Understanding The Meaning Of M On Your Wedding Rsvp Card

Receiving a wedding invitation is always exciting, but it also comes with a little responsibility. When you tear open the envelope, you'll usually find an invitation, a details card, and a response card. The response card, or RSVP, is where the M comes in. This stands for the first letter of the guest's title, like Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss, and the line that follows is for the guest to complete with their name and the names and titles of anyone else invited. For example, Ms. Jane Smith would be the correct response for someone attending the wedding alone.

The M stands for the first letter of the guest's title

The "M" on an RSVP card stands for the first letter of the guest's title. This is where guests write their full name, along with the names of anyone else who has been invited. For example, "Ms. Jane Smith" is the correct response if someone is attending the wedding alone. The "M" line on RSVP cards has been a feature of formal invitations for at least a century, reflecting the importance of a person's title, their relationship, and their identity.

When filling out the "M" line, guests should write their names as closely as possible to how they appear on the envelope. For instance, if the invitation is addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. John Grotts," the RSVP card should be filled out as "Mr. and Mrs. John Grotts." If first names are not included on the envelope but the guest would prefer them to be used, they can write their complete name. It is also helpful to include first names if there will be multiple people with the same last name in attendance, as this will assist with seating arrangements.

For married couples with the same last name, the RSVP card can be filled out as "Mr. and Mrs. [Last Name]" or "Mr. [First Name] and Mrs. [First Name] [Last Name]." For married couples with different last names, the format is "Mr. [First Name] [Last Name] and Mrs. [First Name] [Last Name]."

Unmarried couples can follow a similar format, with "Miss" or "Ms." as the title for an unmarried woman, and "Mr." for an unmarried man. For example, "Miss Jane Smith and Mr. Adam Johnson."

Guests with other titles, such as "Dr." or "Lord," should still follow the same format when writing their names on the RSVP card. However, these special titles should be included on the outer envelope of the invitation.

Examples of how to fill out the M line as a guest

The "M" on an RSVP card stands for the first letter of the guest's title, like Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss. Here are some examples of how to fill out the "M" line as a guest, depending on your relationship status:

For Single Guests:

"Miss Sarah William" or "Mr. Adam Smith." Ms. is a neutral alternative to Miss.

For Married Couples:

For couples of the opposite sex who share a last name:

"Mr. and Mrs. Adam Smith" or "Mr. Adam and Mrs. Sarah Smith."

For couples of the opposite sex who don't share a last name:

"Mr. Adam Smith and Mrs. Sarah William."

For couples of the same sex who share a last name:

"Mr. and Mr. Johnson" or "Mrs. and Mrs. Brown."

For couples of the same sex who don't share a last name:

"Mr. Joe Johnson and Mr. Tom Jackson" or "Mrs. Pam Brown and Mrs. Mary Miller."

For Unmarried Couples:

For couples of the opposite sex:

"Miss Sarah William and Mr. Adam Smith."

For couples of the same sex:

"Mr. Joe Johnson and Mr. Tom Jackson" or "Miss Pam Brown and Miss Mary Miller."

For Guests Bringing a Plus-One:

Traditionally, couples send one invitation to guests with plus-ones who are dating or invited together. If the couple knows who the guest is bringing as their date (e.g., a long-term partner), the plus-one will be addressed by their full name on the envelope. If the couple doesn't know who the plus-one is, the invitation will be addressed as " [Your Name] and Guest." The unmarried couple examples above work for guests bringing a plus-one.

Examples for married couples

The "M" on an RSVP card stands for the first letter of the guest's title, like Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss. Here are some examples of how married couples can fill out the "M" line on an RSVP card:

• For couples of the opposite sex who share a last name: "Mr. and Mrs. Adam Smith" or "Mr. Adam and Mrs. Sarah Smith".
• For couples of the opposite sex who don't share a last name: "Mr. Adam Smith and Mrs. Sarah Williams".
• For couples of the same sex who share a last name: "Mr. and Mr. Johnson" or "Mrs. and Mrs. Brown".
• For couples of the same sex who don't share a last name: "Mr. Joe Johnson and Mr. Tom Jackson" or "Mrs. Pam Brown and Mrs. Mary Miller".

When filling out the "M" line, guests should write their full names, along with the names of anyone else who has been invited, on the line. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Justin Bieber" or "Ms. Jane Smith" if attending alone.

Examples for unmarried couples

The "M" on an RSVP card stands for the first letter of the guest's title, such as Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss. The guest is supposed to write their full name, along with the names of anyone else invited, on the line following the "M".

• "Ms. Oprah Winfrey and Mr. Stedman Graham"
• "Mr. Ben Platt and Mr. Noah Galvin"
• "Ms. Sophia Bush and Ms. Ashlynn Harris"

If the couple has different last names, their names can be written in either order. For example: "Mr. Adam Smith and Mrs. Sarah Williams" or "Mrs. Sarah Williams and Mr. Adam Smith".

If you prefer to use first names, you can write something like "Miss Sarah William and Mr. Adam Smith".

The "M" line on RSVP cards is no longer considered standard, and many couples are opting for a more generic “Name or "Name(s)" line instead. This approach offers more flexibility for guests and is less confusing.

Examples for guests bringing a plus-one

The "M" on an RSVP card stands for the first letter of the guest's title, such as Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss. The guest writes their full name, along with the names of anyone else who has been invited, on the line following the "M".

• If the plus-one is someone the couple knows, such as a long-term partner, their full name will be written on the envelope, and the unmarried couple examples above can be used. For example, "Mr. Adam Smith and Ms. Jane Smith".
• If the couple does not know who the plus-one will be, the invitation will be addressed as " [Guest Name] and Guest". In this case, the guest can write " [Guest Name] and Guest" on the "M" line, or include the plus-one's name if they know who they will bring. For example, "Miss Sarah William and Guest" or "Miss Sarah William and Mr. Tom Jackson".
• For same-sex couples with a plus-one, the format remains the same. For example, "Mr. Joe Johnson and Mr. Tom Jackson and Guest" or "Mrs. Pam Brown, Mrs. Mary Miller, and Guest".

It is important to note that guests should not add extra guests to the RSVP card unless they have been given a plus-one.

Frequently asked questions