Rsvp With Style: Crafting The Perfect Wedding Reply

Wedding RSVP cards are an important part of the wedding stationery suite. They are a practical way for guests to let you know whether they can attend your wedding so you can keep track of the headcount and move on to other tasks on your wedding planning checklist.

The first thing to include on your RSVP cards is a blank line for guests to write their names. On a formal RSVP card, you should write M at the start of the line to indicate that guests should include their proper honorific (Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss) before their name.

The primary purpose of an RSVP card is to learn who is coming to your wedding, so there should be an attendance line for guests to accept or decline the invite. This could be formatted as checkboxes, circling or fill-in-the-blank lines.

It is also important to include an RSVP deadline, which should be featured prominently on the card. This is usually around four weeks before the wedding date.

If you'll be serving dinner at your wedding reception, you can include guests' food preferences and dietary requirements or allergies.

Finally, you can include a special request line on your RSVP cards. This could be song requests, drink choices, or a favourite memory of the couple.

Include a deadline for responses

When it comes to wedding RSVPs, setting a deadline for responses is crucial. This allows you to finalise the details with your vendors and ensures a smooth planning process. Here are some tips and suggestions for including a deadline for responses:

Timing is Key

It is recommended that you set the RSVP deadline to be around three to four weeks before the wedding date. This gives you enough time to finalise the guest list and make any necessary arrangements. If it's a destination wedding, consider setting the deadline two months in advance to account for travel plans.

Make it Prominent

When creating your RSVP cards, be sure to feature the deadline in a prominent position. It can be front and centre, or even the largest text on the card. This ensures that your guests don't miss the date and helps to emphasise its importance.

Be Clear and Concise

Use clear and concise wording for the deadline. You can go with a simple and traditional phrase such as "Kindly respond by [date]" or "Please reply by [date]". You can also add a more personal touch by saying something like "We kindly request your response by [date]".

Be Mindful of Sending Time

Keep in mind that you'll want to send the invitations and RSVP cards early enough for your guests to make plans and respond promptly. It's recommended to send them out six to eight weeks before the wedding date. This gives your guests enough time to check their availability and respond by your deadline.

Reminders are Helpful

Consider sending a friendly reminder to your guests about a week before the RSVP deadline. This can be done in person, over the phone, or even via email or text message. It's a great way to ensure that you receive timely responses and reduce the chances of last-minute surprises.

Be Prepared for Late Responses

Despite your best efforts, there may still be guests who respond after the deadline or forget to respond altogether. In such cases, it's a good idea to give them a grace period of about a week before reaching out for a response. A friendly call or message will help you get an accurate headcount and keep everyone happy.

Remember, the RSVP deadline is an essential part of your wedding planning process. It helps you finalise catering counts, create a seating chart, and ensure that your special day runs smoothly. By setting a clear and timely deadline, you'll be well on your way to a well-organised and memorable celebration.

Add a line for guests to write their names

The first thing to include on your RSVP cards is a blank line for guests to write their names. This guarantees that you know who is attending your wedding and how to correctly spell everyone's names on the seating chart.

On a formal RSVP card, you should write an "M" at the start of the line to indicate that guests should include their proper honorific (Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss) before their name. For example, some lines may be filled out as:

• Mr. and Mrs. John Smith
• Ms. Jane Pearson and Mr. Jason Brown

If you are worried about your handwriting, you can ask a friend with good handwriting to help. Alternatively, you can get translucent labels from an office supply store and print names on them to stick on the RSVP cards.

If you are inviting a family, it is important to list the names of all invited guests on the envelope itself. This way, the guest knows who is invited and can decide whether to bring their children.

Give guests the option to accept or decline

Giving your guests the option to accept or decline your wedding invitation is the primary purpose of an RSVP card. This is crucial in helping you finalise your guest list and sharing the final headcount with your caterer, venue and other vendors. Here are some tips on how to give your guests the option to accept or decline:

Wording

The wording on your RSVP card can be formal or informal, depending on the tone of your wedding. Here are some examples:

• Formal: "Accept with pleasure" and "Decline with regret"
• Informal: "Yasss, let's party!" and "No, party on without me"

You can also be more direct and simply write "Accept" and "Decline".

Format

The format for the acceptance or decline option can be checkboxes, circling or fill-in-the-blank lines.

