On a Greenvelope wedding or party invitation, ask guests to RSVP online with one line: "Please RSVP on this invitation by [reply-by date]." Guests reply through the invitation after you send it by email or by text message in supported countries. A good online RSVP request does three things: it gives one place to reply, one date to reply by, and a clear picture of who is invited. Everything else, from meal choices to song requests, belongs on the RSVP page rather than in the invitation wording.
This guide covers the RSVP request itself: the line on the invitation, the message and button text on the reply page, and the personal texts that go with it, with complete invitation examples and optional opening lines for weddings and parties. For the rest of the invitation, see our wedding invitation wording guide; for how online RSVPs work from setup to final count, see how to collect RSVPs online; and for follow-ups after the deadline, see our RSVP reminder texts.
At a Glance
- On a Greenvelope invitation, a deadline line is enough: "Please RSVP on this invitation by [reply-by date]." There is no website address for guests to type.
- Make the invitation your main place to reply. If a guest needs to answer by phone or text, record their response on the Track step.
- Name who is invited on the envelope or in the greeting, and say it once in the wording when it matters: "We have reserved two seats in your honor."
- Set the deadline from your caterer or venue's final-count date, minus a few days for follow-up: about 3 to 4 weeks before a wedding, 1 to 2 weeks before an adult birthday, and 3 to 5 days before a kids party.
- Put meal, dietary and song questions on the RSVP page as survey questions, not in the invitation text, and add a short message at the top of the RSVP page if guests need context.
- Match the register: "The favor of a reply is requested" for a formal wedding, "Let us know if you can make it" for a backyard party. Either way, the line must make it easy to say no.
What Should an Online RSVP Line Say?
On Greenvelope, the online RSVP line has fewer jobs than a printed reply card, because the reply page already holds the yes or no choice, the names, and any questions you add. The line on the invitation only has to ask, give the date, and point to the invitation. Use this table to decide what yours needs.
| Part | What it does | Example |
|---|
| The ask | Sets the register, formal to casual | "Kindly reply" or "Let us know" |
|---|
| The deadline | Gives one firm date, written to match the tone | "by the fifteenth of May" or "by May 15" |
|---|
| Where to reply | Points to the invitation, so nobody looks for a form | "on this invitation" |
|---|
| Who is invited | Optional; clears up plus-ones and children before anyone asks | "We have reserved two seats in your honor" |
|---|
| A help line | Optional; a backup for guests who get stuck | "Any trouble replying? Text Maya at [phone number]." |
|---|
Keep the wedding website address out of the RSVP line when guests reply through the invitation. You can still include your wedding website in the invitation details for travel and other information. Use "RSVP" or "please reply," not both; one is enough.
RSVP Wording When Replies Go to a Website or a Printed Card
On Greenvelope, guests can reply on the invitation itself. If your invitation directs guests to a separate RSVP website, give them its address and a reply-by date. On a printed card, include a readable web address alongside any QR code.
Kindly reply by [reply-by date]
at [RSVP website address]
Please let us know if you can make it by [reply-by date]
RSVP at [RSVP website address]
Please RSVP by [reply-by date]
Scan the QR code or visit [RSVP website address]
The QR code and the address should lead to the same form, so every reply lands in one list. For a Greenvelope invitation, you can create a shareable link on the Send step and generate a QR code that opens either the RSVP page or the invitation (Share Your Invitation by Link or QR Code); shareable links and their QR codes are not available in Trial Mode. A public link or QR code does not, by itself, show which invited guests have not replied, so send personalized invitations to the guests you need to track. Our guide to adding a QR code to a wedding invitation covers placement on a printed suite.
How to Ask Guests to RSVP Online on a Wedding Invitation
On a Greenvelope wedding invitation, put the RSVP line last, after the reception line, and write it in the same voice as the rest of the card. Formal invitations use a third-person request and a spelled-out date; modern ones use "RSVP" or "please reply" and numerals. Pick the wording from the wedding invitation collection design you have chosen, since a script-heavy card and a bold modern card ask for different lines.
Formal, spelled-out date:
The favor of a reply is requested
by the fifteenth of May
Traditional, slightly warmer:
Kindly respond on this invitation
by the fifteenth of May
Modern:
Please RSVP on this invitation by May 15
Relaxed:
Let us know if you can make it by May 15
Each of these works on its own. If your design has room, the deadline can sit on its own line below the ask; if it doesn't, one line is fine. "RSVP" already means "please reply," so "Please RSVP" is common and accepted, while "Please RSVP back" repeats itself.
