FINALIZE YOUR WEDDING GUEST LIST WITH RSVP CARDS FROM MINTED
Once you're ready to send out wedding invitations, you'll need to choose an invitation design as well as an RSVP card. Also sometimes called “reply cards” or “response cards”, wedding RSVP cards are smaller-size cards that are mailed along with the wedding invitation. Guests fill out the card and mail it back, letting the wedding couple know whether they are able to attend or not. Additional details can be included on the response card, such as an option for guests to select their reception meal choice or song request for the DJ to play.
For a stylish, cohesive look to your wedding invitation suite, choose an RSVP design that perfectly matches your wedding invitation colors, fonts, and design motifs. All of Minted's wedding invitations are designed with matching RSVP cards, as well as matching direction cards, reception cards, belly bands, wedding websites, ceremony programs, escort and place cards, table numbers, menus, favor tags, and thank you cards.
Or, mix things up by choosing a different design for each piece of the wedding stationery. Select something that beautifully complements your wedding invitation without necessarily matching the design exactly. Minted carries close to 500 different RSVP card designs. The collection is constantly being refreshed and updated, which means you'll find stylish, complementary pieces to create a wedding invitation suite that's personal and unique to you.
Take advantage of Minted's many personalization options and tools to finalize a design that is truly one-of-a-kind.
- Printing Type: At Minted, we offer several printing types to suit your wedding aesthetic and budget. Choose from:
- Standard Printing: Our standard printing option uses high-resolution, digital color to print complex, flat images with excellent quality, vivid color, and sharp details.
- Foil Printing: Real metallic foils are pressed into the paper stock to add shine and shimmer to your wedding cards. Choose from gold, silver, rose gold, ice blue, black, and bronze foil colors.
- Letterpress Printing: Each card is hand-pressed onto extra-thick paper stock, resulting in a wedding card with deep impressions you can see and feel.
- Colors: Choose from our stylish array of colorways to match your wedding theme and aesthetic. Or, create a custom color using CMYK values, Pantone colors, or another type of color value. A dedicated Minted designer will make unlimited revisions to the colors and design until it is absolutely perfect.
- Custom Foil: To make your wedding RSVP cards stand out, add custom foil to your design. Instead of flat-printing, the text on the card will be pressed with foil, which means your card will have an elegant shimmer and shine.
- Fonts: Select from Minted's vast font library to find a typeface that perfectly complements your overall wedding theme.
- Paper Type: Our designs can be printed on the following types of paper stock:
- Signature: Our signature paper stock is a thick luxe card stock that features a creamy cotton texture that's soft to the touch.
- Pearlescent: Love a little shimmer? Our pearlescent paper is the perfect option if you'd like to add some shine to your wedding RSVP cards.
- Recycled: If you're looking for an eco-conscious option for your wedding stationery, this recycled paper stock fits the bill. It's made using wind power from 100% post-consumer waste.
- Silhouette Shape: Add visual interest to your wedding mailer by choosing a shaped card. Select from Minted's wide array of stylish card shapes. From rounded corners and scalloped edges to a classic frame style with elegant, notched corners, the choice is yours.
- Double-sided: Add even more style and personality to your wedding correspondence by opting for a custom backer on the back of your response cards. Choose a solid color that matches your wedding colors, a stylish pattern, or add custom text if you have additional wedding details to share with your guests.
WHAT TO WRITE ON YOUR WEDDING RSVPs
Not sure what to include on your wedding RSVP cards? Make sure your cards list all of the following elements below.
1. RSVP Headline
The wedding RSVP card should indicate a request for guests to fill out and return the card in the mail. Usually, the word "RSVP" or "Reply" is featured prominently on the card so guests know to reply. Something important to consider: Older guests will likely know what "RSVP" means. Younger guests? Not so much. Depending on your crowd, you might want to choose more straightforward wording like "Kindly reply" or "Please reply" to make it very clear to guests that you would like them to reply.
Examples:
RSVP
Reply
Kindly respond
Kindly reply
Please reply
2. Guest Line
The guest line is where your guests will write their names in reply. Traditionally, an RSVP card would include an "M" followed immediately by a line ( "M______________________"), which is meant to kickstart the guest's reply. The "M" stands for the first letter of the guest's title (i.e., Miss, Mr., Mrs., Ms.). If you're hosting a formal wedding, you might want to keep with tradition and go this route. However, there are more straightforward ways to word the guest line.
Examples:
M_____________________
_______________________
Name(s)________________
Guest Name(s)____________
Optional: Number of Invited Guests Line
Additionally, for more clarity, some couples choose to include a line indicating how many guests are invited.
Example:
We have reserved ____ seats in your honor
Note: This line would be pre-printed on every card; before sending, the couple will hand-write the numeral indicating how many guests are invited. For example, if you are hosting an adults-only wedding, then you might write "2" to indicate that the couple are invited but not their children.