Timing

It is important to set an RSVP deadline, usually around four weeks before the wedding date, and to feature it prominently on the card. This gives you and your vendors enough time to coordinate the last-minute details. It is also helpful to send a friendly reminder to your guests about a week before the deadline.

Response Methods

There are several ways your guests can respond:

• Postal reply card: Include a pre-printed reply card with a stamped, pre-addressed envelope.
• Text, phone or email: These methods are great for simple acceptances or declines, but if you need additional information from your guests (such as menu choices), it is better to use a printed reply card or email.
• Wedding website: You can include a link to your wedding website on your invitation, where guests can RSVP online.

Ask about dietary requirements

When it comes to dietary requirements, it's important to ask your guests about any needs they may have. Here are some tips and suggestions for including this in your wedding RSVP reply:

It is essential to ask your guests about their dietary requirements or restrictions when sending out your wedding invitations. This can be done by including a line on the RSVP card or alongside the RSVP information on the invitation itself. A simple phrase such as "Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements or restrictions" is sufficient. This will allow your guests to note down any specific needs they may have, such as vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, or any food allergies.

Collect and Organise the Information

Once you start receiving the RSVP replies, it is crucial to organise and keep track of the dietary requirements of your guests. Create a list or a spreadsheet to record each guest's name and their corresponding dietary needs. This will help you when communicating with your caterers and ensuring that everyone is accommodated.

Communicate with Your Caterers

After collecting all the dietary information from your guests, reach out to your caterers and inform them of the different requirements. Provide them with a breakdown of the number of guests and their specific needs. For example, let them know how many vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, or allergy-specific meals you will need. This will help them plan and prepare accordingly.

Label Place Cards or Menus

To make things easier for your caterers and guests, consider labelling the place cards or menus with dietary labels such as (V) for vegetarian or (GF) for gluten-free. This ensures that your guests receive the correct meals and helps the catering staff serve the right dishes to the right people.

Buffet and Canapé Options

If you're having a buffet or serving canapés, be sure to label each dish with the corresponding dietary information. Include potential allergens and suitable diets for each dish. Keep the food items separate to prevent cross-contamination, especially for guests with allergies. It's also a good idea to include some fruit and vegetable options, as these suit a variety of dietary needs.

Drinks and Tokens

Don't forget to consider dietary requirements when it comes to drinks as well. Offer drinks tokens that guests can use at the bar to choose their preferred beverage. This is a great option for those with specific dietary needs, such as vegans, gluten-intolerant individuals, or pregnant guests. Provide a variety of non-alcoholic options as well, such as soft drinks or non-alcoholic cocktails.

Remember, it's important to accommodate your guests' dietary requirements to the best of your ability. By asking about their needs and planning accordingly, you can ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable dining experience at your wedding.

Add a fun question or request

Asking fun questions on your wedding RSVP cards is a great way to add a personal touch and get your guests excited about your big day. Here are some ideas for fun questions or requests to include:

Song Requests

Asking guests to request a song is a popular way to get them involved in planning the celebration. You could ask for their "#1 favourite wedding song suggestion" or "a song that is guaranteed to get them on the dance floor". You could even ask for a song that sums up your love story or a song they'd like to hear at the reception.

Dance Moves

If you want to get your guests moving, ask them about their signature dance moves! You could ask them to "name their signature move" or "give it a fun name". This will surely get a few laughs and get your guests thinking about cutting some shapes at the reception.

Marriage Advice

Another way to get your guests involved is by asking for marriage advice. You could ask for "the best marriage advice they've ever heard or can give" or "advice for the newlyweds". This is a great way to get your guests feeling invested in your future together and may even provide some useful wisdom!

Superheroes and Historical Figures

For a fun twist, ask your guests to choose a superhero or historical figure to bring as their plus-one. This will surely lead to some interesting responses and get your guests thinking creatively.

Movie and TV Weddings

Ask your guests to share their favourite movie or TV wedding. This question will get your guests reminiscing about iconic nuptials from the world of entertainment and may even give you some inspiration for your own celebration.

Guilty Pleasures

Find out your guests' "guilty pleasure" songs and add them to your playlist! This will create a fun and unexpected musical journey for your guests and may even introduce everyone to some new tunes.

Remember, when adding fun questions to your RSVP cards, try to avoid open-ended questions as these can be harder to manage and may cause issues down the line. Keep it lighthearted and fun, and your guests will be sure to enjoy the process of responding to your wedding invitations.

Frequently asked questions