Wedding Invitation Wording Examples With Online RSVP
Guests can submit their RSVP through a Greenvelope wedding invitation, so each complete example below ends with a deadline line and nothing else for guests to look up. Swap in your own names, venue and dates; the placeholders in brackets are yours to fill.
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Ortiz
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Isabel Marie
to
Thomas James Whitfield
Saturday, the twelfth of June
two thousand twenty-seven
at four o'clock in the afternoon
[Venue name]
[City, State]
Dinner and dancing to follow
The favor of a reply is requested
by the fifteenth of May
Classic wedding, hosted by the couple
Together with their families
Priya Raman and Owen Castillo
invite you to celebrate their marriage
Saturday, June 12, 2027
at five o'clock in the evening
[Venue name], [City, State]
Reception to follow
Kindly respond on this invitation by May 15
Modern wedding
Jordan and Sam are getting married
Saturday, June 12, 2027 at 5 p.m.
[Venue name], [City, State]
Dinner, drinks and dancing after
Please RSVP on this invitation by May 15
Small wedding with a named seat count
We're getting married, and we'd love you there
Lena Park and Marcus Bell
Saturday, June 12, 2027, 4 p.m.
[Restaurant name], [City, State]
We have reserved [number] seats in your honor
Please reply on this invitation by May 15
Use the seat line only when it is true for everyone who receives that wording; on Greenvelope, the person replying records an answer for each guest named in the household.
Adults-only wedding
Rachel Adeyemi and Chris Novak
invite you to their wedding celebration
Saturday, June 12, 2027, 6 p.m.
[Venue name], [City, State]
We love your little ones, but this will be an adults-only evening
Please RSVP on this invitation by May 15
Wedding with a reply help line
Together with their families
Hannah Cole and David Mensah
request the pleasure of your company at their wedding
Saturday, June 12, 2027, at three o'clock in the afternoon
[Venue name], [City, State]
Kindly reply on this invitation by May 15
Need a hand replying? Call Hannah's mom, Linda, at [phone number]
If someone does call, record the answer yourself on the Track step so the count stays complete; Greenvelope lets hosts manually update a guest's RSVP.
Design pairing: for the formal and classic examples, Romantic Floral Frame by Claudia Owen comes in pink, blue, grey, black and white with an editable Mina Bold font; for the modern and small-wedding examples, Shimmering Confetti by Stacey Meacham Design, llc comes in white, pink, blue and grey with editable Crimson, Didot and Edwardian Script fonts. For templates, explore wedding invitation designs on Greenvelope.
How to Ask Guests to RSVP Online for a Party
On a Greenvelope party invitation, the RSVP line can be as casual as the party, as long as it still carries a date. Party deadlines are shorter than wedding ones, so say the day plainly and keep the ask to one line. These complete examples cover the parties people ask about most; the birthday invitation collection has designs for most of them.
Adult birthday dinner
Come celebrate Nina's 40th
Saturday, May 15, 2027, 7 p.m.
[Restaurant name], [City, State]
Dinner's on us
Please RSVP on this invitation by May 4
Hosted by Ana and Rosa
Backyard party
Summer kickoff at the Garcias'
Saturday, June 12, 2027, 4 p.m. until the lights come on
[Street address], [City, State]
Burgers and drinks provided, lawn chairs welcome
Let us know if you're coming by June 5
Kids birthday party
Leo is turning 6
Join us for a dinosaur dig
Saturday, April 17, 2027, 10 a.m. to noon
[Park or venue name], [City, State]
Please RSVP for each child on this invitation by April 13
so we can plan snacks and goodie bags
Hosted by Leo's parents, Kim and Jae
For a kids party, add each invited child, including any invited siblings, as a named household member.
Dinner party
Dinner at our place
Saturday, March 13, 2027, 7 p.m.
[Street address], [City, State]
We're cooking for eight, so let us know by Wednesday, March 10
and tell us about any allergies when you reply
Jess and Tom
Holiday party
You're invited to our holiday party
Saturday, December 11, 2027, 7 p.m.
