RSVP, What is RSVP, What Does RSVP Mean, How To RSVP, When To RSVP, Responding To Invitations, by Rosevine Cottage Girls

RSVP – Cottage Charm Part 1

Old Fashioned Wisdom / By

“Wow, people are so rude.”  “Don’t they know what RSVP means?”  I hear this all the time and practically speaking many may not know.  So we decided to do a “Cottage Charm” article that included the term RSVP.

What Does RSVP Mean?

Contents hide
1 What Does RSVP Mean?
1.1 Do You RSVP If You Are Not Attending?
1.2 What Can I Use Instead Of RSVP?
2 How To Respond To An RSVP
2.1 We Are Good Friends, Do I Still Have To RSVP?
3 Party Etiquette
4 Dinner Party Etiquette
4.1 Complement
5 House Guest Etiquette
The letters RSVP stand for the French phrase  “répondez, s’il vous plaît,” which means please respond if you please. This simply means getting back to the sender in a timely manner to let them know if you will be attending their event.  Normally on a formal invitation, there will be a date they need you to respond by.
 

Do You RSVP If You Are Not Attending?

Yes, always.

What Can I Use Instead Of RSVP?

Please reply

 
RSVP, What is RSVP, What Does RSVP Mean, How To RSVP, When To RSVP, Responding To Invitations, by Rosevine Cottage Girls | photo of a blank sheet of paper, a calligraphy pen and ink pot, an envelope and rose | rosevinecottagegirls.com
 

How To Respond To An RSVP

When invited to an event always respond by phone, mail, or email.  To not respond is rude and shows a lack of respect for your host or hostess.  Please always respond well before that date.  It is best to respond when you get the invitation so you do not forget and then put the date right on your calendar (whatever form you choose paper or electronic).  If you say you will be there then please be there.  Your word means everything.

We Are Good Friends, Do I Still Have To RSVP?

Yes, no matter how close you are, you still need to RSVP. The hosts need to account for space, food, and drinks for all of their guests. 

Party Etiquette

 
Don’t be late.  Be there in time and show your friend you are a person to be trusted and relied upon.
 
Don’t be very early. Your host needs time to prepare and to show up too early (unless asked) is rude.
 
If possible, when invited to an event, don’t go empty-handed. Take with you some sort of little gift. Depending on what the event is and how formal flowers are nice,  a container of ice cream, a dessert, cookies, or home-baked bread if less formal. Something homemade is always nice. But bring something to bless them. This is especially true for a housewarming party.
 
If you are going to a birthday party make sure to bring a heartfelt card and/ or a gift to make the guest of honor feel special.
 

Always use your manners in someone’s home or party.  Don’t be loud or wild and encourage your children to treat your friends home with respect.  If you break something, clean it up and replace the item if possible with a new one.

If you make a mess clean it up. That goes for your children too it is never nice to leave your friend with a big mess.  Children, clean up toys, papers, paints, etc.  For Adults, offer to clean up and help with the dishes if that is the format for the event.

Pin For Later

RSVP, What is RSVP, What Does RSVP Mean, How To RSVP, When To RSVP, Responding To Invitations, by Rosevine Cottage Girls | photo of flower bouquet and an invitation | RosevineCottageGirls.com

Dinner Party Etiquette

Don’t drink in excess, if you do choose to have a drink, limit yourself.

Don’t dip your food twice in the dip.  Double dipping is very rude.

When at the table eating always keep your elbows in at the table and do not put them on the table.

Unfold (do not snap) your napkin into a triangle and place the flat edge against your stomach on your lap.

Don’t lick your knife or your fingers.

RSVP, What is RSVP, What Does RSVP Mean, How To RSVP, When To RSVP, Responding To Invitations, by Rosevine Cottage Girls
 

Don’t take the biggest thing on the serving plate or take too much.  There are other people that are there and are hungry. You must take others into account.  If it is a buffet type of event, don’t rush in but let others go before you.

When the butter is passed, take some and place it on your bread plate and use that butter for your bread or roll.

 

RSVP, What is RSVP, What Does RSVP Mean, How To RSVP, When To RSVP, Responding To Invitations, by Rosevine Cottage Girls | Two girls in a field holding hands. RosevineCottageGirls.com

Complement

Complement the meal but don’t over exaggerate or embarrass your spouse or date.  Don’t say, “this is the best chicken I have ever eaten, Rose’s chicken is always so dry but this is the best in the world”.  Never tear someone down to lift up another.

Thank your host or hostess for the meal.
 
 Do not leave without thanking your host or hostess
 

House Guest Etiquette

 
If your stay is extended at the friend’s house and you are sleeping there, clean the room that you slept in. When you are going to leave strip the bed and make it with fresh sheets and leave it as clean or better than you found it.  But if you are there more than a week you should sweep the room or vacuum the floor.  This will bless your friend.
 

Make sure to drop a note in the mail thanking them again and telling your friends how much you enjoyed their event. This will really bless your host or hostess and is very thoughtful on your part.

 

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About The Author

The Rosevine Cottage Girls are a mother and twin-daughter team. We intercede into the lives of men and women to speak truth into their lives and remind them of their worthwhile inspiring them to try new things and embrace the mess and turn it into their message. We’ve heard so many times from people in our life that they struggled with recognizing their worth. We’re here to tell you that you are priceless, even on your messiest day, and remind you that you have an impact on the world around you.