But did you know there is a special etiquette surrounding how the RSVP is worded and when it is sent? Since this is your wedding, good manners matter! When an RSVP is written properly and sent out on time, you will get a timely response and a well-planned wedding.
To ensure that your RSVP card follows proper decorum, you need to follow certain guidelines.
1. A Blank Line: This lets guests fill in their names. Your invitee will write in his or her name as well the name of their spouse, companion and children who might attend your wedding with them. A response in this section will enable you to finalize your guest list, create seating arrangements and write out table place cards.
2. RSVP Reply Date: Provide your guests with a date of up to four weeks prior to the wedding date. This means you need to send out your wedding invitation up to a month in advance.
3. “Will Attend” Line: You may include a simple phrase such as, “Yes, I will be present at your wedding”, or “No, I will not be able to attend.” Although receiving a negative response can be disappointing, you may use it to reduce your guest list and consequently your wedding expenditure.
4. Menu Choice: If you are offering a meal selection at the reception, you need to present an entrée choice to your guests. This must be included in your RSVP invitation card. For example, you may have guests who are vegetarian, pescetarian or non vegetarian. You need to have a menu that caters to all these three food preferences.
What shouldn’t you include in your RSVP card?
Do not include information about your gift registry. This is highly improper.
Your RSVP card has an additional benefit: the correct spelling of your invitee’s name. You may use this to create your final guest list as well as for the table placement.