Wedding invitations · RSVP wording

Wedding RSVP Card Wording and Examples

A good RSVP card asks for three things: a reply by a certain date, the guest's name, and whether they're coming. Add a count of guests or a meal choice if you need one. Here are complete examples, line by line, from formal to funny, followed by the reply date, size and postage.

23 examples

Find the wording you need

Each of these fits the printable RSVP cards in our maker. Open a design, go to the RSVP Card tab and type your lines into the boxes, one per line on the card. The names, dates and web addresses here are examples.

Black tie to traditional

Formal RSVP card wording

A formal card opens with "The favour of a reply is requested by," then a line beginning with M. The guest finishes it with r., rs., s. or x. and writes their name, so "M______" becomes "Mr. and Mrs. Alvarez."

Formal reply card

The favour of a reply is requested

by the fifteenth of May

M ______________________________

___ accepts with pleasure

___ declines with regret

The guest completes "M" as Mr., Mrs., Ms. or Mx. and writes their names on the line.

Formal reply card with meal choices

The favour of a reply is requested

by the twenty-second of May

M ______________________________

___ accepts with pleasure

___ declines with regret

___ Filet of beef

___ Roasted salmon

___ Wild mushroom risotto

Kindly write each guest's initials beside their choice

Initials let the caterer match each plate to a place card.

Formal, with seats reserved

The favour of a reply is requested

by the first of May

M______________________

___ accepts with pleasure

___ declines with regret

We have reserved ___ seats in your honor

Fill in the number by hand before mailing. It tells each household how many places are theirs without anyone having to ask.

Formal, shorter

Kindly respond by the fifteenth of May

M______________________

___ will attend

___ will not attend

Plain and friendly

Modern and casual RSVP wording

Casual cards ask the same question in everyday words. Keep the reply date, a place for names and a count of guests, because those three are what you'll be chasing otherwise.

Modern reply card

Please reply by August 21

Name(s) ________________________

___ Joyfully accepts

___ Regretfully declines

Number attending ____

Casual reply card

Can you make it?

Name(s) ________________________

___ Wouldn't miss it

___ Will celebrate from afar

Number attending ____

Please reply by June 1

Will you be there?

Let us know by June 12

Name(s) ________________________

___ Yes, count me in

___ Sorry, can't make it

Number attending ____

A little funny

Please reply by May 30

Name(s) ________________________

___ Will be there with bells on

___ Will toast from afar

Number of dancers ____

Keep the joke in the answers and leave the reply date and the count plain, so the card still does its job.

Fill in the blank

Kindly reply by April 24

We are a party of ____

and we ____ will ____ won't be there

Signed ________________________

When the caterer needs a count

RSVP wording with meal choices

Only ask if the caterer plates to order. A buffet or a family-style dinner doesn't need it, and a shorter card comes back faster. Name the guest beside each choice, or ask for initials, so the plate can be matched to the person.

A count of each dish

Please reply by August 7

Name(s) ________________________

___ Joyfully accepts

___ Regretfully declines

___ Beef ___ Fish ___ Vegetarian

Initials beside each dish

Please reply by August 7

Name(s) ________________________

Please initial your dinner choice:

___ Short rib

___ Roasted salmon

___ Mushroom risotto

Asking about allergies

Please reply by August 7

Name(s) ________________________

___ Joyfully accepts

___ Regretfully declines

Allergies or dietary needs:

________________________________

Better than a menu on a small card when dinner is a buffet: you still learn what the kitchen must know.

Who's invited

Plus-ones, children and adults-only

The envelope says who is invited. The card only backs it up, gently. A blank number line invites people to write in anyone, so a set number of seats or a printed name works better when the count is tight.

When the count is firm

Please reply by June 5

Name(s) ________________________

___ Joyfully accepts

___ Regretfully declines

We have saved ___ seats for you

Adults only

Please reply by June 5

Name(s) ________________________

___ Joyfully accepts

___ Regretfully declines

Number of adults attending ____

Adults only, please

Naming a guest

Please reply by June 5

Your name ______________________

Your guest's name _______________

___ We'll be there

___ We can't make it

Getting the guest's name also gets you a place card and an escort card that are spelled right.

