Wedding RSVP Wording: Deadlines, Plus-Ones and Meal Choices

A wedding RSVP asks four things: will you come, how many of you, what would you like to eat, and is there anything we should know. Put a clear reply-by date at the top and tell guests how many seats you've reserved for them — that one line prevents most plus-one confusion. Here's the wording for each part, and how a digital RSVP handles it for you.

What should a wedding RSVP say?

A reply-by date, a yes/no line, the number attending, and meal or dietary questions if you need them. Everything else — song requests, a note to the couple — is optional and fun.

Kindly reply by the fifteenth of May
M ______________________
___ Joyfully accepts
___ Regretfully declines
We have reserved ___ seats in your honour

Please RSVP by May 15
Can't wait to celebrate! ☐ Wouldn't miss it ☐ Celebrating from afar

How do you word the RSVP deadline?

"Kindly reply by [date]" is the classic line; "Please RSVP by [date]" is the everyday one. Set the date three to four weeks before the wedding — our invitation timeline explains why.

• Kindly reply by the fifteenth of May
• The favour of a reply is requested by May 15
• Please let us know by May 15
• RSVP by 5.15.27

How do you handle plus-ones on an RSVP?

Tell each guest exactly how many seats are reserved for them, and use their partner's name when you know it. The Emily Post Institute notes that naming the guest is much warmer than "and guest".

• On paper: "We have reserved 2 seats in your honour."
• On a digital invitation: set the number of people per reply. On PixerInvite you choose "just the guest", "the guest plus one", or up to a whole family, and the guest count on the RSVP stops at that number.
• For no plus-ones: address the invitation to the guest alone and reserve one seat — no need to spell out "no plus-ones".

How do you ask for meal choices?

List the options and ask for one per person attending. For a plated dinner, your caterer needs the count of each dish, so ask on the RSVP rather than at the table.

Format	Example wording	Best for
Tick boxes	☐ Beef tenderloin ☐ Sea bass ☐ Wild mushroom risotto	Paper reply cards
Initials	Please initial your entrée choice: ___ Beef ___ Fish ___ Vegetarian	Formal suites
One per guest	Guest 1: [choose] · Guest 2: [choose]	Digital RSVP
Dietary note	Any allergies or dietary needs we should know about?	Every RSVP

On a PixerInvite invitation with a Classic and Modern design, you list up to six meal choices; each guest picks one for every person in their reply, and your RSVP list shows the total of each dish, ready for the caterer.

How do you ask about allergies and dietary needs?

Ask one open question — "Any allergies or dietary needs we should know about?" — or offer common options to tick. Keep it separate from the meal choice so a vegetarian guest isn't forced to pick a dish.

How do you add a song request to an RSVP?

Add a playful optional line such as "I promise to dance if you play…". Guests love it, and it gives your DJ or band a ready-made list from the people who'll actually be on the dance floor.

• I promise to dance if you play ________
• The song that will get me on the dance floor: ________
• Request a song (optional)

Is a digital RSVP better than reply cards?

For most couples, yes: there's no postage, nothing gets lost in the mail, and every reply lands in one list you can export for seating and catering. A deadline that closes the form automatically means no surprise changes after you've sent final numbers.

You can keep the tradition too — mail a few printed invitations with reply cards to older guests, and add their replies to the same list. Read more about how digital wedding invitations work.

Frequently asked questions

What does "M" mean on an RSVP card?

It's the start of the guest's title — Mr., Mrs., Ms. or Mx. — so they can write their name after it.

How do you politely say no plus-ones?

Address the invitation to the guest alone and reserve one seat. If someone asks, a kind "We're keeping the guest list small" is enough.

What if a guest doesn't pick a meal?

Follow up personally, or ask your caterer for a default option. A digital RSVP can prompt for a choice for each person.

Should RSVP cards include postage?

Traditionally, yes — the hosts stamp the reply envelope. Digital RSVPs remove the need entirely.