Crafting your wedding RSVP wording might seem like a small detail—but it plays a big role in making your planning seamless and stress-free. Whether you're using a traditional mail-in response card or opting for a modern online RSVP with a QR code, the goal is the same: to gather guest information in a way that's clear, elegant, and true to your celebration.

Your RSVP card isn’t just a formality. It sets the tone for your guest communication and plays a crucial role in planning logistics, from head counts to meal selections. The right wording ensures clarity, elegance, and a smooth experience for everyone involved.

Let’s dive into everything you need to know about wedding RSVP wording—what to include, how to phrase it, and how to tailor it to your guest list and wedding style.

What is a Wedding RSVP Card?

A response card is a crucial component of your wedding invitation suite. It’s how you collect key information from your guests—who’s attending, how many people are coming, their meal selections (if applicable), and occasionally, fun extras like song requests.

Traditionally, RSVP cards are paired with a pre-addressed, stamped envelope that guests return by mail. Today, many couples are choosing a more modern approach by inviting guests to respond online—typically through a wedding website or QR code. In these cases, rather than a physical card to mail back with their response, the RSVP card provides guests with clear, beautifully designed instructions for how to respond online.

Regardless of how your guests will respond, your response card ensures the experience feels thoughtful, polished, and cohesive with the rest of your wedding stationery.

Traditional Wedding RSVP Wording

When collecting replies by mail, clarity and etiquette are key. A traditional response card allows you to gather the details you need while giving guests a simple, familiar way to respond. From the RSVP deadline to how names are listed and meals selected, each line of your card can be tailored to reflect the formality and tone of your day.

The RSVP Deadline: When and How to Ask for a Reply

Your RSVP deadline should typically fall 4–6 weeks before your wedding date. This gives you enough time to finalize your seating chart, order any day-of stationery, share meal counts with your caterer, and follow up with any guests who haven’t responded.

Here are a few timeless ways to phrase your request:

Example 1:

The favor of your reply is requested
by the eighth of July

Example 2:

Kindly reply by July eighth

Example 3:

Please respond by July eighth

If you're hosting a formal or black tie wedding, we recommend the first option. For more casual or modern events, the others are perfectly appropriate.

Name Line: Traditional and Modern Formats

The most traditional format begins with an “M” to prompt guests to write their title:

M____________________

This signals guests to write “Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Smith” or “Ms. Emily Carter.” While still elegant, some couples prefer a simplified, modern version:

Name(s): ____________________

Either is correct—it just depends on your formality level.

Designer Tip: It’s surprisingly common for guests to forget to write their names on the response card. To save time tracking RSVPs, we highly recommend numbering the back of each card in one of the lower corners and keeping a simple spreadsheet that maps each number to a guest or household. That way, if a card comes back blank, you’ll know exactly who it belongs to.

Want to keep it completely discreet? Use an invisible ink pen—only visible under UV light—for a subtle solution that keeps your RSVP process organized without compromising the look of your suite.

Attendance Line: How Guests Indicate They’re Coming

This section lets your guests indicate whether they’ll be attending. Simple wording works best:

Example 1:

___ Accepts
___ Regrets

Example 2:

___ Accepts with pleasure
___ Declines with regret

For a more playful tone, you might choose:

Example 3:

___ Wouldn’t miss it for the world
___ Will be celebrating from afar

Example 4:

___ We'll be there with bells on!
___ Cheering you on from a distance

Clarity here helps avoid confusion and minimizes the need to follow up with guests who may have forgotten to respond.

Entrée Selection: Gathering Meal Preferences with Clarity

If you’re serving a plated meal, you’ll need to collect each guest’s meal preference in advance. A well-phrased meal selection section typically looks like this:

Please initial your entrée selection:
___ Chicken
___ Beef
___ Vegetarian

Asking guests to initial their selection (rather than just marking it) helps clearly identify who’s ordering what—especially for couples or families replying together. This small detail makes a big difference when coordinating with your caterer.

