RSVP comes from the French phrase "répondez s'il vous plaît", meaning "please reply". For couples, it is the single most important number in wedding planning: catering, seating and even favors depend on it.

Ask only what you will use

  • Attending or not (required).
  • Number of people in the party, if plus-ones are allowed.
  • Dietary needs, if your caterer can accommodate them.
  • A short note field, which many guests use for congratulations.

Every extra question lowers the response rate a little. If you will not act on an answer, do not ask the question.

Turning replies into a head count

  1. Turn on the RSVP form on your invitation before you share it.
  2. Check the RSVP page in your dashboard weekly rather than daily.
  3. Compare replies with your guest list to find people who have not answered.
  4. Send one polite reminder two weeks before the deadline.
  5. After the deadline, call or message the remaining few directly.

Handling "maybe"

For planning, count a maybe as a yes until the deadline, then ask for a firm answer. It is easier to release a seat than to squeeze in an extra one at the last minute.

Finally, thank people who decline. A warm reply keeps relationships easy and often prompts them to send a wish or gift anyway.