Just received a wedding invite in the post or over email? As a wedding guest, you have one major thing to do: reply to the wedding invitation promptly. Doing so can ease some of the stress on the couple getting married as they can start to organise the guest list for their big day.

Your invitation will usually include all the important details, such as how and when to RSVP. But if you’re looking for more tips on how to reply to a wedding invitation, our handy guide can help you craft the perfect response.

What to include in a wedding invitation response.

There are some key elements that you will need to include when you reply to a wedding invitation. These include:

• Names of those attending (don’t simply state “we’re” coming)
• Whether you are attending or not
• Meal preference (if you’ve been offered a choice)
• Dietary requirements/allergies
• Any answers to questions (some might ask you for a song).

When it comes to RSVPs, typically, only those named on the invitation are invited. Below are some scenarios you may find.

• The invitation says my name and plus one: If “plus one” is mentioned, the couple are letting you choose a guest to bring with you. It could be a friend or partner. When you respond, be sure to include your plus one’s full name as well as yours. This will be needed for the seating plan.
• The invitation doesn’t mention my children’s names: If your children aren’t mentioned, it’s likely they’re not invited. You might want to reach out to the couple and check if they are invited or not.
• Only my name is on the invitation: This means only you are invited, and you haven’t been given a plus one. If you’re unsure, just reach out to the couple and check.

Editable wedding RSVP response ideas and examples.

How to reply to a wedding invitation.

How you reply to a wedding invitation will depend on the RSVP method. Traditionally, an RSVP card along with a stamped envelope already addressed will be with the invitation. It will simply have blank spaces for you to fill in.

Alternatively, the wedding invitation may ask you to respond via text or email and may include details at the bottom of the invitation on where to send your response.

If this is the case, below are some ways you can structure your response to a wedding invitation.

Formal reply to a formal wedding invitation.

On traditional invitations, the invitation will tend to use official titles and follow a formal letter format. The invite may also be written from the parents on behalf of the couple. It will state on the invitation who is hosting the wedding, such as: “Mr and Mrs Smith request the honour of your company at the marriage of their daughter.”

You can then mirror your wedding invitation response based on the structure for the invite. Below is an example of how you can respond to this type of invitation:

Dear [name of the hosts]

[Your name(s)] accept with pleasure your kind invitation to the wedding of [names].

Taking place on [date].

Yours Sincerely,

[Your title and name]

When completed it should read:

Dear Mr and Mrs Smith,

Katherine and James Thomas accept with pleasure your kind invitation

to the wedding of Sarah and Alex Parker, taking place on 1st July 2025.

We look forward to celebrating this special moment with you.

Yours Sincerely,

Mrs Katherine Thomas

Informal response to a wedding invitation.

An informal response to a wedding invitation is simpler, but still needs to show gratitude and include all of the information needed. It can read:

Dear [host],

Thank you for inviting [me/us] to celebrate with you. [I am/we are] happy to accept your invitation and look forward to the big day!. [Include any dietary requirements, etc.].

All our best,

[Name(s)]

When completed it should read:

Dear Mr and Mrs Smith,

Thank you for inviting us to celebrate with you. We are happy to accept your invitation and look forward to the big day!

To confirm, we don’t have any dietary requirements.

All our best,

Katherine and James

How to respond to a wedding invitation by text.

Digital RSVPs are becoming increasingly popular. They can be a cost-effective option to having a physical design printed and then covering postage. If a couple have requested you RSVP via text, this is how you can do it:

Hello! How are you both? Thank you so much for the wedding invitation. James and I would love to attend and celebrate with you. We have no dietary requirements. Can’t wait!

Depending on your relationship with the couple, you can also include fun elements to send alongside the text – such as a GIF, photo or meme.

How to politely decline a wedding invitation.

For whatever reason, you may have to decline a wedding invitation. It could be because you already have plans that day, can’t make the destination event, or you can’t get childcare. Whatever the reason, you should decline a wedding invitation promptly and politely.

Like so:

Hello! Thank you so much for the wedding invitation. Unfortunately, we are unable to attend. We hope you have an incredible day celebrating and we’ll be thinking of you both.

More wedding invite response ideas.

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Good to know.

How long should you wait to reply to a wedding invitation?

You can reply to a wedding invitation as soon as you’ve received it and checked you can attend. There will be a deadline for when you should send the RSVP (usually four to eight weeks before the wedding date) – be sure you don’t miss this.

What is the proper way to respond to a wedding RSVP?

There’s no proper way to respond to a wedding invitation. You should aim to answer any questions the couple have asked and reply as requested. This could be via an RSVP card provided, text message or by using a wedding website.

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