Response Cards
Response Cards
Help your guests respond in style. Send a response card that has a corresponding stamped envelope, or save on postage and point guests to reply online at your wedding website. View more on our blog
WHY include a response card?
Response cards can be enclosed with your wedding invitations and will help you determine an accurate guest count for the reception. Printed in the same style as your invitation, your reply card can be as simple or complex as your event requires. Some reply cards simply ask guests to reply by a certain date, while others may request a meal choice or dietary restrictions, and others might include multiple wedding weekend events. Make it easy for your guests to respond by including a printed, stamped envelope.
Response card ETIQUETTE
Be sure to give your guests sufficient time to reply to your wedding, leaving enough time for you to reach out again if you haven’t heard from them by your requested reply date. Your reply date should typically be two to three weeks prior to your wedding unless your caterer or venue needs a headcount sooner than that.
Response card wording & etiquette
Response cards with email/phone/website reply
While less traditional than the response card and envelope combination, a card directing guests to reply via email, phone or website can save time – particularly if you are asking guests to reply in less than the typical response time.
Please respond by the fifth of May
sarah.g.hawkins@gmail.com
OR
For more information and to RSVP, visit www.sarahandclarke2015.com
Response cards with menu choices
The favor of a reply is requested by the fifth of May
____________________________
___ accepts ___ regrets
___ number attending
___ braised beef short ribs
___ roasted free range chicken
___ vegetarian wild mushroom polenta
OR
M________________________
_____ accepts _____regrets
Please select an entrée
___filet mignon
___seabass
___vegetarian option
OR
M________________________
_____ accepts _____regrets
Please initial next to your meal choice
__meat __fish __vegetarian
Many of my guests have titles that do not start with “m,” such as “Dr. Johnson.” What are some alternatives that I can use on
You can omit the “M” and just use a simple line, or you can leave the card blank in the hopes of receiving a personal message from your guests. Just for your own peace of mind: guests with titles that do not start with “M” can still work with a reply card that features an M line. It’s perfectly appropriate etiquette-wise for them to simply draw a slash through the “M” and write out “Doctor” or whatever their title might be.
Response cards with fun/creative reply
Kindly reply by the fifth of May
M________________________
___ can’t wait to see you!
___ will have you in our thoughts
OR
Please respond by the fifth of May
_______________________
___ Dance shoes are being shined
___ Dance shoes are being resoled
OR
__ can’t wait!
__ can’t come.
OR
___sounds great…bags are packed!
___sorry…send back a postcard!
OR
__ ready to dance
__ sorry to miss the fun
OR
__ will be there
__ will be there in spirit
OR
__ will attend with bells on
__ will attend, free of bells
__ will attend, undecided on bells
__ will not attend, heard there will be people wearing bells
OR
____________(exclamation)!
We are __________(adjective) to hear about your upcoming nuptials!
______________(Your Name(s) is/are ___________(adjective) to
___________________(attend/miss) the celebration. There are ________(number)
people in our party.
Response cards without M line
These reply cards contain only a single line of text asking for a reply by a given date. Your guests are expected to write a response and indicate whether or not they will be attending your wedding, but are not selecting any menu choices or rsvping to any other events. This format is very traditional but may confuse guests that have not seen it before, and you may not gather all of the information you need. You know your guests best, so chose your response card language accordingly.
The favour of a reply is requested by the fifth of May
OR
Please respond by the fifth of May
OR
Kindly respond by the fifth of May
Response cards with weekend events
Kindly reply by the fifth of May
M________________________
__ can’t wait to see you!
will attend the following:
__ Thursday rodeo
__ Friday welcome party
__ Sunday wedding
__ Monday brunch
__ will have you in our thoughts
How should I establish my reply by date? What is traditional?
Typically the reply date is 2-4 weeks prior to the wedding, but this may vary depending on your caterers and venue. Check with your caterers/venue just to make sure!
Response cards with M line
M________________________
___accepts ___regrets
___ number attending
Kindly respond by the fifth of May
OR
The favour of reply is requested by the fifth of May
M___________________________
will ___ attend
OR
Please respond by the fifth of May
M_________________________
___ accepts with pleasure
___ declines with regret
OR
M________________________
_____will attend
_____will not attend
Kindly respond by the fifth of May
OR
Please respond by the fifteenth of May
Name(s)_______________________
___ joyfully accept
___ regretfully decline