Wedding Response Cards | Affectionate Digitals

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Response Cards

Reply cards are included as inserts with the wedding invitation. These are commonly used today, but not long ago, they did not exist. The formal reply information used to be included at the bottom of the reception card or reception information, if printed on the invitation.

Reply card inserts are usually printed in the same style as the invitation. Reply cards are formatted to include the reply request, the due date of the reply request, a line for the guest name(s) to be handwritten by the guests, an acknowledgement area for accepting or declining attendance at the reception.

The basic wording for response or reply cards began as a simple format:

M___________________

___ accepts

___ regrets

time

Name of Location

Address of Location

Today, the respond card format has expanded to include additional wordings to provide a date for returning the response such as:

The favour of a reply is requested

on or before ...

The courtesy of a reply is requested

on or before....

A reply is requested

on or before...

Please reply

on or before...

The standard accepts/regrets format is worded according to your preference of style:

__will attend __not able to attend

__ accept with pleasure __ decline with regret

Meal choice selections are included if needed on the response card

__ Prime Rib __ Salmon

Other wording can be included, such as "Adults Only, please", or ask for the "Number of Guests attending".*

*Note: "Number of guests attending" gets the usual chuckle and a comment that guests will think it is an open request to bring any number of guests desired. We do agree this is a humorous thought, however, adding this wording on the response card has assisted many brides in obtaining the "number of guests attending" information from their guests, thereby knowing in advance the number of people their guests plan on bringing. Then, any inconsistencies can be addressed before the event. Perhaps this is a better approach than avoiding the question and discovering a misunderstanding of how many are invited when they show up at the reception.

A request for gifts, no matter in what form, including a request for no gifts, is still considered to be in poor taste and is never appropriate to include on wedding invitations or insert cards that go with them. Gift registry information can be provided by word of mouth, on personal websites, and on bridal shower invitations (where it belongs). Some say it is not even appropriate to mention a personal website that includes registry information on cards that go with the invitation. Because additional information is included on personal wedding websites that can be very useful to guests, we believe it is OK to do so, but should be considered and decided by the bride and groom and family. Also, there are retailers who provide printed inserts when you register with them and they might tell you to send them with your invitations to all your guests. This is not good advice.

A helpful idea is to 'code' the response card in case it is returned without a name. Numeric codes on the back are usually suggested. Put the code number on your guest list and you will know who the response is from.

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