You receive an invitation to a co-worker's wedding and reception, a cousin's college graduation party, or friend's holiday backyard bash. The invitation has four letters and a phone number at the bottom. The four letters are RSVP.
My wife and I have organized or helped organize many such events. Experience teaches us that most people apparently don't know what RSVP means. Read a few more paragraphs and you will know what it means and why it matters.
First, those four letters stand for a French saying that means, "please respond". I won't attempt to elaborate on the French saying. I've been trying to avoid using any of the "French" I spoke so fluently in my youth.
The "RSVP" is a simple way to ask for a definite response to an invitation. If you plan to attend, your host would like to know that. If you do not plan to attend, your host would like to know that, too.
Those who plan a social event, to which they intend to invited several people, face a significant challenge. How many people do I plan for? I don't want to buy cake for 50 people, if only 15 are coming; and even worse, I don't want to buy cake for 15 and have 50 people show up.
Depending on the event, preparation can be a sizable undertaking. Not only are the amount of edibles a consideration, plates, cups, other eating utensils, and paper products must be estimated. Seating arrangements often need to be planned. My wife and I have hosted events where borrowing tables and chairs from friends was a necessary part of our preparation. Trust me, I would be terribly tempted to practice my old "French" again, if I went to all the trouble of loading and unloading, setting up and taking down, extra tables and chairs for friends who didn't show up.
RSVPing is an important social skill to practice. If you were honored to be invited to someone's festive occasion, honor them with a reasonable response. If you plan on being there, say so. If you have a schedule conflict or just have other plans for your time, let the person know that you won't be there. If you want to attend but cannot fully commit very far ahead of time, ask the host if you can give him/her a firm answer 24 hours ahead of the event.
Put as much effort into your response to an invitation as did the person who invited you. They probably made a list of people they would like to invite, and obviously thought to include you. They may have spent money on an invitation, looked up your address, hand-addressed your envelope, and paid the postage. In my book, that warrants a few moments of your time to respond meaningfully. That can be done so easily. Put the RSVP on your "to do" list until it's done.
Dane Tyner is founder and director of Home Improvement Ministry, a Christian family counseling service in Tulsa, OK.The ministry website is http://www.forhim.org.
» left by Susan Thom(9,079) Susan Thom (184 days 6 hours ago.)
h dane,
what a good subject to address. my problem is to not throw out an invitation i got 3-5 weeks in advance! i just did so recently, and had to call my brother and ask when and what time the picnic was to be. thanks for sharing etiquette and good taste,
best regards,
sue thom Respond to this comment
» left by Dane Tyner(413) Dane Tyner (184 days 3 hours ago.)
Hi Susan,
Thanks for reading. It sure can be challenging to remember to follow through with our good intentions. Be blessed.
Dane
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
