How To Reply To An Rsvp Message [With Examples]

RSVP (“repondez, s’il vous plait”) is a French word that signifies “Please Respond.” When you receive a message with RSVP written on it, it would be rude not to treat it as vital by not responding.

RSVP is a form of messaging that tenders a polite request. Responding to it is necessary because it helps the sender know the way forward. You can respond by accepting or turning down an invitation. However, your response pattern doesn’t have to sound boring with a straight “yes or no” reply.

If you understand the basics of how to respond to RSVP, it will help you better communicate your thoughts to your sender. Aside from that, it would show simple courtesy. Here, we’ll teach you how to respond to an RSVP with examples to make it more appealing to the receiver.

How Should I Respond To RSVP?

Responding to RSVP isn’t taxing, and it comes in two ways – formal and informal. It’s something you can do within a few minutes, depending on the nature of the message you receive.

RSVPs come in different forms. It could be text messages, Emails, letters, etc. Generally, responding to RSVP requires using the same medium you received the message. For instance, if you receive it by Email, you should also reply via Email.

There isn’t a specific method you can use to respond to RSVP, but before you begin to type a response, you need to decide and know how to write a reply that suits the message.

Here are the ten best ways how to respond to an RSVP

Understand the content of the message.
Check your schedule and make a decision.
Reply as soon as you can.
Write a good subject.
Include the correct address.
Write the response in a friendly tone
Use the appropriate salutations to sign off.
Be Courteous

1. Understand The Content Of The Message

Understanding the content of the RSVP is one of the vital aspects to consider before you respond to an RSVP. Doing this includes reading the message to know if it requires a formal or informal response.

Sometimes, the RSVP could be an invitation to a birthday or wedding anniversary which doesn’t interest you. When you understand the content of the message, it will help you decide if you’ll accept or decline the invitation.

Understanding the content of the RSVP will help you determine whether the response will be formal or informal.

2. Check Your Schedule And Make A Decision

Checking your schedule is one of the necessary things to consider before you respond to an RSVP. You do not want to inconvenience yourself by accepting an invitation you can’t handle.

One reason is that you may want to accept the invitation but already have another event slated for the same day.

3. Reply As Soon As You Can

If it’s possible, try to respond within 24 hours of receiving the invite. If that’s not possible, you can respond a few days later. But remember that this is just a recommendation; there are no laws about when you should respond.

However, if you’re not free to respond immediately, include it in your reminder to reply later. The fact is, the sender may have another interpretation of your silence to the RSVP.

4. Write A Good Subject

When responding, you don’t just say, “this is the reply to your RSVP,” or “I’m RSVPing to your invitation.” It’s not appropriate. The subject line is the heading that informs the sender of your decision in a bit.

What Do I Write In My RSVP Response?

When responding to RSVP, what you write and the pattern also matters. The reason is that it will determine your response’s tone. This pattern usually depends on the relationship between the sender and receiver.

Here are examples of a good subject line for an RSVP reply.

Formal RSVP subject response – Declining the invitation to your wedding anniversary.
Informal RSVP subject line response – I can’t make it to your wedding.

5. Include The Correct Address

This part is very vital because your response will be delivered to the exact address written on it. If you include the wrong address, you’ll likely face a challenge. If you received the RSVP through text message, it’s safe to recheck the number you’re sending your response to.

Asides from the location address, the manner you choose to address the recipient also matters.

For instance, if you’re responding to a formal RSVP, you cannot begin with “hello dearest” or “Hi Love” because it is inappropriate.

6. Write The Response In A Friendly Tone

You don’t want to sound rude when writing an RSVP response. Also, you don’t want to communicate in an over-friendly tone. Just keep your response simple and friendly yet professional.

The body is the central part of your RSVP that contains why you accept or decline the message content. Avoid telling unnecessary stories or attempting to sound overly pathetic when writing an RSVP reply. Go straight to the point and keep it simple.