It's also a good idea to follow up with any guests who forget to mark their meal choice on the response card to avoid last-minute confusion.

If your reception is buffet-style or your caterer doesn’t require meal counts in advance, you can omit this section entirely.

Designer Tip: It’s tempting to include full menu descriptions on your RSVP card, but we recommend keeping the wording short and sweet. If something simple like “Chicken” or “Beef” feels too vague, you can add a bit more specificity with the dish title (like “Chicken French” or “Prime Rib.”) If you’d like to include full descriptions before the wedding, we’d recommend directing your guests to your wedding website for those details.

Dietary Restrictions: Making Space for Special Requests

Even if you're offering a set menu, it's thoughtful (and often necessary) to give guests the opportunity to share dietary restrictions or allergies. This is especially important if you're working with a caterer who can accommodate specific needs in advance.

You can include a simple line like:

Please note any dietary restrictions:
___________________

This line is typically placed beneath the entrée selection or at the bottom of the RSVP card. If you’re not collecting meal preferences, it can stand alone as part of your response card wording.

Keeping this language open-ended gives guests room to note allergies or sensitivities—without making the card feel crowded.

Number Attending: Ensuring Clarity on Guest Count

Including a line for the number of attendees helps eliminate guesswork and avoid unexpected plus-ones. There are two common formats, and each is used slightly differently depending on your guest list and how much structure you’d like to provide:

1. “We have reserved ___ seats in your honor”

This line is typically placed just below the RSVP deadline at the top of the response card. It clearly communicates the number of people invited and helps control your guest count.

This line would be prefilled with the number of seats you’re reserving for that household or individual (e.g., “2” for a couple, “1” for a single guest).

2. “___ Number attending”

This version appears directly below the “Accepts” line. It allows guests to write in how many people will be attending within their party.

Do not prefill this line—it's intended to give your guests flexibility, and it works best for more casual or lenient guest lists.

This small detail goes a long way in keeping your headcount accurate and your RSVP process stress-free.

Designer Tip: In some cases, both of these RSVP count lines are used in tandem. This is especially helpful when you're inviting guests with flexible attendance possibilities—like families with older children who may not all be able to come, or single guests who are welcome to bring a plus one but might attend alone.

Prefilling the “___ seats reserved” line communicates how many guests are invited, while also including a “___ number attending” line gives them space to confirm exactly how many people will be joining.

Personal Touches: Optional, But Memorable

Some couples like to include a light-hearted prompt or question to add personality and interaction. A couple of guest-favorite ideas:

We promise to dance if you play:
___________________

Leave a note for the happy couple:
___________________

While entirely optional, these small moments can become treasured memories (and help build your reception playlist!).

Online Wedding RSVP Wording

More and more couples are turning to online RSVP collection options for their efficiency, flexibility, and modern appeal. Rather than asking guests to mail back a physical card, many couples choose to include online RSVP instructions on their response cards—typically guiding guests to their wedding website using a URL or QR code.

With a quick scan or by typing in the web address, guests can confirm attendance, select meal preferences, and even leave a note for the couple.

This digital option streamlines the RSVP process for both you and your guests—making it faster, easier, and more convenient to submit and manage responses. Including RSVP instructions within your printed invitation suite ensures the experience still feels thoughtful, elevated, and cohesive with the rest of your wedding stationery.

The Basics of an Online RSVP Card

Collecting online RSVPs replaces the need for a stamped return envelope. Instead, your response card gives guests clear instructions on how to reply (usually through a QR code or URL), and is included without a matching envelope. Some elegant wording examples include:

Example 1:

Kindly reply online by July eighth
on our website
[wedding website URL]

Example 2:

Please respond by
the eighth of July

To reply online, and for more information,
Please visit our website
[wedding website URL]

Example 3:

Your response is requested
by the eighth of July

[QR code]

Please scan the code above and
respond on our wedding website
[wedding website URL]

Designer Tip: Shine can create a custom QR code for you and design it into your suite seamlessly—just provide your preferred URL in your order notes, and your designer will take care of the rest!

