Adding a Reception and Response Card to Your Wedding Invitation

If you have every received an invitation, you know that there are more pieces to it than just this.  The method that you use is up to you, but in a traditional wedding, you will want to follow these guidelines.

Reception Card

The reception card is a small sized card that is included to provide the details of the wedding reception to the guests. 

If you do not plan to provide this separately, it is important for you to include the reception information on the actual invitation.  This is appropriate when the reception is being held at the same location.  If not, you really do need to send a separate reception card.

The reception card should include the location of the reception and the time that it is being held.  These may then be sent to just individuals that are invited to the reception while you send invitations to the ceremony for others that are not invited to the reception. 

Response Cards

You should include response cards in your wedding invitations for your own sanity!  Often, receptions will entail the cost per plate, so you will need to know how many guests will be coming to your wedding. 

The response cards should state that the guests will or will not be coming as well as request the number of individuals coming.  A common way to do this is to use this method:

The Favor of Your Reply Is Requested

__ Will be attending the reception.

__ Will not be attending the reception.

__ Number of guests in attendance

Please reply by May 10th

You can change this as long as it includes the necessary information.  If you are providing response cards with your invitation, you should provide a self addressed envelop that is stamped with it.  The response card should be filled out and sent back to those that are sponsoring the wedding.

If you decide that you do not want to use a response card, you can also use an R.S.V.P.  You can add this to the bottom of your invitation or your reception card.  Make sure to direct the guests to call a specific number by a specific date. 

Often, it can be helpful to use one family member from either side of the family to gather these responses to allow for a more favorable response from the guests.  They are more likely to respond to someone they know rather than someone they do not.

If you will be adding this to the invitation itself, keep it in the corner and only do so if the invitation remains uncluttered. 

A master list of all those that are invited should be kept on hand.  Once the individual's that are invited respond, their name on the list should include how many are coming to the reception and to the ceremony. 

This way, the right plans can be made based on however many are coming.  It is necessary to contact those that do not respond, especially when the reception is a per plate affair to find out if they are coming.