7. Use The Appropriate Salutations To Sign-Off

Sign-offs are as crucial as the subject of the RSVP. Also, you cannot use the salutation for a formal RSVP to sign off for an informal one.

It’s always good to be clear in your writing, especially regarding professionalism. You never want to leave your reader wondering whether you’re finished. In a friendly tone: Use the appropriate salutations to sign off to ensure your message is complete and well organized. Here are examples of good greetings:

Formal salutation – Your Sincerely, Yours Faithfully, Best Regards.
Informal sign-off – Cheers, Love from, regards.

8. Be Courteous

When you’re invited to an event via RSVP, it is needless to begin to write long details about the reason you’re declining the invitation. Unless it’s an informal invitation from a friend or close family, keep away pieces of information that aren’t necessary.

Instead, use courtesy and respect throughout the reply to politely convey your message.

No need to lie when you don’t feel like accepting an invitation. You can respond that you won’t be able to grace the event. Telling a lie may make it complicated for you in the future.

RSVP Response Examples: How To Respond To Rsvp With Examples

There are several examples of RSVP responses. Some could be a response to declining an invitation, while some could be for acceptance. On some occasions, an RSVP reply could be to change a previous response.

However, it doesn’t matter whether you decline or accept an invitation. The aim is to keep it simple and exciting. Here are some of my favorite sample replies of how to RSVP by email professionally.

Dear Colleague,

Thank you for honoring me with the invitation to your conference. Sadly, I will not be able to make it. However, I would love to have a recording of the event. Thank you.

Best Regards,

Me.

Dear Sister,

I am responding to your invitation to Jane and John Doe’s wedding. Unfortunately, I will be unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts.

Congratulations! I promise to visit soon.

Cheers,

Me.

Dear Friends,

Thank you for inviting me to your wedding anniversary. I will set it as a reminder on my calendar right away. Congratulations. Please, if there is any dress code for your big day, kindly let me know.

Yours faithfully,

Me.

Dearest Brother,

Thank you for inviting me to your birthday celebrations. Unfortunately, I will be out of town before then.

Blessed Birthday in advance. I look forward to visiting you when I’m back in town.

Love,

Me.

Dear Friend,

It’s with so much pleasure that I receive your invitation to attend the OAU conference. Thank you for choosing me as one of the speakers for the great event.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Me.

Hi Dear,

Thank you for inviting me to your birthday celebration. I’ll set a reminder on my calendar so I won’t miss the event.

Happy birthday in advance.

Love,

Me.

Dearest Ella,

Due to an unplanned situation, I’ll be unable to attend your wedding invitation. I sincerely apologize for the change in plans.

Have a wonderful celebration. I hope to see you soon.

Cheers,

Rose.

Dear Friend,

Regretfully, I will not be able to attend the conference as planned. The reason is that my final examination is on the same day. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this change of plans will cause.

I wish you a successful event.

Yours faithfully,

Me.

Dear Colleague,

I am pleased to inform you that I will attend your conference on 4th October. Fortunately, the board meeting scheduled for that day was postponed.

Thank you once again for inviting me.

Best regards,

Me.

Dear Friend,

I will attend the awards ceremony. My examinations date no longer clashes with the date for the event. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this might cause.

Thanks for understanding.

Best Regards,

Me.

Dear Neighbor,

I’m pleased to inform you that the time for my presentation was moved to the early hours. The presentation will begin at 8 am and end by 11 pm, and I’ll still have enough time to prepare for your wedding anniversary by 3 pm.

I’m so excited, and I can’t wait to see you.

Love,

Me.

Dearest Friend,

I’m excited to inform you that I’ll attend your birthday celebrations. I checked my schedule and noticed I’d made a mistake in the travel date.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

Love,

Me.

Dear Colleague,

Thank you for your invitation to ABC Company’s annual holiday party. I appreciate the opportunity to meet with you and your colleagues. I hope that you will also invite me to future events. I assure you that I will make a positive impression on your team and clients.

