--- title: "How to RSVP by text: what to say, with 18 examples" description: "Got an invitation and need to reply by text? Here is exactly what to write for yes, no, maybe, a plus-one question or a dietary note, and when to send it." canonical: https://ueventi.com/blog/how-to-rsvp-by-text last-updated: 2026-10-31 --- Guide·Oct 31, 2026·7 min read # How to RSVP by text: what to say, with 18 examples Got an invitation and need to reply by text? Here is exactly what to write for yes, no, maybe, a plus-one question or a dietary note, and when to send it. ![Dvir Atias](/authors/dvir-atias.jpg) Dvir Atias Founder On this page - [What RSVP by text means](#what-rsvp-by-text-means) - [What to include in an RSVP text](#what-to-include-in-an-rsvp-text) - [When to reply](#when-to-reply) - [18 RSVP by text examples](#18-rsvp-by-text-examples) - [What to leave out](#what-to-leave-out) - [If the invitation came with buttons](#if-the-invitation-came-with-buttons) - [Frequently asked questions](#faq) To RSVP by text, reply to the number on the invitation with your answer, your name if the host might not have it saved, and how many people you are replying for. That is the whole job. “Hi Maya, it’s Noa. Yes, both of us will be there on the 12th. Thank you for inviting us!” covers everything a host needs. Below are eighteen replies you can copy for yes, no, maybe, a plus-one question, a dietary note, a late reply and a polite decline, along with when to send them and what to leave out. If you are the one sending invitations rather than answering one, the [RSVP by text wording](/blog/rsvp-by-text-message-wording) guide is for you. This one is for the guest. ## What RSVP by text means RSVP comes from the French répondez s’il vous plaît, which means “please reply”. The [longer explanation](/blog/what-does-rsvp-stand-for) is on its own page, but the practical meaning is simple: the host is asking whether you are coming so they can give a number to the caterer and the venue. When an invitation says “RSVP by text”, it means the host wants that answer as a message to the phone number printed on the card or shown in the invitation message, rather than as a card in the post, an email or a phone call. Some invitations arrive as a message with reply buttons, in which case you tap and you are done. Others are a printed card with a line like “RSVP by text to 555-0100 by 1 August”, which means you open your messages app, start a new text to that number, and write a short reply yourself. Everything below is for the second case. ## What to include in an RSVP text - **Your name, and your partner’s if you were invited together.** The host may be collecting replies from a number they do not have saved, especially if a parent or a planner is handling them. - **A clear yes or no.** “We will be there” or “We can’t make it”. Avoid “should be fine” or “will try”, which the host cannot count. - **How many people.** If the invitation was addressed to a household, say how many of you are coming. “All four of us” or “just me, the kids are with their dad that weekend”. - **Anything the host asked for.** Meal choice, dietary needs, a song request, whether you need the shuttle. Look at the card or the event website before you reply so you answer in one message. - **One warm line.** “Can’t wait” or “Thank you for thinking of us”. Short is fine. The host is reading dozens of these. ## When to reply Reply by the date on the invitation, and sooner if you already know. Hosts chase the silent guests, not the early ones, and an early yes is a small gift. If there is no deadline printed, two weeks after you receive the invitation is a reasonable outside limit for a wedding, and a few days for a dinner or a birthday. The [RSVP deadline](/blog/wedding-rsvp-deadline) post explains why hosts set the date they do, which is usually tied to when the caterer needs a final number. If you genuinely do not know yet, say so and give a date by which you will. “Not sure yet, I will confirm by the 20th” is far more useful than silence, because the host can plan around it instead of wondering whether the message got through. ## 18 RSVP by text examples Replace the names and dates. Each one is written to be sent as a single message, so you do not leave the host with half an answer. ### Saying yes > Hi Maya, it's Noa. Yes! Both of us will be there on 12 September. Thank you so much for inviting us. > Hi Lena, this is Tom Alvarez. I'd love to come to the party on the 14th. Count me in for one. > Hi both, the Garcias will all be there, four of us in total. Mark has requested the fish, the rest of us are happy with the chicken. See you on the 23rd! > Yes please! Sam and I are coming to the