Everything You Need To Know About Wedding RSVPs
Planning a wedding is all about the little details, and when it comes to making sure your favourite people are there to celebrate with you, your wedding RSVPs are one of the most important pieces of your entire stationery suite.
RSVPs do far more than confirm who’s attending. They help you finalise your seating plan, organise meal choices, accommodate dietary needs and keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes, making them a total game-changer for a stress-free wedding day.
Whether you’d love your guests to respond in their best handwriting or reply with a quick click, this guide covers everything you need to know to make the RSVP process simple, organised, and stress-free.
What Is a Wedding RSVP Card?
RSVP is short for the French phrase répondez s’il vous plaît, meaning “please respond.” They are an essential tool for couples to collect important guest details such as attendance, meal choices, and dietary requirements.
But a Wedding RSVP does much more than just track who’s coming. It helps you get an accurate headcount for your caterers and venue, ensures guests’ needs are accommodated, and saves you from last-minute stress by gathering all the key information upfront.
Whether you’re using printed RSVP cards or digital replies, having a clear RSVP system in place is your secret weapon for smooth, stress-free wedding planning.
Printed vs Digital Wedding RSVPs
Printed RSVP Cards
Printed cards are perfect for formal weddings, for couples who prefer a more traditional approach, or when you’re inviting guests who may not be as tech-savvy. There’s also something lovely and nostalgic about coming home to handwritten RSVP cards waiting on your doormat!
Digital RSVPs
Digital RSVPs are a great option for eco-conscious couples or those working with a tighter budget. Setting up a dedicated email address for replies makes it easy to keep all your wedding-related responses in one place. Alternatively, you can include your mobile numbers for guests who’d prefer to send their reply via text or WhatsApp.
A mixture of both…
If you love the idea of a formal RSVP card but still want the ease of collecting information digitally, you can print a small card featuring a QR code that links directly to your wedding website for guests to submit their details.
You can also give guests a choice by offering both methods — a physical RSVP card and digital options like email or phone — so everyone can respond in the way that suits them best.
What to Include in a Wedding RSVP
A great RSVP Card strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and clarity. Here’s everything you should include to make yours both functional and beautifully designed:
1. Guest Name(s)
Leave space for guests to write their names so you know exactly who the RSVP is from. A handy tip — number your guest list to match each RSVP Card. That way, if someone forgets to include their name, you’ll still know who it belongs to!
2. Accept/Decline Options
Make it easy for guests to confirm or decline with clearly worded tick boxes such as “Accepts with pleasure” or “Declines with regret.”
3. Meal Preferences & Dietary Requirements
If you’re offering menu choices, include each option for guests to select from. Even if you’re not offering choices, it’s always a good idea to add a line for dietary requirements or allergies so you can pass this information on to your venue or caterer. If children are invited, mention that a kids’ menu is available too.
4. RSVP Deadline
Set a realistic date for replies to avoid last-minute stress. Around 10 weeks before the wedding usually works well , giving you plenty of time to chase any late responses and finalise details like your seating plan before ordering on-the-day stationery (around 6-8 weeks before the wedding).
5. Additional Notes
For a fun and personal touch, add a line asking guests to share their favourite song for the dance-floor or leave you a little message. It’s a lovely way to make them feel part of the celebration before the big day even arrives!
Top Tips For A Stress-Free RSVP Process
Number Your Guest List
Assign a number to each RSVP card and match it to your guest list on a spreadsheet. This makes tracking responses simple and foolproof — and if someone forgets to write their name, you’ll still know exactly who the card belongs to!
Pre-Stamp and Address Envelopes
Make replying as effortless as possible by including pre-addressed — and ideally pre-stamped — envelopes with your RSVP cards. If you’re using RSVP postcards, adding stamps is a small touch that saves your guests time and avoids delays while they remember to buy one.
Handling Plus-Ones or Children
Be clear with your addressing. Write out full names or use phrases such as “and family” where appropriate. You can also include a specific line or space for plus-ones or children’s names so guests know exactly who is invited.
Managing Late Replies
Even with clear instructions, a deadline and easy ways to respond, some guests will inevitably forget to reply. A polite but firm follow-up message or quick call is perfectly acceptable — and will save you last-minute stress when finalising numbers with your venue and caterers.
Ordering Your Wedding RSVPs…
Crafting the perfect wedding RSVP card doesn’t have to be daunting. With the right details and thoughtful wording, you’re already on your way to stress-free, organised wedding planning.
All Wild Moon Invitation Collections include beautifully coordinated RSVP Postcards or Cards with Envelopes, designed to pair effortlessly with your chosen invitations. If you love an all-in-one design, my Concertina Wedding Invitations feature a perforated tear-off RSVP postcard on the bottom third, making it wonderfully easy for guests to reply while keeping everything neatly on one piece of card.
Ready to get started? Book your space in my design diary today and tick one more thing off your wedding to-do list!