What to Include on an Online RSVP Card

Even though the actual reply happens online, your printed RSVP card should still include:

• The RSVP deadline
• The web address (always include it as text in case someone can’t scan the QR code)
• Any special instructions (e.g., “Click ‘RSVP’ in the menu”)
• Wording that’s consistent with the formality of the rest of your suite

Online RSVP platforms often allow you to gather even more detailed information—like song requests, dietary restrictions, or guest travel plans—without crowding your card design.

Not Sure Which RSVP Style Is Right for You?

Choosing between traditional and online RSVP cards often comes down to your guest list and wedding tone.

If you’re hosting a formal, black tie affair or have older guests who may be less comfortable with tech, a traditional mail-in response card is often the best fit.

If your guests are tech-savvy or you want a streamlined guest tracking system, online RSVPs can save time and reduce paper.

Designer Tip: If your guest list spans a wide range of ages or comfort levels with technology, consider including two versions of your response card—one with online RSVP instructions, and another with a traditional mail-in option. This thoughtful approach ensures every guest feels considered, while keeping your suite cohesive and beautifully tailored to your event.

FAQ: Wedding RSVP Wording & Online Options

How do I create a QR code for wedding RSVP cards?

If you’re ordering your invitations with Shine, we’ll take care of the QR code for you. Simply send us the URL you’d like to direct your guests to—we’ll generate a custom code and design it directly into your suite.

If you're not ordering with us, you can use free online generators to create a QR code to send to your stationers. Just be sure to test the code on a mobile device and choose a high-resolution PNG or SVG file for printing.

Is it OK to only offer online RSVPs?

Yes, offering online RSVPs is a perfectly acceptable option for modern weddings. It’s quick, convenient, and often easier to track.

However, it’s worth thinking about your guest list. If you know some guests may be uncomfortable with technology—and don’t have someone who can assist them—it may be helpful to offer two types of RSVP options. Many couples choose to order two versions of their response card: one with online instructions for tech-savvy guests, and another with a traditional mail-in format for those who would appreciate it.

Should I still include a physical RSVP card if I’m collecting responses online?

Yes, even if you're collecting responses online, including a printed RSVP card with instructions for responding digitally helps create a cohesive, polished experience for your guests. Clear, visible instructions ensure guests know exactly how to reply—so you receive the details you need without them having to search or second-guess. However, in this case, you would not need to include an envelope with the card for mailing!

What should I include on a wedding RSVP card?

The details you include will depend on how you’re collecting responses—by mail or online.

For Traditional Mail-In RSVP Cards, include at least:

• RSVP deadline
• Guest name line (e.g., “M________” or “Name(s): ______”)
• Attendance selection (accepts/regrets)
• Meal selection (if required by your caterer)

For Online RSVPs, include at least:

• RSVP deadline
• Your website URL (and optionally a QR code)
• A line directing guests to reply online (e.g., “Please RSVP on our website...”)

When should I set my RSVP deadline?

We recommend setting your RSVP deadline 4–6 weeks before your wedding date. This gives you plenty of time to finalize your guest count, confirm meal choices with your caterer, and follow up with anyone who hasn’t responded.

To make sure your guests have enough time to reply, your invitations should be mailed no later than one month before your RSVP deadline. This gives guests at least four weeks to receive, review, and return their response—whether by mail or online.

Your Next Step Toward a Seamless Invitation Suite

Your RSVP card might be a small detail, but it plays a big role in creating a smooth, stress-free planning experience—for both you and your guests. Whether you're leaning toward a traditional mail-in card, an online reply option, or both, the right wording brings clarity, elegance, and ease to your entire suite.

Explore our curated collection of wedding invitations to find a design that fits your day perfectly, or take our styling quiz for a personalized recommendation. Want to experience our quality in person? Our samples are the perfect way to see and feel the difference.