A useful trick, when receiving an invitation, is to think to yourself: ‘How would I feel if I had to go to this tonight?’ It is worse to flake two hours before a party than to say no in the first place. Your hostess won’t think: ‘Oh, that’s a bit tragic – she’s clearly not used to being asked to parties.’ She will be thrilled at your enthusiasm. You can never RSVP too quickly, either electronically or via the post.

So can we all stop hedging our bets and just get on with it? The new RSVP etiquette What is wrong with people? We didn’t spend all that money on the invitations for fun!’ ‘And then we had to spend weeks chasing the others up. Of 200 guests, she estimates that ‘about 40 per cent’ RSVP-ed properly before the given deadline on the invitation. ‘And replying to a Save the Date in a text or an email is absolutely NOT the same as responding to an RSVP,’ fumes one mother-of-the-bride, who recently organised her daughter’s wedding in Worcestershire. Hosts and hostesses are efficient sorts with lists and spreadsheets. Was I supposed to telepathically guess this? How was I expected to know how much Pimm’s to buy?’Įxactly. ‘About five bothered RSVP-ing, so I had to email everyone again chivvying them, to which most people responded: “Of course we’re coming,” as if it was never in doubt. ‘I invited about 40 friends to a drinks party this summer,’ says one furious hostess. So you just ignore the invitation as if it’ll magically take care of itself. Or because it’s something a bit worthy – a book launch or a private view – and you feel like you should go, but you don’t really want to. Or because you’ve already got two nights out that week and you can’t tell right now if you’ll fancy a night on the sofa with a box of Maltesers instead. Because a more exciting party might crop up.

Rsvp meaning in text