RSVP

/ ar-es-vee-pee /

What Is a RSVP?

RSVP (from the French 'Répondez s'il vous plaît' — 'Please respond') is the mechanism by which invited guests confirm or decline attendance. Wedding RSVPs include a response deadline (typically 4–6 weeks before the wedding, which gives the caterer sufficient notice). RSVPs often also collect meal preference selections (chicken, fish, or vegetarian), name spelling for place cards, song requests, and dietary restrictions. Online RSVP systems via wedding websites (Zola, The Knot, Minted) have largely replaced paper response cards in recent years and significantly improve RSVP collection rates.

The RSVP in Modern Weddings

Managing RSVPs is one of the more stressful parts of final wedding planning — guests consistently respond late or not at all. Build your timeline with: send invitations 8–10 weeks before the wedding, set RSVP deadline 4 weeks before the wedding, begin follow-up calls for non-responses at 3 weeks out, and provide final headcount to caterer 2 weeks before. Expect 5–10% of RSVPs to change in the final 2 weeks.