[Street address], [City, State]
Cocktail attire
Please RSVP on this invitation by November 27
Hosted by the Nguyen family
Surprise party
Shh, it's a surprise
Help us celebrate Marco's 50th
Saturday, March 20, 2027, 6:30 p.m. sharp
[Venue name], [City, State]
Please RSVP on this invitation by March 9
Hosted by Marco's family
Never put the guest of honor on the guest list for a surprise party mailing.
Team or office party
Join the [Company name] team for our spring celebration
Thursday, April 15, 2027, 5:30 to 8 p.m.
[Venue name], [City, State]
Food and drinks provided
Please RSVP on this invitation by April 6
Hosted by [Company name]
Design pairing: for the birthday dinner and holiday party, Cocktails & Cake by TM Stationery comes in blue, black and purple with editable Dongle and La Luxes Script fonts; for the backyard, kids and team parties, Party In Color by Signature Greenvelope comes in pink, blue, green and yellow with an editable Futura font. For templates, explore birthday invitation designs on Greenvelope.
How to Word Plus-Ones, Families and Adults-Only Events
Greenvelope handles who is invited in the guest list, so the wording only has to confirm it. Group couples and families as one household with each member named, and the person completing the RSVP records a separate attendance response for each named guest (Group Couples and Families Together). Give a plus-one through the Plus 1 allowance, which is permission to bring someone, not an attendance count; the Plus 1 Policy on the RSVP page can also control the "and Guest" line on the envelope and which details to collect about a plus-one (Update Plus 1 Policy).
A plus-one is welcome. Set the Plus 1 Policy to collect names if you use this line:
You're welcome to bring a guest. Add their name when you reply.
No plus-ones. Leave it off the invitation. If someone asks, a personal note works better than a line on every card:
We're keeping the guest list small, so we can't add plus-ones. We'd really love to see you there.
Adults only. One kind line is enough:
We love your kids, but this one is for the grown-ups.
Households. The person replying records an answer for each named member:
Please reply for each guest named on this invitation.
For the etiquette behind these choices, see our guides to wedding plus-one etiquette and holiday party plus-ones, and for how platforms compare on households, see platforms that control plus-ones and household RSVPs.
Wording for the RSVP Page Itself
Greenvelope lets you write on the reply page too, which is where the reply-card wording goes on a digital invitation. Three places take your words: a message at the top of the RSVP page, the labels on the reply buttons, and the questions you add.
A message at the top of the RSVP page
Turn it on under Details, RSVP Page, Advanced Options, then check "Top of RSVP message" (Add a Message to the RSVP Page). Keep it to one or two sentences:
We can't wait to celebrate with you. Please reply for everyone listed by May 15.
Please let us know if you can join us. If you're coming, please choose your meal when you reply.
Can't make it? We'll miss you, and we'd still love to know so we can plan.
Reply button labels
By default, Greenvelope's reply buttons read "Will Attend" and "Will Not Attend" (Update YES/NO Button Text). To change them, create a custom language in your account and select it for the event (Create Custom Languages). Keep both choices clear and similar in tone, so saying no feels as easy as saying yes:
- Formal: "Accepts with pleasure" and "Declines with regret"
- Warm: "Wouldn't miss it" and "Sadly, can't make it"
- Party: "Count me in" and "Can't make it this time"
Question wording
Survey questions appear on the RSVP page after a guest selects a response, in four formats: dropdown, multiple choice, checkboxes and write-in (Add Custom Survey Questions). Write each one as a short, direct question a guest can answer without rereading it:
- "Which dinner would you like?" (multiple choice: chicken, salmon, vegetable risotto). Questions appear after a guest selects either response, so include a "Not attending" option and guests who decline will have an answer to choose.
- "Any allergies or dietary needs we should know about?" (write-in)
- "Which events will you join?" (checkboxes: welcome drinks, ceremony and reception, farewell brunch)
- "What song will get you on the dance floor?" (write-in)
To show a question only to one group, such as out-of-town guests, tag them and limit the question to that tag (Ask Different RSVP Questions to Different Guest Groups). More copy-ready questions are in our guide to adding custom questions to an online RSVP.
RSVP Wording for Personal Texts and Reminder Emails
Greenvelope sends the invitation itself by email or by text message in supported countries, so you don't need to write a separate message to deliver it. Two kinds of host-written messages still need wording: a personal text you send yourself, and the note you add to an RSVP reminder email.
