RSVP Wording Examples for Every Type of Wedding
The wording on a wedding invitation and RSVP card carries surprising weight. It's the first hint guests get about how formal the day will be — and it's the document you'll later quote when someone shows up expecting black tie at a backyard ceremony.
Below are copy-paste templates for the five most common tones. Pick the one that matches your wedding, swap in the details, done.
Traditional / formal
Invitation:
Mr. and Mrs. John Smith
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Sarah Elizabeth
to
Michael James Brown
Saturday, the fifteenth of June
two thousand twenty-six
at half after four in the afternoon
St. Mark's Church
123 Church Street, Boston, Massachusetts
Reception to follow
RSVP card:
The favor of a reply is requested
by the first of May
M ____________________________
___ accepts with pleasure
___ declines with regret
Modern
Invitation:
Sarah Smith & Michael Brown
are getting married!
Saturday, June 15, 2026
4:30 PM
The Garden Pavilion · Boston, MA
Reception, dinner & dancing to follow
RSVP card:
Will you be joining us?
Please reply by May 1
Name: ____________________________
☐ Joyfully accepts
☐ Regretfully declines
Meal: ☐ Chicken ☐ Fish ☐ Vegetarian
Casual
Invitation:
We're tying the knot!
Sarah & Mike
June 15, 2026
The Old Mill · Boston
Drinks at 4, ceremony at 4:30, dinner + dancing after
Dress comfortably and bring your dancing shoes.
RSVP card:
Let us know by May 1!
Name(s): ____________________________
☐ Yes! ☐ Can't make it
Meal preference: ____________________________
Anything we should know? ____________________________
Destination
Invitation:
Pack your bags!
Sarah & Mike are getting married
Saturday, June 15, 2026
Hotel Casa Tulum · Tulum, Mexico
4:00 PM beach ceremony
Reception, dinner & dancing to follow
Travel and accommodation details at sarahandmike.com
RSVP card:
Please reply by March 1
(so we can finalize travel arrangements)
Name(s): ____________________________
☐ We'll be there ☐ Can't make the trip
Travel dates: arriving ____ / departing ____
Hotel block? ☐ Yes please ☐ Arranging our own
Black tie / formal evening
Invitation:
Together with their families
Sarah Smith and Michael Brown
request the pleasure of your company
at their wedding
Saturday, the fifteenth of June, two thousand twenty-six
Six o'clock in the evening
The Grand Ballroom · The Plaza · New York
Black tie
What to include on every RSVP card
- A reply-by date. Three to four weeks before the wedding gives you time to chase late responders and confirm headcount with caterers.
- Accept / decline checkboxes. Be specific. "M ____" (for Mr./Mrs./Ms./Mx.) is traditional; a name line is modern.
- Meal selection if applicable. Only include this if your catering requires plate counts. Otherwise, skip it — it adds clutter.
- A dietary line. Either a specific question ("Any allergies or dietary restrictions?") or a checkbox option ("Vegetarian / Vegan / Gluten-free / Other").
- Number of guests if you allow plus-ones. "Number attending: ____" makes the implicit "you got a plus-one" explicit.
What to leave off
- Gift registry info. Put this on your wedding website instead — putting it on the invitation is considered rude.
- "Adults only" warnings on the RSVP card. State it on the invitation envelope or invitation itself, where it's clearer.
- Dress code on the RSVP. Put it on the invitation or website.
If you want more wording options without writing from scratch, our RSVP Wording Generator produces 20+ ready-to-copy templates across five tones, plus reminder-email scripts for late responders.
Frequently asked questions
Whose name goes first on the wedding invitation?
Traditionally the bride's name comes first when parents host. For same-sex couples or modern weddings, alphabetical order is common, or "together with their families" avoids the question entirely.
What does "M ____" mean on an RSVP card?
It's a traditional shorthand where the guest writes their title and name on the line — "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" or similar. A simpler modern alternative is just "Name(s): ____".
How much time should I give for RSVPs?
Set the deadline 3–4 weeks before the wedding. That gives you time to chase late responders before the caterer needs a final headcount (usually 2 weeks out).
Do I need to include a meal selection on the RSVP?
Only if your catering requires it. Plated dinners almost always need plate counts; buffets and family-style meals usually don't. Check with your caterer before adding it to the card.
Is it OK to do RSVPs through a wedding website only?
Yes — increasingly common. Skip the printed RSVP card entirely (saves paper, postage, and design cost). Just make sure your wedding website is easy to find and your less-tech-savvy guests have a phone number to call instead.