What to ask guests on your RSVP form
Ask only what you'll act on: who's coming to each event, their meal, their dietary needs, and whether their invited plus-one is coming. Add a song request and a note to the couple if you like. Every extra question makes guests slower to reply.
Last reviewed
The questions every RSVP form needs
- Who's replying. Let guests find their name or household, rather than typing it fresh. Tools with a real guest list (scored 4 or 5 on guest list in our ranking) do this and stop strangers replying.
- Attending, for each event. If there's a ceremony, a reception and welcome drinks, ask about each one separately.
- Meal choice, if you're serving a plated menu. Skip it for a buffet or cocktail food.
- Dietary needs, for every attending guest, as a list to tick plus an "anything else" field.
- Plus-one name, only for guests you've invited with one.
Attendance
Keep it to a yes or no for each person and event. "Maybe" doesn't help your caterer; if you want one, pair it with a date by which they'll confirm.
Will you be joining us for the ceremony? Joyfully accepts / Regretfully declines
Welcome drinks, Friday 5pm: Yes / No Ceremony and reception, Saturday 3pm: Yes / No Recovery brunch, Sunday 10am: Yes / No
Meals
Use the menu names your caterer uses, so the count they get back matches their sheet. Ask for each attending guest, not once per household, and include a children's meal if you're offering one.
Please choose a main for each guest: Beef / Barramundi / Mushroom risotto (vegetarian)
Dietary needs
Ask about needs, not preferences, and give options to tick so the caterer gets a clean list. Always add a free-text field: allergies are specific, and "nuts" can mean peanuts or tree nuts.
Does anyone in your party have dietary requirements? Vegetarian / Vegan / Gluten-free / Dairy-free / Nut allergy / Shellfish allergy / Other (please tell us)
Ask your caterer how they want allergies flagged before you send the form. Some want severity ("intolerance" or "allergy") so the kitchen can plan; your form should ask for what they'll use.
Plus-ones and children
Name plus-ones on the invitation where you can, and show the plus-one field only to guests who have one. An open "bringing a guest?" question invites people you hadn't planned for. If children aren't invited, say so on the website rather than on the form.
We've saved a seat for your guest. What's their name, so we can add them to the table plan?
We love your little ones, but our celebration is adults only. We hope this gives you a night off!
Song requests
Optional, and fun. Pass the list to your DJ or band, and let them know whether requests are must-plays or suggestions.
What song will get you on the dance floor?
Questions worth adding only if you'll act on them
- Transport: "Will you be catching the shuttle from the hotel?" if you've booked one and need numbers.
- Accommodation: "Are you staying at the venue?" if you hold a room block.
- Contact: a mobile number or email, if you'll send updates or reminders.
- A note to the couple: optional, and lovely to read later.
What to leave off
- Questions you'll answer on the website anyway (dress code, parking, gifts).
- Postal addresses, if you already have them from save the dates.
- Anything you won't hand to someone: if no one will read the answers, don't ask.
Which RSVP websites ask these questions for you
WedBuild has meal choices, a dietary library, song requests, answers for each event and your own questions on its free plan, and every answer lands on the guest in your list. Joy and WedSites also state meal choices and dietary needs; Say I Do puts its dietary question on the paid Standard upgrade. See the full ranking.
Questions
Should I ask about dietary requirements on the RSVP or later?
On the RSVP. It's the one moment every guest answers, and your caterer will need the numbers with your final headcount.
How many questions should a wedding RSVP have?
As few as you'll act on. Attendance, meal, dietary needs and a plus-one name cover most weddings; add more only when someone will use the answer.