Wedding RSVP Card Wording
The wording on wedding invitations and RSVP cards follows centuries-old conventions — which makes them daunting if you're starting from a blank page. The good news: there are well-established templates for every tone, and you don't have to invent anything. Here are the patterns, with examples for each tone and notes on the small details that matter.
Traditional: "request the honour of your presence"
Traditional invitations follow a strict format. The key conventions:
- "Request the honour of your presence" — for ceremonies in a place of worship.
- "Request the pleasure of your company" — for ceremonies everywhere else.
- Spell out dates and times: "the fifteenth of June" not "June 15"; "four o'clock in the afternoon" not "4:00 PM".
- Both partners' parents are named as hosts if they're paying or as a courtesy.
- Use full names: "Sarah Elizabeth Jones" not "Sarah".
Example:
Together with their families,
Sarah Elizabeth Jones
and
Michael James Smith
request the honour of your presence at their marriage
Saturday, the fifteenth of June
two thousand and twenty-six
at four o'clock in the afternoon
St. Peter's Church
123 Main Street, Springfield
Modern: cleaner, less formal
Modern invitations skip some conventions for clarity. Numerals are fine. Casual language is OK. The couple is named without parents (unless explicitly hosting).
Sarah & Michael are getting married!
Join us Saturday, June 15, 2026 at 4pm
St. Peter's Church, Springfield
Reception, dinner and dancing to follow.
This works for civil ceremonies, destination weddings, second weddings, and anyone who doesn't want the full traditional formality.
Casual and destination: friendly, specific
Casual wording is fine if it matches the wedding vibe. Don't mix tones — a casual invitation followed by a traditional ceremony confuses guests. Examples:
Casual: It's happening! Sarah & Michael are tying the knot June 15th at the family farm. Come celebrate — drinks at 4, dinner at 6, dancing til late.
Destination: Pack your bags! Sarah & Michael are getting married in Tulum on June 15th, 2026. Ceremony at 4pm at Hartwood Beach Club. Full travel details on our website: sarahandmichael.com
RSVP card wording: be explicit
The RSVP card is where guests actually reply. Make it easy:
- State the deadline clearly: "Please reply by May 15th".
- Provide accept/decline options (checkboxes are fine, "M ____" for traditional).
- Capture meal selection if needed.
- Capture dietary needs.
- Capture exact number attending (so plus-ones can't add additional guests).
Please reply by May 15th, 2026
☐ Accepts with pleasure
☐ Declines with regret
Number attending: ___
Meal: ☐ Chicken ☐ Fish ☐ Vegetarian ☐ Vegan
Allergies / dietary notes: _____________
Reminder emails for late RSVPs
20% of your guests will need a reminder. Send one personally — email, text, or phone call — three weeks before the wedding, after your RSVP deadline.
Hi [Name] — just a quick nudge! We're trying to lock in numbers for our wedding on June 15th. The caterer needs final headcount by next week. Could you let us know by Friday whether you can make it? You can reply here or via our website. Thanks so much! — Sarah & Michael
Our RSVP wording generator has 20 ready-to-use variants across these tones.
Frequently asked questions
When should the RSVP deadline be?
Three to four weeks before the wedding. That gives you time to chase late responders before your caterer's final-headcount deadline.
Should I include a stamp on the RSVP card?
For mail-in RSVPs, yes — it dramatically increases response rate. Self-addressed, stamped envelope.
What about online RSVPs only?
Increasingly common — most wedding websites support it. Some older or less tech-savvy guests prefer the mail-in card. A hybrid (both) works for mixed audiences.
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