Every wedding is unique is as the couple planning it. Whether you've been dreaming of a barefoot beach celebration, a traditional church ceremony, or a modern art museum reception, each couple has the right to define what their perfect special day looks like. While it may seem simple, your RSVP card, an essential element of a wedding invitation suite, helps set the tone for your big day. It does more than just that, though: It also lets you know who will attend your wedding, what their meal preferences are, and potentially even more.
That's why creating perfect wedding RSVP cards is key. To that end, we checked in with a wedding experts Valentina Ring, Tasha Newland, and Alexandra Rembac to gather their wedding RSVP card insight about wording, essential elements to include on an RSVP card, and etiquette you need to know. “RSVP cards are a wonderful way of injecting your own personality and style,” says Ring. “You can really embrace your theme or aesthetic narrative! If you have space, you can make it more unique to you by asking some fun questions like what song is sure to get them on the dance floor, date ideas, or advice for the newlyweds.”
Meet the Expert
- Valentina Ring is the founder, creative director, and head planner at The Stars Inside.
- Tasha Newland is a wedding creative and community founder at The County Wedding Clubs.
- Alexandra Rembac is the principal and creative director of Sterling Engagements.
If you're getting ready to create your own wedding RSVP cards, here’s a quick guide to help you get started as well as some examples for inspiration.
Photo by Mel Toms
Essential Elements of a Wedding RSVP Card
Whether you're sending an ultra-formal wedding invitation suite or something a bit more casual, your RSVP cards will require a few essential components. Here, we outline what absolutely must be on your RSVP card (or form, if you're taking the QR code approach!)
Guest Names
A completed RSVP card is no use to you if you don't know who filled out. Make sure to leave a place for guests to write the names of each person who will attend—you'll need this information for your seating chart and place cards.
Accept or Decline
Make this part super simple by giving guests two options: One to accept, one to decline. Don't make it complicated or confusing, use clear language, and leave space for a check, X, or number (in the event that some invited guests are attending and some are not).
RSVP Deadline
If you want your RSVPs to come in on time, you'll need to lay out the deadline very clearly for guests. Write this at the top of the card, right beneath "RSVP" or "Kindly Reply" and use language like "Please let us know if you can attend by no later than..." to make it very obvious to attendees.
Photo by Leslie Rodriguez Photography
Wedding RSVP Card Wording Examples
Before you send out your invitations, it helps to see some creative RSVP card wording samples—a little inspiration goes a long way. As it turns out, you have a lot of options. “Traditional wording for an RSVP is ‘Accepts With Pleasure/Regretfully Declines’ which is perfectly acceptable if a little boring,” says Newland. “We absolutely love it when a couple desires nothing more than to do their wedding their way and embrace the personal side of everything marriage. You can, of course, change the wording, you can add different requests, you can personalize the actual RSVP with your design and wedding style, and above all else, you can think of something quirky or even something funny.”
“We love encouraging personalizing it in some way,” adds Rembac. “Sometimes that comes through within the first two sentences at the top via a message and sometimes it’s about adding a line for a love note or a song request at the bottom. It’s a fun way they can connect with their guests and set the tone for what’s to come.”
Here are formats you may choose to use when writing your cards based on the style of your wedding, but feel free to personalize them as you see fit.
Formal
Répondez S'il Vous Plaît (RSVP)
Your response is requested before August 31st.
Name(s) :__________________
▢ accept(s) with pleasure
▢ decline(s) with regret
Entrée Preference: ▢ Filet Mignon ▢ Vegetable Medley
Dress Code: White tie
Classic
RSVP
We kindly ask for your reply before August 31st.
Name(s):___________________
▢ joyfully accept(s)
▢ sadly decline(s)
Entrée Preference: ▢ Meat ▢ Vegetarian
Dress Code: Formal
Casual
Kindly Respond
We ask you to reply before August 31st.
Name(s) :__________________
▢ will be there to celebrate
▢ will be toasting from afar
Entrée Preference: ▢ Meat ▢ Vegetarian
Unique
Will You Be Joining Us?
We kindly request your reply before August 31st.
Name(s) of our fabulous guests:__________________
▢ will be there with bells on
▢ will be there in spirit
Song request:__________________
Advice for the newlyweds: __________________
Entrée Preference: ▢ Meat ▢ Vegetarian
Funny
Yay or Nay?
When we say ‘I do’, will we be seeing you? Reply before August 31st.
Name(s) :__________________
▢ Yes, you will see our/my face(s)
▢ Sorry, we’re/I’m busy that day!
Give us your best advice:__________________
Entrée Preference: ▢ Meat ▢ Vegetarian
What should we pack for our destination wedding? __________________
Destination
Fly Away With Us!
Elope with us and watch us tie the knot. RSVP by August 31st.
Name(s) :__________________
▢ Yes, we’re/I’m beachy keen to attend!
▢ Sorry, we/I can’t make the flight!
Entrée Preference: ▢ Meat ▢ Vegetarian
Dessert Preference: ▢ Parfait ▢ Macarons
Modern
Will You Be Joining Us?
Say ‘yes’... You know you want to. RSVP by August 31st.
Name(s) :__________________
▢ Can't wait to see you on the dance floor
▢ Will be toasting from afar
Anything else you want to say?:__________________
Entrée Preference: ▢ Meat ▢ Veggie
Dessert Preference: ▢ Parfait ▢ Macarons
Via QR Code or Wedding Website
Response
Kindly reply on our wedding website by August 31st.
Additional information regarding travel, accommodations, and related events is available alongside our RSVP form at
smithwedding2025.com
password: smithwedding2025
Photo by Terri Baskin Photography
Wedding RSVP Card Tips
Now that you've decided how you want to word your RSVP cards, it's important to consider the rest of the details. Here, a few tips that'll help you on your way towards stationery success.
Send Them Early
Your wedding invitations—which include your RSVP cards—should be mailed at least three months before your wedding, but they can be mailed a little earlier than that. This “Wedding RSVPs are one of the elements for guests to discover as they explore the wedding invitation suite, either as separate insert cards or as a portion of text on the invite itself,” says Ring. “Invites are typically finalized and ordered from your stationer about four to six months before the wedding, and sent out around two months before the day.”
Give a Clear Deadline
Once you’ve sent your invitations and RSVP cards out, it’s a waiting game. To save yourself any stress, give a clear deadline. “My recommendation is to set it one month prior to the wedding date,” says Ring. “Many vendors require order details to be finalized four weeks before the wedding. Having your RSVPs back by then can make the process smooth and accurate.”
If you’re planning on tying the knot far away, you need to allow some extra time for guests to confirm travel details. The RSVP confirmations for a destination wedding should be sent out two months before the wedding.
You'll also want to build in a little buffer time—guests will inevitably be late. If you know your caterer needs a final headcount one month before the wedding, make your RSVP by date six weeks out from the big day.
Add More Information
Before you seal the envelopes, consider whether you need to add any extra information, such as your contact details, your wedding website URL, related nuptial events, and more. “You can add details of the dress code here if you haven't elsewhere,” says Ring. “You can also include a phone number and an email address or remind them of the URL of your wedding website.”
Leave Some Blank Space
Encourage your guests to get creative and share their thoughts with you. Allowing them to write something is a simple way to make your RSVP cards unique. “If possible, leave some space on the RSVP so that your guests can write any special accommodations or leave you notes about how excited they are for your celebrations,” says Ring.
Another reason why blank space is important? If you're not leaving a place for guests to mark Any dietary requirements, they may need to use the extra space to note if they have a serious food allergy or restriction.