3. RSVP Deadline
Set your deadline, which is the date guests need to respond by, to be 2–3 weeks before your wedding date. This will give you enough time to contact anyone who didn't reply, give the final headcount to the caterer (usually one week before), and finalize your reception seating chart. Making your seating chart for the reception might take longer than you anticipate. For our best tips and strategies, see our guide on how to create your wedding seating plan.
Some guests might mistakenly think that they only need to reply if they're going to attend, or they don't realize that the RSVP deadline is firm. Make sure your design features the reply-by date prominently.
Examples:
The favor of a reply is requested by May 1.
The favor of your reply is appreciated by May 1st.
Kindly respond by May 1.
Kindly reply by May 1.
Kindly send your response by May 1st.
Please reply by May 1st.
4. Accepts/Regrets Line
This is the most important line on the RSVP, where the guest(s) lets you know whether they're coming or not by checking the applicable line. It's also an opportunity to have some fun with your wording. Here are some examples to consider.
Examples:
_____ accepts with pleasure
_____ declines with regret
_____ will attend
_____ will not attend
_____ graciously accepts
_____ regretfully declines
_____ accepts
_____ regrets
_____ delighted to attend
_____ regretfully declines
_____ will be there to celebrate
_____ will be toasting from afar
_____ oh yeah!
_____ boo, can't make it
Optional: Number Attending Line
If you're hoping to get an exact guest count, you may wish to include a line for guests to fill out for extra clarity. Here, guests are to hand-write the number of guests in their party that will attend. Most often this line is placed under the “Accepts/Regrets” line.
Examples:
____ number attending
____ guests will attend
Number of persons ____
Party of ____
____ number of adults attending ____ number of children attending
5. Optional: Meal Selection
This section is optional and depends on what you're planning to serve at the reception. If you're opting for a buffet-style dinner, you can likely skip this section. But if you're offering multiple entrée options, then asking each guest to initial his or her meal selection can be very helpful. This way, you can provide your caterer with not only the final head count, but also the specific count for each entrée option. It's also important to know about any special dietary restrictions or allergies, so guests can make notes through the RSVP process, as well.
Examples:
Please indicate each guest’s dinner selection
Please initial each guest’s dinner selection
Please initial your meal choice
Examples:
____ Chicken
____ Beef
____ Fish
____ Kids
____ Vegetarian
____ Vegan
____ Gluten-free
6. Optional: Additional Requests
If your design allows, the RSVP card is also an opportunity to gather additional details from your guests. This can be something playful and fun, such as song requests, or more information that would be helpful for your wedding planning, such as asking guests when they will be arriving (if it's a destination wedding). Here are some ideas that might work for your RSVPs.
Examples:
What song will get you out on the dance floor?
When will you be arriving / Where will you be staying?
Do you have any marriage advice for the newlyweds?
Where should we go on our honeymoon?
What are some of your favorite date-night ideas?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does "RSVP" stand for?
"RSVP" comes from the French expression "répondez s'il vous plaît," meaning "please respond." When an RSVP card, sometimes called a reply card or a response card, is included in a wedding invitation, it indicates that the couple has requested that the guest(s) respond to say if they plan to attend the wedding.
What does the "M" stand for on the RSVP card?
The "M" is usually followed by a line ( "M______________________") and is meant to be filled out with the guest's name. The "M" stands for the first letter of the guest's title (i.e., Miss, Mr., Mrs., Ms.). These days, the "M" line is more frequently used for formal weddings; if you prefer something more straightforward, you could write "Name(s)______________________".
When do you send RSVP cards for a wedding?
When do you send RSVP cards for a wedding? Cards are mailed with the wedding invitation, along with any additional enclosure cards such as direction cards, reception cards, and accommodations cards. The full invitation suite should be mailed to guests six to eight weeks before the wedding date. If you're having a destination wedding, mail the invitation three months in advance to give guests ample time to make travel plans.
What size are wedding RSVP cards?
Minted's cards are 4.25" x 5.5." They are available in portrait (vertical) or landscape (horizontal) orientations.
What address do we print on the cards?
Yes. If you want guests to promptly mail back their replies, then make sure the envelope is pre-addressed as well as pre-stamped. This will save them the extra step of digging around for postage.
Do we have to affix postage stamps to the wedding RSVP cards?
You’re only going to want to send save the dates to people you intend to invite to the actual wedding. Individuals who received a save the date but no wedding invitation later down the line will feel snubbed.
What's the best way to track guest responses?
Once you begin to receive guests' filled-out response cards in the mail, log their response in a spreadsheet so you can keep track of your headcount. Be sure to add a column to log their meal choice. You could even add a column to track any wedding gifts received, so you can be sure to send a thank you card.
