepting a wedding invitation in French, it is considered polite to express your pleasure and gratitude. Whether your response is formal or informal, make sure to thank the couple for the invitation and let them know that you are looking forward to celebrating with them.

If you need to decline a wedding invitation, it is important to do so politely and tactfully. You can use phrases such as "Je suis désolé, mais je ne peux pas" or "Malheureusement, je ne pourrai pas être présent." These expressions convey your regret at not being able to attend while still maintaining a respectful tone.

Frequently asked questions