Cheers,

Me.

Hello Friend,

Thank you for the invitation to attend your birthday party on May 20th. I am very excited to see you, John, and the rest of your friends. I cannot wait for the celebration! In the meantime, I will plan my outfit and prepare what to bring as a gift for your birthday. Thank you again for the invitation. I look forward to seeing you in May!

Your loving friend,

me.

Hello,

Thank you for the invitation to your birthday party. I appreciate your kind invitation and look forward to celebrating your special day. I will have my assistant call to finalize the details. Thank you again for inviting me. I look forward to seeing you on the 16th.

Cheers,

Hi There,

Just a quick note to confirm my attendance at the ABC Marketing Group holiday party on December 15. I look forward to seeing you there. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if there is anything else that I can provide. I’ve included my cell number and email address below.

Thanks again for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Dear Friend,

I am writing to inform you that I cannot attend your cocktail party. Thank you for inviting me in the past; however, travel and scheduling conflicts will not allow me to participate in this time.

Yours Sincerely,

Me.

When Should I Respond To RSVP?

You should respond to RSVP as soon as you receive it. However, accepting or declining an RSVP requires careful consideration. First, you need to understand the content of the message and check your schedule to know if it’s something you can handle.

If an RSVP doesn’t suit your need, You may feel like ignoring it by pushing it into your spam inbox, but is that the right thing to do? Of course not. It doesn’t matter if the RSVP makes sense to you – it’s always best to respond. Here are a few tips on what you should consider before responding to RSVP.

Depending on circumstances and personal preference, there are many different ways to reply to an RSVP. The simplest method is a “yes” or “no” response, which is perfectly fine for parties.

Is It Compulsory To Respond To RSVP?

It doesn’t matter if you’re cool with the invitation; responding to RSVP is necessary. The reason is that it helps the sender to know how best to plan the event. Asides from that, it’s a simple courtesy that shows respect.

Can I Alter My RSVP Response After Sending It?

You can change your RSVP response after sending it because unplanned situations may likely occur after accepting the invitation to an event. When you find yourself in a situation like this, you must send another RSVP to inform the sender of the change in plans.

However, you have to be polite about it. If you feel comfortable, you can explain your reasons in a brief sentence. If the person is a close friend, you can request a call.

Can I respond to RSVP with a “yes or no”?

When responding to RSVPs, it isn’t polite to type a “yes or no.” You must go through the processes that make your RSVP response appropriate. Here are the procedures;

Write a good subject line.
Address the RSVP appropriately.
Express gratitude for the invitation.
Write a good body that explains the reason you’re accepting or declining.
The RSVP may be in a formal or informal form. Write a proper salutation that fits it.

Can I Put Stamps On My RSVP Response Cards?

Yes, you can put stamps on your RSVP response cards. It is proper etiquette when responding to an RSVP letter inside a card. However, doing this is only necessary for the RSVP sender.

How Long Can I Keep RSVP Response Pending?

The RSVP may not carry the inscription “please treat as important,” but you must do so. An RSVP is a request, and it is only polite that you reply to a request. However, It is okay to keep an RSVP pending, maybe because you’re not free to respond immediately. But then, the longest you should keep it pending is 48 hours.

If you keep an RSVP longer than 48hours, the sender will likely assume you’ve accepted the invitation. This can cause problems in the future if you initially had no plans of accepting the invitation. Also, responding saves you and the sender stress and misunderstanding of assumptions.

When you receive an RSVP, it may be tempting to shove it into your cupboard or spam inbox. But that’s not appropriate. Responding to RSVP is necessary. Asides from letting the sender know what to expect, it’s part of etiquette.

It’s okay if you don’t know how to respond to RSVP. This article is your best bet because we’ve explained the best ways how and when you should reply that wouldn’t make you sound rude or disrespectful.