What do you think of when you hear the term “RSVP”? We’re assuming you envisioned an invitation, probably a fancy one at that.

As it often happens, this specific terminology has now become synonymous with all those formal or social events, much like we associate white gowns with weddings or roses and chocolates with Valentine’s Day. You’ve probably used the term R.S.V.P. yourself without a second thought.

But where does it originally come from — and are we still using it properly in the twenty-first century? Let’s dive into the storied history behind the terminology RSVP and what RSVP means, and around accepting (or declining) an extended invitation.

Examining the History of the RSVP

Want to hear something surprising? The term “RSVP” hasn’t existed for more than 200 years! So what does RSVP mean? It was initially observed by the Oxford English Dictionary back in 1845, but in the early 1900s, it appeared that using the term was going out of style. After all, it was kind of rude to assume that someone wouldn’t be smart enough to respond promptly to an invitation. And yet, the trend continued to go strong in America as fewer and fewer people remembered to inform their host if they would be in attendance or not. Guess our great great grandparents would be disappointed in us!

Short for the French phrase “respondez s’il vous plait”, it literally translates to “Respond if it pleases you”. Of course, over the last two hundred years, this acronym has morphed more into the concept of “Please respond” as opposed to “Respond if you feel like it”.

There was another, similar phrase that did go out of style quickly: R.V.S.V.P — “Répondez vite s’il vous plaît” or “Please reply at once” — almost as if it was a combination of RSVP and ASAP. This urgent and bulky phrase was quickly taken over by the original R.S.V.P. request.

Using RSVPs in Today’s World

There’s a good chance you’ve received a request to RSVP to an event — be it a wedding invitation that comes with an RSVP card, a work party, or a virtual event. In fact, it’s so common these days that some industry experts feel the term has started to be misused and exponentially misunderstood.

When utilizing RSVP requests for formal ceremonies and events such as wedding invitations, it retains its original meaning — to respond whether or not you intend to attend with a response card. But in less formal situations, some believe that only those who plan to go to the event need to give an actual response — — and anyone who won’t be showing up does not need to alert the host of their decision to decline the invitation. But in other instances, when the phrase “Regrets only” is expressly given, those who will not be able to attend are the only ones asked to offer a response to the host. Confused yet?

Here’s the thing: the RSVP meaning has most definitely changed over the last two hundred years, merely based on how it’s commonly being used today. According to Garner’s Modern American Usage, RSVP has transformed into a verb that means something more along the lines of “make a reservation to reserve your spot!”. In other cases, it’s being used as a noun, as in “RSVP is mandatory for attendance.”

Now think about the digital dimension to this social etiquette equation and you’ve added a new level of complication to the entire situation. Thanks to our smartphones, social media platforms, and digital communication tools, how we interact and respond to each other has also changed.

Instead of receiving formal, written invitations for upcoming events that include a pre-stamped response card, many people will send out an emailed invitation or include a link to an RSVP-enabled website for guests to submit their responses online.

Which is super convenient! But also, how do you ensure that your guests will RSVP to your carefully curated event — and actually remember to show up, the day of? Well, AddEvent’s got the perfect solution for you.

Here’s How AddEvent Uses RSVPs

This takes us to our final (and favorite) part about RSVPs: AddEvent has the perfect solution for those of you planning an event and looking for an easy way to receive and manage your incoming RSVPs!

AddEvent’s RSVP tool makes it a breeze to keep track of your attendees. Simply add the event RSVP feature to your event during the creation process, and voila! You can collect names, email addresses, and any other custom info you might need from your guests.

Adding this RSVP functionality to your upcoming event is a piece of cake — just check the RSVP box on the event creation page! When attendees get to your RSVP-enabled event landing page, they’ll be prompted to fill out the RSVP form. And guess what? We’ve got an Add to Calendar button at the ready for them to conveniently save your event to their personal calendars so they won’t forget!

Need a more detailed how-to? Here’s a step-by-step guide to adding the event RSVP form to your event landing page:

• Head over to your AddEvent.com dashboard.
• Click on the “+ Create” button and choose “Event.”
• Fill in your event details — time, date, and all that jazz.
• Don’t forget to check the RSVP box!
• You can choose a custom RSVP form or stick with our “Standard RSVP” form — up to you!
• After creating your event, feel free to customize your RSVP settings and create a bespoke RSVP form if that’s your jam.
• Click that blue “Create” button to seal the deal.

Now it’s time to share your event far and wide by using those handy add to calendar links in your email invites or the RSVP button right on your website or landing page!

And the best part? Those links and embeddable RSVP buttons are fully functional, and directly link to your event. When your attendees click on the links, they’ll be sent to that unique landing page where they can easily RSVP. Better yet, if you embed the RSVP form on your website or landing page, they can RSVP without ever leaving your page!

→ AddEvent Pro Tip: Check out this helpful video that shows you how to use a custom RSVP form to collect the most useful information from your attendees!

What are you waiting for? Let the RSVPs roll in and make your event planning journey a whole lot smoother! Try a free Hobby account and test the waters for yourself.