Mama can not stress enough the importance of the RSVP. Whether you are the person hosting the party, or you are in receipt of an invitation, the RSVP (an acronym for the french phrase Répondez s’il vous plaît) is a crucial part of the planning process. Though the french phrase appearing on an invitation does give the design a bit of elegance and class- the important question to note here is: "Are you coming or not?" There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to get a handle on the number of guests that will be in attendance at your event. So if you are throwing a party- make sure you provide the necessary information (reply cards, telephone numbers, or email) to elicit a response from your invites. Those of you who are in receipt of an invitation, whether the party be formal or a small get together- be sure to reply. Below are just a few reasons why this minor detail is of major importance.
Respond in the interest of social decorum. There is a set of unwritten rules when it comes to social order. We practice these basic rules every day- one of which is respect. The person who has sent you the invitation is requesting the honor of your presence at their event. Although you may not be able to accept every invitation, show your host a little respect and appreciation with a reply.
The host will need to prepare. Whether it be a wedding or a tupperware party, the host needs to know who will be there in order to ensure that there is sufficient food, drinks, entertainment- even table settings for the party. Many times, if the party is at a venue outside of the home- a final head count is required by the venue. This means that if the host is counting on you to attend, and you don't show up, she will have to pay for you anyway. We don't want that- do we? Allow your host to make the best of her budget by letting her know if you won't be in attendance.
Your host is not a psychic. Well, the majority of hosts are not psychic (yet). Unless the invitation specifies "regrets only", the RSVP is meant for everyone. For some reason, there seems to be a little confusion in this area. Some people think that the reply card is only sent in if you are attending- others believe it is only sent in if you are not. You must be conscious of the fact that the person who sent you the invitation included the RSVP because they want to hear from all of you. The host will not know if Aunt Betty is out of town, or that Cousin Sally has a new boyfriend unless they tell her.
This information is very important to the host of the party, and will have an impact on the planning that is involved. Be respectful and considerate of your host by responding to their invitation. If you have to decline- you do not need to feel badly or make excuses- all you need to do is decline. If you accept- be sure you attend. It is very poor etiquette to accept an invitation and then not show up. (Of course, there are exceptions for instances that are out of your control, for example a sudden illness or death in the family). Everyone who has been following Mama's blog knows that there is a lot of time, energy and money that goes into planning an event. Your host took the time to send you the invitation. Take a moment to reply.
If you'd like to share some insights on the importance of the RSVP send us a comment. Mama wants to hear what you think.
Respond in the interest of social decorum. There is a set of unwritten rules when it comes to social order. We practice these basic rules every day- one of which is respect. The person who has sent you the invitation is requesting the honor of your presence at their event. Although you may not be able to accept every invitation, show your host a little respect and appreciation with a reply.
The host will need to prepare. Whether it be a wedding or a tupperware party, the host needs to know who will be there in order to ensure that there is sufficient food, drinks, entertainment- even table settings for the party. Many times, if the party is at a venue outside of the home- a final head count is required by the venue. This means that if the host is counting on you to attend, and you don't show up, she will have to pay for you anyway. We don't want that- do we? Allow your host to make the best of her budget by letting her know if you won't be in attendance.
Your host is not a psychic. Well, the majority of hosts are not psychic (yet). Unless the invitation specifies "regrets only", the RSVP is meant for everyone. For some reason, there seems to be a little confusion in this area. Some people think that the reply card is only sent in if you are attending- others believe it is only sent in if you are not. You must be conscious of the fact that the person who sent you the invitation included the RSVP because they want to hear from all of you. The host will not know if Aunt Betty is out of town, or that Cousin Sally has a new boyfriend unless they tell her.
This information is very important to the host of the party, and will have an impact on the planning that is involved. Be respectful and considerate of your host by responding to their invitation. If you have to decline- you do not need to feel badly or make excuses- all you need to do is decline. If you accept- be sure you attend. It is very poor etiquette to accept an invitation and then not show up. (Of course, there are exceptions for instances that are out of your control, for example a sudden illness or death in the family). Everyone who has been following Mama's blog knows that there is a lot of time, energy and money that goes into planning an event. Your host took the time to send you the invitation. Take a moment to reply.
If you'd like to share some insights on the importance of the RSVP send us a comment. Mama wants to hear what you think.
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