RSVP full form and meaning on a wedding card, and how to reply
RSVP is short for répondez s’il vous plaît, French for “please reply”. How to reply to an Indian wedding invite, and how hosts track headcount per function.
The short answer
RSVP stands for the French “répondez s’il vous plaît”, which means “please reply”. On a wedding card it asks you to tell the hosts whether you will attend, and how many of you are coming. On Indian cards the RSVP line is usually followed by the names and phone numbers of family members to call.
RSVP full form and meaning
RSVP is an abbreviation of the French phrase répondez s’il vous plaît, “please reply”, and is used on invitations to request a response.[1] A variation, “regrets only”, asks only the guests who cannot come to reply; silence is taken as a yes.[2]
On Indian wedding cards you will often see “RSVP” followed by a list of names, such as the bride’s uncles or brothers, with phone numbers. It means: call one of these people to confirm, or to ask anything about the wedding.
How to reply to an RSVP (for guests)
- Reply before the date on the card, or within a week if there is none.
- Say how many people are coming, using the names on the invitation. If the card names only you, don’t bring extra guests without asking.
- Answer for each function if the invite lists several: “all three days” is less useful than “sangeet and wedding, not the haldi”.
- Mention dietary needs such as Jain food, if the host asks.
- If your plans change, tell the hosts. A late “sorry, we can’t make it” is far kinder than not showing up.
Thank you so much for the invitation! Rohan and I will be there for the sangeet and the wedding (2 people). We can’t make the haldi as we arrive on the 11th. Can’t wait!Thank you for inviting us to Ananya’s wedding. Unfortunately we will be travelling that week and can’t attend. Our blessings and love to the couple; we will visit soon after.निमंत्रण के लिए बहुत धन्यवाद! हम दोनों संगीत और शादी में ज़रूर आएँगे। वर-वधू को हमारी ढेरों शुभकामनाएँ।निमंत्रण के लिए हार्दिक धन्यवाद। उस सप्ताह बाहर होने के कारण हम आ नहीं पाएँगे। नवदंपति को हमारा आशीर्वाद और शुभकामनाएँ।Managing RSVPs for a multi-event Indian wedding (for hosts)
An Indian wedding is rarely one event. The haldi might be 40 people, the sangeet 200 and the reception 500. A single yes or no is not enough; you need a headcount per function.
- Build the guest list by household, not by person: “Sharma family (4)”.
- Decide who is invited to which function before you send anything.
- Ask for a reply per event, with the number of people for each.
- Set a deadline that leaves a week before your caterer’s final-number date.
- Follow up personally with those who haven’t answered, two weeks before.
- Share the final numbers per event with the caterer, the venue and whoever handles transport and rooms.
| Question | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Attending: yes or no, per event | Separate numbers for haldi, mehndi, sangeet, wedding and reception |
| Number of people | Plates, seating, return gifts |
| Arrival date and time (for out-of-town guests) | Pick-ups and room allocation |
| Food preferences (optional) | Jain or vegan counters, allergies |
| A short message (optional) | Blessings the couple can read later |
RSVP wording for your invitation
Kindly RSVP by 20 November.RSVP:
Suresh Sharma: [phone number]
Amit Sharma: [phone number]Please tap RSVP for each event by 20 November so we can plan for you.कृपया 20 नवंबर तक अपनी उपस्थिति की सूचना दें।Frequently asked questions
Sources & references
- RSVP: definition and meaning — Merriam-Webster (accessed 2026-10-28)
- RSVP — Wikipedia (accessed 2026-10-28)