For a personal text, copy the guest's personalized link from the Send step (the dropdown at the far right of the contact row, then Copy Link / Send Plain Text), paste it into your own message, and keep it short. Copying a guest's link needs a paid account; Trial Mode can't do it. A reply to your text does not update the RSVP record, so ask guests to answer on the invitation.
Hi Aunt Carol, here's your invitation to our wedding. Can you reply on it by May 15? [link]
Hey, sending this over so it doesn't get lost in your inbox. Let us know on the invite if you can make it. [link]
Hi Dan, could you RSVP for Leo's party by April 13? Please reply on the invitation so we can plan snacks: [link]
For guests who haven't replied, Greenvelope's RSVP reminder emails go only to contacts who have not responded and include YES and NO links, and you can add a message before sending or scheduling one (Schedule RSVP and Event Reminders):
We're finalizing numbers this week and would love to know if you can join us. Please reply by May 15.
Could you let us know by [reply-by date] whether you can make it? Please reply on the invitation.
For a guest listed only with a phone number, send a personal text asking them to reply on the invitation, or use the Message Center on a paid account to send a text in supported countries (Send a Message via Email or SMS). Use one channel per guest in each follow-up round.
For the full reminder schedule and more wording, see our RSVP reminder texts and our guide to getting more guests to RSVP on time.
How to Word the RSVP Deadline
With Greenvelope, set the requested RSVP date under Details, RSVP Page, Basic RSVP Info (Set an RSVP Deadline), and write the same date into the invitation wording. Entering a date does not close replies or send anything on its own; reminders are scheduled separately. If you want to stop accepting RSVPs, close them manually (Closing RSVPs).
- Formal: "by the fifteenth of May." Spell out the day and leave off the year.
- Standard: "by May 15" or "by Saturday, May 15." If you add the weekday, check it against the calendar for that year.
- Casual: "by Friday, May 14" rather than "by next Friday," since guests may open the invitation days after you send it.
- Two parts of one event: choose a shared reply-by date based on the earlier final-count deadline.
Work the date back from the earliest final-count date your caterer or venue gives you, minus a few days for follow-up. For a party on December 18 with a caterer deadline of December 11, a December 7 reply-by date leaves time for a final round. Our timing guide has the full schedule by occasion.
Mix-and-Match RSVP Lines
Use these optional opening lines and closers to build an RSVP line for any Greenvelope invitation. Choose one ask, one date format and, if you need it, one extra line.
Ask lines, formal to casual
- "The favor of a reply is requested by"
- "Kindly respond by"
- "We look forward to your reply by"
- "Please RSVP on this invitation by"
- "Please let us know by"
- "Let us know if you can come by"
- "Please reply for each guest named on this invitation."
- "Please choose your meal when you reply."
- "Questions? Text [name] at [phone number]."
- "Please reply even if you can't make it."
- "We hope you can join us."
Common RSVP Wording Mistakes
- Two equal ways to reply. "RSVP online or call Mom" splits the count. Make the invitation the main place to reply, offer a phone number only as a help line, and record any phone or text answers on the Track step.
- A website address in the RSVP line of an invitation guests can already reply on. On a Greenvelope invitation, guests reply on the invitation, so keep the website in the details for travel and registry information instead.
- "Regrets only" on an online RSVP. It tells guests not to answer unless they decline, which leaves you guessing about everyone else. Ask for a yes or a no.
- Offering "maybe." Greenvelope's RSVP choices are Yes and No. Ask guests who are unsure to give you an answer by the RSVP deadline.
- Questions in the invitation text. Meal choices and allergies belong on the RSVP page, where each answer is saved to that guest's record.
- Asking for an RSVP on a save the date. A save the date asks guests to hold the date; on Greenvelope, guests can submit their RSVP when you send the invitation. See our save the date wording guide.
How to Set Up an Online RSVP on Greenvelope
Greenvelope builds the RSVP into every invitation mailing, so the wording above only needs a few settings behind it. Under Details, RSVP Page, set the requested RSVP date, add survey questions, adjust the Plus 1 Policy, and add a top-of-page message if you want one; the same section has the toggle to turn the RSVP off when an invitation doesn't need replies (Turn off the RSVP). RSVP collection is part of invitation mailings; save the dates, announcements and cards don't carry it.
