Is it necessary that I include a response card in my Wedding Invitation?

Until recently, response cards were rarely seen in wedding or reception invitations. Back then, guests understood that it was their obligation to RSVP either by phone or by mail. However, since many people today are not 100% wedding-etiquette savvy, many people have had a hard time predicting how many people were coming to their receptions.

 

Although response cards do not ensure that everyone will RSVP, it definitely lets people know that is expected.

 

If you choose to use a respond card, send a small card with your RSVP information and one of the following options:

This is a common, very simple option in which the guest fills in his name and leaves the space between will and attend empty if he is attending and ‘not’ if he is not.

M_____________________________

Will ______ Attend

Please respond on or before June 20, 2005

For this also very common simple option, guests are expected to write Mr., Mrs. Or Ms. along with their names on the line following the ‘M’ and checks accepts or declines according to their decision to attend or not.

The favor of a reply is requested by June 20, 2005.
M__________________________
____Accepts with pleasure
____Declines with regrets

The wording can be customized for informal weddings to reflect your personality. This is just one example of what you could do:

We look forward to
celebrating with you.
Please reply by June 20, 2005
M___________________________
____ accepts _____ regrets

You can also inform guests what type of entertainment or meals they may expect. This is also an excellent way to confirm meal selection.

____________________________
(Names)

______is/are excited to attend an evening of dining and dancing

______regrets with heartache that I/we will not attend

Please respond by June 20, 2005

M_________

will ___________ attend

_______fish _______ chicken

Please respond by June 20, 2005

 

 

It is also important to include a stamped envelope for them to send the card back to you in.

Some guests might forget to put their name on the response card, so it might be a good idea to assign a number to each guest and then write that number on the back corner of each card. That way, if they forget you can just look at the number and you’ll know who is coming.

If you would not like to include separate cards, simply place the statement, “The favour of a reply is requested by June 20, 2005,” at the bottom of your wedding or reception invitation.