RSVP Cards

FAQs About Wedding RSVP Cards

• When Do I Need to Send Out RSVP Cards?

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  RSVP cards are traditionally sent out as part of the wedding invitation package. Many couples opt to initially send out the Save The Date, then at a later date, the invitation elements including the wedding invitation, RSVP card and enclosure cards. The package usually contains a return envelope for the RSVP card as well.

  The wedding invitation is usually sent out around 4 months prior to your wedding invitation.

• Do My RSVP Cards Need to Match My Wedding Theme?

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  Yes and no. Realistically, your RSVP cards have to match your wedding theme however we highly recommend it does.

  Generally speaking, we believe your theme should be followed from the Save The Date right through to all the on-the-day decor and even the Thank You Card. Applying your idea to the look and feel to all the aspects of your wedding day decoration can be highly rewarding and feel pretty special.

  One of our favorite photos of the wedding day is the beautiful images taken of the wedding invitation suite. Seeing all your various aspects come together for one image is truly special.

• What Size Are RSVP Cards?

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  There is no set rule to the size of RSVP cards however the most common size is 5.5x4.25”. That being said, many of our guests opt for a slightly bigger 6x4.25”. Both sizes although the card to fit into standard envelope sizes for both sending out to your guests, and for the guests returning them to respond regarding attendance.

  While you can match your invitation size (5x7” as standard), we recommend a little bit of variance to create a nice stacked look to your invitation suite.

• What Does the “M” Mean on the RSVP Card?

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  Quite a simple one really. The “M” stands for the first letting of the title of the responder, for example “Mr.”, “Mrs.”, ”Miss.” etc. It is seen as a quite formal and traditional method of addressing guests although in today's world you will find many of the RSVP cards have the “M” removed.

• What Does RSVP Stand For?

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  Time for a little French lesson. RSVP stands for “Répondez s'il vous plaît" or “Please respond” in English.

• Do I Need to Include a Return Address on the RSVP?

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  Traditionally you should include a return address and also be courteous and include a pre-paid envelope allowing your guests to mail it back to you. However, in the 21st century, many couples opt to include some form of online RSVP procedure. A clever way to reduce costs without losing the joy of choosing matching RSVP cards.

• Do I Need to Include an Envelope?

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  If you are requiring guests to reply via mail, you should include a pre-addressed and pre-paid envelope as part of the invitation suite.

• Is There a Way to Track a Guest's RSVP?

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  Absolutely. Tracking RSVPs is an important aspect of wedding planning and there are many tools to make the process easy. We highly recommend WedSites and their online RSVP tracking tool. Many wedding website providers will also include RSVP tracking as part of their service.

• What Information Do I Need to Include in an RSVP?

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  A wedding RSVP is a pretty standard affair. Specifically you should include space for guests to provide their names so you know exactly who will be attending. Additionally a space for them to declare whether they accept or reject your invite.

  If you are requesting guests to RSVP via mail, you should include a return address and pre-paid envelope.

  Finally, you may wish to include other information such as food choices or an area for your guests to include any questions they may have or dietary requirements.

• What Deadline Should I Put on the RSVP?

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  It is vital to include an RSVP deadline as it allows guests to understand that they must respond by a certain date in order to attend your day. We always recommend a period of 4 weeks prior to your wedding date as this will allow time to make the required decisions regarding seating plans and meal choices.

• Do I Need to Include Wedding Food Choices on the RSVP?

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  While including meal choices on the RSVP card itself is not imperative, it is perhaps a good idea. This way your guests only need to reply using one method allowing them to provide all the information required.

  Many couples opt to include meal choices on their wedding website or as part of a separate detail card. For us, the best approach is to lay out the food choices on a separate enclosure detail card and leave space on the RSVP for the guests to declare their selection.

  If you are on a particularly tight budget, we would recommend including food choices on the details card, with a note with how your guests can make their selection via text message or email.