Response cards are typically enclosed together with invitations to events where food will be served or where having an accurate estimate of the number of guests attending is important for other reasons. They are also an opportunity for your guests to indicate their choice of dinner entree, if that is an option you are offering. Custom printed response cards always include coordinating envelopes that are pre-printed with your address. After applying postage, these envelopes are included with the response cards to make things as convenient as possible for your guests. Response dates are typically two to three weeks prior to the event; you may want to ask your caterer if there is a specific deadline for a final count.

The favour of a reply is requested

before May 25, 2013

M_____________________________

Number of persons ______

Unable to attend ______

Kindly respond on or before

May 25, 2013

M_____________________________

Number attending ______

Unable to attend ______

Please reply before

May 25, 2013

Name(s)________________________

Number attending ______

Unable to attend ______

Please respond by

May 25, 2013

M______________________________

Number of persons attending ______

Unable to attend ______

The favour of your response is requested

May 25, 2013

M________________________________

Please indicate number for each entree:

Chicken ______   Beef ______

Unable to attend ______

Please respond before

May 25, 2013

M_____________________________

Number of adults ______

Number of children under 18 ______

Unable to attend ______

Please reply before May 25, 2013

M_________________________________________

Indicate name and entree choice for each guest:

1) Pork     2) Beef     3) Fish

_________________________________  ______

_________________________________  ______

Unable to attend ______

A Thought . . .

We have noticed that couples have begun to include the following line on their response cards:

Number of persons invited _____

Their intent is to write in the particular number of guests they want to invite on the line. While it is understandable that those hosting an event would want to limit the number attending, the response card is NOT the place to do this. The inner envelope is actually the proper place to indicate exactly who is being invited: whether a single person is permitted to bring a guest, whether a family is permitted to bring their children, etc.

We realize that some people may not understand the significance of how the inner envelope is addressed, but by printing the following on your response cards, you will know in advance whether particular guests may be under the mistaken belief that their children are invited, or that they are welcome to bring additional guests:

Number of persons ______

Unable to attend ______

If you get a response card back where the number of persons indicated exceeds the number you have actually invited, you (or someone you designate, like your mother or maid of honor) will need to call the guests involved and explain that due to limited seating (or a similar reason), you won't be able to accommodate the extra people. While this may be somewhat awkward, it is the guest who has committed the social error. Because this is a relatively rare occurrence, stressing the number of persons invited on the response card is inappropriate.