Unless you live under a rock, the chances
are that sometime in your life you will have received an invitation to a
special event with the letters ‘R.S.V.P.’
on it. Yes, in the world beyond
Facebook where events require a simple click ‘Yes/No/Maybe’ there is a whole social
phenomenon where people write things on paper and send them (by hand or snail
mail)! As we are in summer (!) and
wedding season I thought I would explore what these letters mean and the
etiquette behind it.
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To do: R.S.V.P. |
Did you know that the R.S.V.P. appeared in
English culture in the late 18th Century. By the 1920’s American etiquette writer Emily Post noted
that ‘anyone receiving an invitation with an R.S.V.P. on it is obliged to
reply’. It was deemed to be in
inexcusably rude if you did not reply- let’s hope fewer letters were lost in
the post back then!
Nowadays many invitations are still sent
with a separate R.S.V.P. postcard allowing the recipient to easily indicate
attending or ‘with regrets’ for a non-attendance. This allows the host to follow up any missing replies. However the invention of email has lead
to many events including an email address or telephone numbers for replies.
When should I reply?
Traditionally the convention is that you
send your R.S.V.P. 1-2 days after receiving it. I think this rule has been relaxed a little however it is
advisable to reply 7 days in advance of any R.S.V.P. date. If not you might end up with a frazzled phone call from a bride/event planner or, even worse, loose your place at the
event!
- If you are unsure of your attendance due to external factors (i.e. a shift rota) just drop your host a message to explain. They will usually hold your place.
- If your invitation is also your R.S.V.P. (tsk!), don’t forget to photocopy the invitation part for future reference.
- Put the dates in your diary immediately. There is no excuse for sending an attending R.S.V.P. and then not turning up due to double booking.
- Don’t forget to add any dietary requirements for you (and your guest) with the reply. There should be a space for this information.
- Remember how many people the R.S.V.P. is for, and don’t turn up with extra guests.
Although some etiquette is badly dated in 2013, I think the simple R.S.V.P. is a sign of sticking to your word- something which should never be seen as outdated!
Are you off to any events this summer? How long do you leave an R.S.V.P? Do you prefer a written card, email,
phone call or facebook R.S.V.P?
A huge thank you to London based Collection 26, event and wedding planners who have sponsored a post on Computergirls Musings. As always, the topic and words are my choice and not influenced by the blogger or company. Please take a look at www.collection26.com for photographs of their past events (and gorgeous wedding dresses) or to read their tips for planning a party or event!
If you are a blogger or company who would be interested sponsoring a post on Computergirl's Musings, please get in touch for a list of forthcoming posts which have space for sponsorship. Spaces are limited. Please note that positive reviews, or content can not be purchased and all sponsorships are disclosed. Thank you.
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www.collection26.com |
If you are a blogger or company who would be interested sponsoring a post on Computergirl's Musings, please get in touch for a list of forthcoming posts which have space for sponsorship. Spaces are limited. Please note that positive reviews, or content can not be purchased and all sponsorships are disclosed. Thank you.