R.S.V.P. stands for répondez s'il vous plaît, a french translation of please respond. This term is politely asking you to reply your intentions toward the event regardless if you are attending or not. If the invitation specifies "regrets only", then you are only obligated to respond if you are unable to attend. The host will assume you will be there if they have not heard from you. Why is this important? When reserving venues, caterers, or seating; the first question they ask is how many guests? There is nothing worse for a host than to not have enough comfort for their guests. Whether it is something to eat or somewhere to sit, if it is not available someone is uncomfortable. The most polite thing an invited guest can do is respond quickly and follow through with the response. If your situation changes from "yes" to "no", let your host know immediately. If you are able to attend after responding "no", it is polite to ask the host if you may attend and not to take it personally if your seat has been filled. If you are unsure, it is acceptable to let them know that you will respond as soon as possible. For an event such as a wedding, the couple will assume you are not attending if they have not heard from you two weeks out. Here are some other things to consider:
- Do not bring a guest unless your invitation says "and guest".
- Include yourself when giving total count in your party attending.
- Respond to request how it was sent out unless otherwise directed. If invited by mail, respond by mail. If invited by email, respond by email.
- Do not be afraid to ask for clarification of an invitation but do not be offended if the answer is not what you wanted to hear. The host would love to invite everyone they know, but without unlimited resources, they may not be able to.
I am admitting I have not been the best at sending my RSVP, but after researching this, I will make a point of responding!!
