It’s your best friend’s birthday and you’ve just received their party invitation in the mail. You’re excited to celebrate with them, but you’re not quite sure how to RSVP. Do you just show up on the day of the party? Do you call or text them to let them know you’re coming? And what about plus-ones? Should you bring a date or just come alone?
Don’t worry, we’re here to help! Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to RSVP to a birthday party invitation so that you can make sure the birthday boy or girl knows you’re coming and has an accurate headcount for their big day.
What does RSVP Mean?
When you receive an invitation to an event, it’s important to respond promptly so that the host knows how many people to expect. The term “RSVP” comes from the French phrase “répondez s’il vous plaît,” which means “please respond.”
When you RSVP to an invitation, you let the host know whether or not you’ll be attending. You can usually do this by replying “yes” or “no” to the invitation. If you’re unable to attend, it’s also polite to let the host know as soon as possible so that they can make other arrangements. By taking the time to RSVP, you can help make any event a success.
Ways You Can RSVP
The invitation should state on it how to RSVP. If it doesn’t, here are the most common ways people RSVP to events.
Postal Invitation: If you receive a physical invitation in the mail, there will usually be a spot on the RSVP card for you to fill out your name and whether you’ll be attending. Be sure to check the deadline for responding and mail it back as soon as possible so that the host can make accurate arrangements.
Online Invitation: With the rise of technology, more and more invitations are being sent online. If you receive an electronic invitation, there will usually be a link that you can click to RSVP. Be sure to do this as soon as possible so that the host has an accurate headcount.
Phone Call: In some cases, the host may reach out to you directly to ask if you’re able to attend. If this is the case, it’s polite to give them a call back and let them know your answer as soon as possible.
Text Message: Just like with a phone call, the host may reach out to you via text message to ask if you can attend. In this case, you can simply reply with a “yes” or “no” and the host will get your response right away.
In-Person: In some cases, you may be able to RSVP to an event in person. For example, if you’re invited to a party at someone’s house, you can let them know when you see them that you’ll be able to attend or not.
When to RSVP
It is best to RSVP as soon as possible after receiving the invitation. This way, the host knows how many people to expect and can make necessary arrangements.
There will usually be a date the host has asked for you to RSVP by, so be sure to respond before then. If you’re unable to respond by the specified date, it’s best to reach out to the host directly and let them know as soon as possible.
Tips for Responding to a Party Invitation
It is important to RSVP to a birthday party invitation in a timely and polite manner. Here are some tips to keep in mind when responding to an invitation:
Read The Invitation Carefully
Most invitations will have specific instructions on how to RSVP. For example, some invitations will include an RSVP card that you can fill out and return in the mail. Others will ask you to RSVP via text or email. Make sure you follow the instructions on the invitation so that your response gets back to the birthday girl or boy in time!
Look For How To RSVP
If there is no specific instruction on how to RSVP, it is generally appropriate to respond via text or email. In your message, be sure to include whether or not you’ll be attending and how many people will be coming with you (if applicable). For example, you might say “Hey John, I got your birthday party invite in the mail! Just wanted to let you know that I’ll be there and I’m bringing Matt with me.”
Yes Can Attend
If you’re unsure whether or not you can make it to the party, it is appropriate to respond with a maybe. For example, “Hey Sarah, Thanks so much for inviting me to your birthday party! I’m not sure if I can make it but I really appreciate the invite.” This lets the birthday girl know that she shouldn’t count on your attendance but also doesn’t rule out the possibility altogether.
No Can Not Attend
If you cannot attend the party, it is still polite to respond so that the birthday girl or boy knows they won’t be seeing you on their big day. For example, “Hey Tom, Thanks so much for inviting me but I won’t be able to make it.”
Write It Down
Once you’ve sent your RSVP, make a note of when the party is so that you don’t forget! Birthdays only come around once a year after all, and your presence will definitely be appreciated by the birthday girl or boy.
Sample Wording For RSVP
If you are not sure how to respond to a birthday party invitation, here is some sample wording that you can use:
Yes I Can Attend
- Hi [Host], Just wanted to let you know that I’ll be able to make it to your birthday party on Saturday. Can’t wait to celebrate with you!
- Hi [Host], Thank you for the invitation. I/we would love to attend.
- [Your child’s name] is so excited to come to [host] birthday party on Sunday.
- Hi, This is [your child’s name] Mom, thank you for the invitation to [host] birthday party on Saturday. [your child’s name] cant wait to attend.
Can Not Attend
- Thank you for the invitation, unfortunately I can not attend the party on Friday. I hope you have a great night!
- Thank you so much for inviting me to your birthday party but I won’t be able to make it. Happy Birthday and have a great time!
- Your party sounds like so much fun but I am sorry I/we can not attend. Have a wonderful time.
- I wish I could be there to celebrate this day with you, but unfortunately I can not attend.
- Thank you so much for the invitation. I am sorry but I am busy on that day so wont be able to make it. I hope the day goes well and would love to catch up with you another time.
- I’m sorry to let you know this but I won’t be able to make it to your birthday party on Saturday. Thanks so much for inviting me
Not Sure if you can Attend
- Hi, I’m not sure if I can make it to your birthday party on Saturday but I really appreciate the invite. I’ll let you know as soon as possible!
- Thank you for the invitation to your party. I would love to come but need to first check if I can get off work on that day. I will let you know as soon as possible if I can attend.
- Thank you so much for inviting me to your birthday party. I am not sure if I can make it but I really appreciate the invite.
- Just wanted to let you know that I received your invitation and am really excited about attending your birthday party. However, I need to check with my parents to see if they can drive me there and back. I should know in the next day or two, and will let you know as soon as possible whether or not I can attend.
We hope this guide was helpful in teaching you how to properly RSVP to a birthday party invitation! Remember, when in doubt, just follow the instructions on the invitation itself. And if there are no specific instructions included, a simple text or email will do just fine. From there, all that’s left to do is show up on the big day and have a great time celebrating with your friends!
