Last Updated on October 18, 2021 by Guillermina
Today, we’re going to be answering the question: what does M mean on RSVP cards for a wedding? If you’re from the younger generation or haven’t been to many weddings – you may not know what the M stands for, and how to respond to wedding RSVP with M, so let’s take a closer look at the correct way.
What is a Wedding RSVP Card?
An RSVP originally comes from France, and it is essentially a response card for your guests to let you know if they are able to attend your wedding or not. It is included with the invite itself and often comes with a pre-stamped envelope so your guest doesn’t have to pay for postage costs. There should be a date on which the guests need to respond by and an easy way for them to let you know.
What Does RSVP Stand For?
RSVP stands for:
- Repondez
- S’il
- Vous
- Plait
This means “please respond” in French. Oddly, it’s not often used in France anymore! But US and UK weddings still use it regularly”
What does M Mean on RSVP Cards for a Wedding?
The M on wedding invitation is seen as a prompt. As most titles begin with the letter M (i.e. Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss., etc.), it is a title starter for your guests to respond with their title and full name. This is commonly seen in more formal invitations. Often, there is a line directly after the M. This is to show where your guest’s reply will start.
However, using the M does not include all titles such as Dr. and also feels far too formal for some couples. Although it is tradition for RSVPs to have an M – lots of couples choose not to have it anymore. We’ll be looking at alternatives you may like to use later on in this article if the M seems too formal.
How to Respond to M on RSVP Cards
The wedding RSVP M line – how do you respond? In regards to the M, it really is as simple as adding your titles and names to the line provided. For example “M”r John Smith and “M”s Annie Smith. Even if you’re not attending, it’s polite to respond in this way, making use of the M line.
You may think that’s all you need to do to respond to an invitation, but be sure to add these things as well as your name:
- If you’ve been given the option of a plus one, be sure to list their title and name for the headcount
- If more than one person is on the invite, but not attending – be sure to let them know. For example, if you have three children, but only one of them is attending, be sure to write that in the response
- Write clearly and legibly to make it easy for the happy couple as possible
- If you or any other guests attending with you have any dietary requirements, it’s important to make a note of this on the RSVP – this is to ensure there’s a food option available for everyone on the day
- Do not assume a plus one/additional guest is permitted just because other weddings have done so – the couple may have a strict limit on the day, so do not add guests unless it has been made clear that you can
- And lastly, be sure to post it back ASAP! Weddings take a lot of time, and a lot of effort – so as soon you know whether you can make the big day, let them know!
Alternatives to M on RSVP Cards
The etiquette for RSVP cards is not as intense as it once was, and is now much more lax. If you’re looking for something more casual, here’s some suggestions you may like to try.
- Name(s). Just writing names instead of M is a more common alternative nowadays. If you want it to seem more formal, try using “Full Name(s)”. Using this alternative is lot more appealing to the younger generation as many young people will not understand what M means on an RSVP! When you receive an invite nowadays, this is the replacement you’ll more than likely see.
- Write the Names Yourself. Before sending the RSVP cards out, you can write the titles and names of the guests yourselves. However, this often doesn’t take into account guests you may not know the names of, such as plus ones. And “plus ones” will look quite informal on an invitation. But if you have no plus ones – this is a great option (and saves your guests time too!)
- Blank. Leaving it blank is not seen as good etiquette, at all. However, if etiquette is of little importance to you – leaving a line blank for guests to fill in is absolutely an option. However, this may leave your guests confused and not sure how to respond, so try to make it as clear as possible.
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Conclusion
Something worth mentioning, is that many couples will no longer expect RSVP cards to be sent back. Some couples are happy with a text, email, or phone call. If that is the case, you can relax and not worry about using the M on a wedding invitation at all.
However, if you do receive an RSVP invitation with an M, I hope this article has helped you become more familiar with what it means and how to respond in the correct way. For further help with RSVP and Card Etiquette, Shutterfly has a great article that explains everything in a clear and efficient way.
Did you use the M line in your RSVP cards for your wedding? Or did you opt for something entirely different? If your suggestion didn’t make it to the list, please feel free to leave your answers in the comments below – I would love to know any ideas you may have. And if this article has helped you with your wedding invitations, let me know!