Add named guests and households on the Send step. Preview the invitation, send yourself a test, read it on a phone, confirm the guest list and reply-to address, and test any links and calendar details. Then send now or schedule the send. Guests reply without creating an account, and responses submitted through the invitation appear on the Track step (Track RSVPs Online). Single mailings start at $19 for a guest list of up to 20 people, with pricing based on list size and no subscription required. Paid accounts start with 500 text messages, with more available to purchase (texting help article), and a trial send to up to 10 people needs no credit card. See our cost guide for every tier.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to ask guests to RSVP online on a wedding invitation?
On a Greenvelope wedding invitation, end the card with one line such as "Kindly respond on this invitation by the fifteenth of May," because guests reply on the invitation itself. Match the wording to the card: a third-person request and a spelled-out date for a formal invitation, "Please RSVP by May 15" for a modern one. Leave out a website address, and put meal and song questions on the RSVP page.
How to ask guests to RSVP online for a party?
On a Greenvelope party invitation, a casual line with a real date works best, such as "Let us know if you're coming by June 5." Say why you need the count if it helps, for example "We're cooking for eight." For a kids party, ask parents to reply for each child named on the invitation.
What are some wedding invitation wording examples with online RSVP?
Good Greenvelope wedding wording with online RSVP keeps the request to the last line of the card: "Together with their families, Priya Raman and Owen Castillo invite you to celebrate their marriage," followed by the date, venue and "Kindly respond on this invitation by May 15." The reply page then handles names, meal choices and other questions. Formal, modern, adults-only and small-wedding versions are in the examples above.
What is the most polite way to ask for an RSVP?
On Greenvelope or on paper, the most polite RSVP request gives a clear date and makes declining as easy as accepting. "The favor of a reply is requested" is the most formal phrasing, and "Kindly respond" is a close second. In casual wording, "Let us know if you can make it" is warm without pressure.
Should an invitation say RSVP or kindly reply?
On a Greenvelope invitation either works, so choose by tone: "Kindly reply" or "The favor of a reply is requested" suits a formal card, and "RSVP" or "Please RSVP" suits a modern or casual one. Use one or the other, not both. "Please RSVP" is common and accepted even though RSVP already means please reply.
Do you need a wedding website link for online RSVPs?
On Greenvelope, no, because guests reply on the invitation, so the RSVP line needs only a deadline. You can still share a wedding website for travel and registry details. If replies are collected on the website instead, include the website's direct RSVP address.
How do you word a plus-one on an online RSVP?
On Greenvelope, give the guest a Plus 1 allowance in the guest list and add one line such as "You're welcome to bring a guest. Add their name when you reply," and set the Plus 1 Policy to collect names. The allowance is permission to bring someone, not a count of who is coming. If guests may not bring anyone, leave plus-ones off the card and answer questions personally.
How do you say adults only on an online RSVP?
On a Greenvelope invitation, name only the adults who are invited and add one kind line, such as "We love your little ones, but this will be an adults-only evening." The person replying records an answer for each named guest, so leave children off the household. Say it once; repeating it on the RSVP page can sound stern.
Can guests answer maybe on an online RSVP?
On Greenvelope, the RSVP choices are Yes and No. If a guest is unsure, ask them to give you an answer by the RSVP deadline. Hosts can update a response on the Track step if plans change.
Can I change the RSVP button text on Greenvelope?
On Greenvelope, yes. The buttons read "Will Attend" and "Will Not Attend" by default, and you can change them by creating a custom language in your account and selecting it for the event. Keep both labels the same tone, such as "Wouldn't miss it" and "Sadly, can't make it."
Should a save the date ask guests to RSVP?
On Greenvelope, no: a save the date asks guests to hold the date. Guests can submit their RSVP when you send the invitation. A save the date can include an Add to Calendar link once the event timing is confirmed.
How far before the event should the RSVP deadline be?
Work back from the earliest final-count date your caterer or venue needs, then subtract a few days for follow-up. As a guideline, that is about 3 to 4 weeks before a wedding, 1 to 2 weeks before an adult birthday or baby shower, 3 to 5 days before a kids party, and 2 to 3 days before a dinner party.
What do you write when a guest has not replied by the deadline?
For a Greenvelope invitation, try: "Hi [name], can you let us know by [final reply-by date] whether you can make it? We need to give the caterer our count on [final-count date]." This guide recommends one personal follow-up one or two days after the RSVP deadline. If the guest answers by text or phone, record their response on the Track step.
Explore more guides in the Greenvelope resource hub: