From the article: What Does RSVP Mean When You See it on an Invitation?
An R.S.V.P. means that the host would like to know whether you'll be able to attend his party. Current experience seems to show that that many people no longer feel they need to respond to an invitation, especially if they aren't going to attend the party. Do you think the need to R.S.V.P. is no longer a social requirement? How has the response been to your invitations? Share your Experiences
Girl Scout Troop Leaders Disappoint Me
- I'm so distraught that my daughter's current and former Girl Scout Troop Leaders and several Troop parents could not even give the courtesy of a response to my daughter's birthday party invitation. She looked up to those women and they really disappointed her. My daughter even attended one of the girl's recent birthday party sleepover and still they didn't even give us the courtesy of a response, even though I've seen them recently at Girl Scout events. What's wrong with these people? Are they socially inept, ignorant, uneducated? They hold themselves out to care about the girls and they treat the mother and child like this? I'm losing faith in the Girl Scouts if these women are the role models for our children. I'm so sad.
- —Guest DonnaBoris
Party charges by Head
- I hate when I am throwing a birthday party and people do not rsvp. Places like Chuck e Cheese for kids charge by the head. Sometimes you will have to pay for the total you reserved and not for the total that actually come.
- —Guest Jemilda Christiansen
How I finally solved this....
- I host 4-5 large events at my home each year with sometimes over 100 people. I love to entertain! I plan food, drinks, ice, plates, cups, favors, seating and much more. After years of getting upset that people did not RSVP, I finally decided to edit my party lists to include people who respond. If someone does not respond several times, sadly I remove them from my invitation list. I am still their friend, I just don't invite them to parties. If they ask why I tell them that I miss their company but that their lack of RSVP is stressful for me when I am having large parties. I prefer to invite them to smaller events. I find that most people who don't RSVP do not host parties - they don't understand what a big deal it really is.
- —Guest Hostess Mary
Why are people so rude?
- I am in the process of planning a party. I've already sent out invitations and no one has rsvp'ed yet but I always see that most people never do.
- —Guest latoya
Cavemen
- These people who are posting "a response makes people uncomfortable or it's from a bygone era" must have never hosted a party. The host HAS to know how many people to expect so he/she can order the appropriate amount of food and drink. These obnoxious people (who don't take the 2 minutes to respond) are the same people who would show up and bitch about the lack of food and drink. No excuse...they are rude and boorish.
- —Guest Big Mama
RSVP
- This is a pet peas of mine, I constantly have this conversation with people whom I invite to my function, that it is rude not to respond and then show up. I am often call prissy because I only invite by invitation and I always request RSVP. I am glad someone besides myself thinks that it is rude not to respond, in either case. Thank you, thank you.
- —Guest Bnice
I hate it too!
- I hosted a couple of expensive bday parties for my daughter and one Easter egg hunt last year. Everyone who I invited either called or emailed me to say thank you for the invite and to say yes or no except for this family of 3 kids. Mind you, the first party was at Build A Bear and a build your own pizza at a restaurant and then a party at a bounce house. These parties cost nearly $30 per child. The family of the 3 kids never RSVP and have the nerve to show up! On the Easter egg hunt I hosted they had the nerve to bring others. During the lunch I was wondering who these people were that were eating my guests' food. The parent never bothered to introduce me to their guest. Unfortunately this family happens to be the sister of my sister-in-law. This year I am hosting another Easter egg hunt and lunch. Should I bother to invite them?
- —Guest suzannah
What!
- All I wanted to know is what does the acronym R.S.V.P. stands for. I know what it means; Please reply.
- —Guest P White
RSVP in my community
- For events in my community, invitations are sent with RSVP, more out of an invitation format than the need for it. The only RSVP that counts is an invitation that has written on it 'Strictly by Invitation'. Though, I'll respond to every invitation I get from now be it positive or negative.
- —Guest Bisi
Can't be bothered to say no?
- The problem with not responding because you're not coming, is that the hostess has no idea that's why you didn't respond. Possibly, you could have not gotten the invite, but would come if you had. Maybe you forgot to call and say yes. She has no idea that your silence means you're not coming. I wish that we could make a list of RSVP'ers. If your name isn't on it, and you show up anyway, too bad for you. A friend of mine did that for her reception and put the word out that it would be handled like that. Needless to say, she didn't have a problem with extra people.
- —Guest Kim
I think...
- ...everybody who doesn't think it's an issue should have to host an event. Not potluck, but something that they prepare for, from beginning to end, where a headcount helps. I must admit, I've committed some RSVP errors myself--forgotten, replied 2 days before the event. But I really try to let the hosts know, yes or no. At my cousin's reception a few years ago, quite a few people didn't RSVP, but showed up, or people brought extra people. The banquet hall did have enough food, but it's quite embarassing to not have the extra cash when the manager tells the bride that there were 20 extra over the head count and the extra amount is due NOW. If someone thinks enough of you to want to be in your company, why fight so hard against being considerate of them? Please RSVP.
- —Guest Kim
It is rude to not RSVP
- I have sent out many invitations for various events, and only 1/4 at the very most have ever responded. I made it clear on one invitation that I need to know either way so I would know how much food to prepare, and still only received a few responses, only to have about 10 extra people (who failed to RSVP) show up, so I didn't have enough food. I made it clear to them that they put me out and why. I have invitations out now and have only received 4 responses to 20 invitations. This is unacceptable.
- —Guest Robin
This is all silly
- I have no idea what was proper 100 years ago. However, today RSVP simply means let me know if you are coming so I can plan accordingly. Now if the host overestimates because he/she assumes those that didn't RSVP might show up.... that's just too bad.
- —Guest LePhantom
RSVP
- The best solution to the problem I've found is to put it clearly "For catering purposes kindly RSVP before ........."
- —Guest - Guest Dinah
Now I Know
- All my life I had been taught and believed that you only had to RSVP if you planned to attend. I looked it up today to find what the letters stand for. In the future I'll be more careful to respond whether I can attend or not. Thanks for this tip.
- —Guest JanRenae
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