Wedding Etiquette for sending invitation cards a week before the
wedding
When you receive a wedding invitation card in the
mail, it is proper etiquette to mail the response care promptly.
What happens if you realize a week to the wedding that you have
never sent in the response card? Yes, this is a major etiquette
faux pas, but you can save yourself before you look completely rude
and inconsiderate.
The bride probably followed wedding etiquette for
sending her invitation cards out well in advance of the wedding,
usually six to eight weeks, in order to give you time to make arrangements
to be there on her special day.
Proper guest etiquette for sending the invitation
response card says that you should RSVP the day you receive the
invitation. Of course, this is not always possible because you may
need to find out if your spouse is free to go that day,
If work might interfere with either of you, if
the kids have a trip or other event planned, or if you can afford
to travel to the wedding. That is all understandable; however, you
should investigate those things as quickly as possible and send
the response card in as soon as you know if you are free to attend
or not.
Do you have to RSVP even if you are not going?
To follow proper etiquette for sending invitation response cards,
yes, you RSVP even if you can’t make it. The proper way to
do so is to write a short note with your regrets and a brief explanation
of why you can’t attend.
When sending the invitation card back make sure
to include your name, how many will be attending if a guest was
invited, and your menu choice if one is provided. The response card
won’t do the bride much good if she has no idea who it came
from.
Etiquette for sending the invitation response card
back has you mail it to the host of the wedding. This is usually
the bride’s parents, but in modern days it is often the bride
herself. It should have been pre-addressed and pre-stamped for your
convenience.
If it was a blank card, you will need to handwrite
your response to match however formal the invitation was. If it
was formal, you will use words such as “accept with pleasure”.
If the invitation was informal, it is proper etiquette for sending
your response to also be informal.
If you live far enough away that the mail might
not make it to the host within the week before the wedding, you
should skip mailing it back in and call them instead. Many times
the response card has a phone number included.
If not, you need to find a way to get the number
so that you can RSVP. Although you have not quite followed proper
etiquette for sending the invitation card in on time, you can save
yourself by calling and letting them know if you will be attending
or not.
Many hosts plan a few extra plates at the reception
for just such situations. It might be good form to also apologize
for having let the time get away from you.
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