A little more on the card

Song requests and weekend events

A song line is the one extra guests enjoy filling in, and it gives your DJ a real list. Add one extra at most: on a 3.5 x 5 card, every added line makes the rest smaller.

Reply card with a song request

Please reply by August 1

Name(s) ________________________

___ Joyfully accepts

___ Regretfully declines

I promise to dance if you play

________________________________

Song request, short

Kindly reply by May 15

Name(s) ________________________

___ Accepts ___ Declines

I'll dance if you play:

________________________________

More than one event

Please reply by September 1

Name(s) ________________________

Number attending:

Friday welcome dinner ____

Saturday wedding ____

Sunday brunch ____

No stamp needed

Online RSVP wording

Online replies save postage and arrive already in a list, but some guests will still want to call or mail. Give them a second way. Two designs in the maker print a QR code on the RSVP card, and on any design you can type your website into the reply lines.

Reply online

Kindly reply online

by the first of September

at tessandandre.wedding

We can't wait to celebrate with you

Keep a phone number or a mailed card for guests who would rather not reply online.

With a QR code

Kindly reply by June 1

Scan the code or visit

anaandben.wedding

Questions? Call Ana at 555-0126

By phone or text

Please reply by June 1

Call or text Ben at 555-0126

with your name and how many are coming

En español

RSVP wording in Spanish

For a bilingual guest list, the reply card is the easiest piece to translate, since it's only a few lines. Some couples print one side in each language. Have a family member read it over, because usage differs from one country to another.

Formal

Se ruega confirmar asistencia

antes del 1 de mayo

Nombre(s) ______________________

___ Asistiré con gusto

___ No podré asistir

Número de invitados ____

Casual

¿Nos acompañas?

Por favor responde antes del 1 de mayo

Nombre(s) ______________________

___ ¡Claro que sí!

___ No podré ir

Número de invitados ____

Picking the date

What reply date to put on an RSVP card

Three to four weeks before the wedding is usual. Start from the date your caterer and venue need the final count, then go back a week or so, because you’ll spend that time chasing the last replies. If a hotel room block is involved, you may want a reply date earlier than the day the block ends.

The wedding timeline calculator works it out from your wedding date, along with the mailing dates, and in the maker the reply date on the card follows your wedding date automatically.

The practical part

RSVP card size, envelopes and postage

What you need to know	Answer
Standard RSVP card size	3.5 x 5 inches. It’s also the smallest size that can go at the postcard price.
Envelope	A1, 3.625 x 5.125 inches. A postcard needs none.
Postage on a reply postcard	A postcard stamp, $0.65 as of October 2026. The address must run along the long side, and the card must be 0.007 to 0.016 inch thick.
Postage on a reply envelope	A regular letter stamp.

You stamp and address the reply yourself, so all a guest needs is a pen. Number each card in light pencil on the back and keep the numbers with your guest list, because replies do come back with no name on them.

Print the replies with a free RSVP card template, four to a sheet.
See the wedding invitation etiquette guide for plus-ones, children and following up.

Now print them

Printable RSVP Cards

75 designs, four to a sheet, with a postcard back.

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On the invitation

Wedding Invitation Wording

Complete wordings for every host, from formal to casual.

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On the envelope

How to Address Wedding Invitations

A free formatter for the wording, plus printable envelopes and labels.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the M on an RSVP card mean?

It's the start of a title. The guest finishes it as Mr., Mrs., Ms. or Mx. and writes their name after it, so the line reads "Mr. and Mrs. David Alvarez." Couples who find it confusing can use "Name(s)" instead, and plenty of formal weddings now do.

Should I write "regrets only"?

It suits a casual party better than a wedding. You need a real count for the caterer, and with regrets only, silence is treated as a yes. Ask everyone to reply.

What if a guest doesn't send the card back?

Call or text a few days after the reply date. Many couples have to, and a friendly message from you, a parent or someone in the wedding party is all it takes.

Does the RSVP card need the wedding date on it?

No. The invitation has it. The card needs a reply date, a place for names and the answer. Printing the couple's names is optional, and the return address on the back shows where it's going.

Updated November 2026