RSVP meaning in a wedding card in Pakistan: what it stands for and how to reply

RSVP stands for the French phrase 'Répondez s'il vous plaît', which simply means 'please reply'. On a Pakistani wedding card it asks you to tell the family whether you are coming, so they can book the right number of seats and plates.

RSVP ka matlab Urdu mein: 'barah-e-karam jawab dein'. Card par likha RSVP number wo shakhs hai jise aap bataein ke aap aa rahe hain ya nahi, aur kitne log aayenge.

RSVP stands for what, exactly?

• R: Répondez (reply)
• S: s'il (if it)
• V: vous (you)
• P: plaît (please)
• Together: 'reply, if you please'. In English cards it is always read as 'please reply'.

Why Pakistani cards print RSVP

Shadi halls charge per head, so a family that guesses 400 and gets 550 guests pays for it on the night. The RSVP line is how hosts get a real count. In Urdu cards the same job is done by the closing 'المنتظر' with names and phone numbers, but most families now add 'RSVP' in English too.

How to reply to an RSVP (for guests)

• Reply within a week, even if the answer is no.
• Say how many people are coming: 'Ji, hum 3 log aayenge.'
• Only bring the people named on the card. 'Mr. Ahmed and family' means the household, not relatives staying with you.
• If plans change, tell the same person again.

Sample RSVP lines for your card (for hosts)

• RSVP: [Name] [0300-0000000]
• RSVP by [date]: [Name] [number]
• Kindly confirm your attendance: [number]
• Barah-e-karam tashreef aawari se aagah karein: [number]
• برائے مہربانی تشریف آوری سے آگاہ کریں: [نمبر]

RSVP without phone calls

Calling 300 people for a headcount takes days. An online card on Dawatnama has a reply button: each guest taps 'Coming' or 'Not coming' and the number of people, and the family sees the total in one list. How that works: wedding invitation with RSVP in Pakistan. Tips to actually get answers: South Asian wedding RSVP.

Try it with your own names on Noor or browse all wedding invitations. Full card wording with an RSVP line: shadi card matter in English and shadi card ki ibarat.