Wedding RSVP wording for every situation

What should the RSVP line say?

1. A date. "Kindly reply by Saturday 12 June" is clearer than "RSVP ASAP". Write the day and the month in full.
2. How. A link, a phone number or a name. One way, not three.
3. Who it covers. The names on the invitation, or how many places it holds. This is where plus-ones and children are settled.
4. What else you need. Dietary needs, a song request, whether they need a lift. Only what you will actually use.

Set the reply-by date from your caterer's deadline, not from the invitation. Work back: if final numbers are due three weeks before the wedding, ask for replies about a week before that, so you have time to chase.

Classic and formal RSVP wording

RSVP wording for a wedding with several events

When guests are invited to more than one event, ask for an answer to each. A guest who can come to the reception but not the traditional wedding should be able to say so without writing a paragraph.

Only list the events a guest is invited to. If the reception has three hundred guests and the church has a hundred, the reception-only guests shouldn't see the church's time on their invitation. Our multi-day guest list guide explains how to keep the lists apart.

RSVP wording for plus-ones and children

Say who is invited in the names, then confirm it in the RSVP line with the number of places, for example "We have saved 2 places for you. Please reply by 12 June." Most awkwardness comes from an invitation that was vague.

Wording for plus-ones, adults-only weddings and children at some events, and a fair rule for deciding, is in our guide to plus-ones and children at a wedding.

Asking about dietary needs in the RSVP

Ask in the same reply, not in a second message later. People answer while they are already replying and forget a separate request.

What not to put in the RSVP line

• "RSVP ASAP". Without a date, people put it off. A date gives them a reason to answer now.
• "Regrets only". It works for a drinks party. For a wedding with catering, silence is not an answer.
• Three ways to reply. A link, a number and an address means replies end up in three places, and you count them by hand.
• The gift list. Put it on your website or in a later message, not beside the request to reply.
• A guilt line. "If we don't hear from you we'll assume you're not coming" belongs in the final reminder, not the invitation.

If the date passes and people still haven't answered, our RSVP reminder messages are ready to copy.

How RSVPs work on Our Guest List

On Our Guest List the reply is not a line on a card. Every guest has their own invitation link, and the reply happens there.

1. Set your reply-by date. On the Celebration step, under your running order, fill in Reply by. Guests see it on their invitation until they have answered.
2. Say who each invitation is for. Open a guest and set how many people it covers, or how many guests they can bring. Choose which events they are invited to.
3. Write your invitation line. The line on your invitation is yours to write, up to 100 characters, so it fits on one line in a chat.
4. Guests reply per event. Each event has its own Joyfully accept and Can't make it, and a household can answer everything at once with Yes, all of us. There is a box for anything they can't eat.
5. Watch the replies arrive. Your list shows who has answered which event, and reminders become due once your reply-by date has passed. We email you when they are, and each reminder opens a one-tap reply page.

The free plan covers 50 guests and two events, so you can start free. Bigger weddings need a package, from £65 as a one-off payment. See the wedding page or the FAQ.

Questions people ask

What is the correct RSVP wording for a wedding?

"The favour of a reply is requested by" followed by the date is the formal version. "Kindly reply by" or "Please let us know if you can join us by" with the date in full is correct and warmer. Always include the date and how to reply.

How far before the wedding should the RSVP date be?

Usually four to six weeks before the wedding. Work back from the date your caterer and venue need final numbers, then add about a week to chase anyone who hasn't answered.

How do you word an RSVP for multiple wedding events?

Name the events the guest is invited to and ask for a reply to each by one date, for example "Please let us know which events you can attend by 12 June." Only list the events that guest is invited to.

How do you say no plus-ones on an RSVP?

Address the invitation to the guest alone and confirm it gently, for example "We have kept this invitation to you alone, so we can share the day with as many of our friends as possible."

Is it OK to RSVP to a wedding online?

Yes. An online reply is normal for UK weddings now, and it is easier for guests than posting a card. Make sure each guest has their own link, so you know exactly who has replied.