shower on Sunday. Let me know if you need help with anything beforehand. ### Saying no > Hi Maya, it's Noa. I'm so sorry, we won't be able to make it on the 12th. We'll be thinking of you both and can't wait to see the photos. > Hi Lena, Tom here. Unfortunately I can't be there on the 14th, I'm away for work that week. Have a wonderful night and let's celebrate properly when I'm back. > Thank you for the invitation. Sadly we can't join you this time. Wishing you a beautiful day. ### Not sure yet > Hi Maya, it's Noa. We'd love to come but we're waiting on a work schedule. Can I confirm by 20 August? If that's too late for the caterer, please put us down as a no for now. > Hi Lena, I'm hoping to be there on the 14th but I have a family thing that might clash. I'll let you know for certain by Friday. ### Asking about a plus-one > Hi Maya, it's Noa. Yes, I'd love to come! Quick question, is the invitation for me alone or can I bring Dan? Totally fine either way, I just want to reply with the right number. > Hi Lena, Tom here. I'll be there! I've started seeing someone recently. If there's room for one more I'd love to bring her, and if not, no problem at all. ### Adding a dietary note > Hi Maya, it's Noa. Yes, both of us are coming on the 12th. One thing to flag, Dan is vegetarian and I have a nut allergy. Happy to eat around it if that's easier for the caterer. > Yes, I'll be there on the 14th! I'm gluten free, so if there's a choice of meal I'll take whichever works. Thanks for checking. ### Replying late > Hi Maya, I'm so sorry this is past your deadline. If there's still room, both of us would love to come on the 12th. If the numbers are already in, I completely understand. > Hi Lena, apologies for the slow reply, your message got buried. I'll be there on the 14th if it's not too late to add me. ### Declining politely for a wedding > Dear Sofia and James, thank you for inviting us to your wedding. We are so sorry we can't be there on 23 May. We'll be raising a glass to you from afar and hope to see you soon after. With love, the Patels. > Hi Sofia, it's Ana. I'm gutted to miss your wedding, but I'll be abroad that month. Please know how happy I am for you both. Let's find a date to celebrate when you're back from the honeymoon. ### Changing an answer > Hi Maya, it's Noa. I'm sorry to do this, but we need to change our RSVP to a no for the 12th. Something has come up with Dan's family. I hope the day is everything you want it to be. ## What to leave out Long explanations. If you cannot come, a single sentence on why is plenty, and none at all is fine. Hosts remember whether you replied, not the reason. Also leave out requests that belong in a separate conversation, such as asking to bring extra children or whether you can stay at their house. Send the RSVP first, then text again about the other thing, so the host can count you without untangling the two. Do not reply in a group chat if the invitation came to you directly. The host will have to find your answer among forty other messages. Reply to the number on the invitation, as a direct message. ## If the invitation came with buttons Many invitations now arrive as a WhatsApp or text message with Yes and No buttons under it. If yours did, you do not need any of the wording above. Tap the button, answer the follow-up question about how many of you are coming if it appears, and you are done. The host sees your answer instantly against your name. If the invitation was sent through [Eventi](/online-rsvp), it also includes a personal [RSVP link](/rsvp-link) that opens your own page, so you can change your answer later without texting anyone, and a link to the [wedding website](/wedding-website) if the couple made one. Not sure whether the host saw your text? Give it a day. Hosts using an RSVP tool get your answer immediately, and hosts collecting replies by hand are often working through them in batches. If the deadline is close and you have heard nothing, a short “just checking you got my reply” is fine. For the lighter side of replying, see [funny RSVP responses](/blog/funny-rsvp-responses), and if you want to understand why so many hosts now ask for replies by text, read [RSVP by text or WhatsApp](/blog/rsvp-by-text-or-whatsapp). ## Frequently asked questions ### How do you RSVP by text? ### What do you say when you RSVP by text? ### How do you respond to an RSVP by text if you are not sure yet? ### Is it rude to RSVP by text? ### How do you politely decline an invitation by text? [ ← Previous 30 wedding website ideas guests will actually use ](/blog/wedding-website-ideas)[ Next → RSVP by text message wording: 14 templates for hosts ](/blog/rsvp-by-text-message-wording)