To be able sustain your relationships and grow your network, you should know how to use the unwritten rules of a Formal Invitation?
These rules will help you sustain your relations. Therefore, you should first learn about these rules, and then learn how to apply them correctly.
So let’s try to understand what is a formal invitation? and When do we need it? To know more about this topic, bring your chocolate bar, and let’s start,
Definition:
Before we start bear in mind that there are two types of invitations:
- Formal invitation.
- Informal invitation.
And today we are going to talk only about the Formal Invitation. The definition of a formal invitation is very simple.
A formal invitation is an invitation that people will receive to attend a formal dinner. An example of these invitations may be:
- A wedding,
- A business dinner,
- A company dinner,
- A school dinner,
- Etc.
![](https://nappot.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/pexels-photo-4545090-1024x684.jpeg)
This type of invitation is always made in writing cards or formal emails and NEVER over a phone or an online message.
Read More about formal emails: how-to-write-a-formal-email-soon
Formal invitation unwritten rules:
The invitations usually contain some specific information like the purpose of the invitation, the address, the date, and some more information,
However, what we are going to talk about which somehow is considered important to be aware of are:
- The duration
- The ending note
The duration:
This information is really important to be aware of, as the formal invitation will indicate it clearly on the card or the email.
The duration of the reception is indicating the duration of the event. This is a polite way to specify when you should leave the event.
Bear in mind that staying longer than the indicated duration is considered impolite. Read more about good gestures 5-good-gestures-to-apply-when-visiting-someone
The ending note:
Another detail that might be very important to know is at the end of the invitation. There are usually two ending in a formal invitation
- Regrets only,
- R.S.V.P.
Regrets only:
These two endings are indicating different information, so if you receive a formal invitation that ends with “Regrets only”, this means that you don’t have to answer if you have accepted the invitation.
However, if by any chance you’re not attending or you’re not sure to attend the event. The host is expecting you to answer back.
Saying that you are delighted to receive the invitation. However, it is very difficult for you to attend.
R.S.V.P.:
![](https://nappot.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/pexels-photo-6479559-1024x682.jpeg)
the R.S.V.P. note stands for the French phrase Répondez s’il vous plait, equal to “Please reply”. When you receive an invitation with this note, it is saying that the host is expecting a confirmation from your side.
Therefore, you should indicate in your reply whether you accept the invitation or not. The expected answer is via phone call or a formal email.
Bear in mind that if you do not reply, you will be considered impolite. Not replying to a formal invitation is an impolite gesture. Unless you explain yourself later.
How to reply to a formal invitation:
![](https://nappot.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/pexels-photo-5244033-1024x682.jpeg)
Scenario 1. Accept the invitation:
Example Ⅰ: If you accept the invitation, you may write back:
- Thank you for your kind invitation. I shall be delighted to attend your event on 3 March, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.
Example Ⅱ: If you get a wedding card from a friend of yours and you accept the invitation, you can confirm your coming with this possible answer :
- Thank you for your wedding invitation, I shall be delighted to attend
Scenario 2. Unable to accept the invitation:
Example Ⅲ: If you can not attend the event, you may possibly reply with:
- Thank you for your kind invitation to attend your event. Most unfortunately I am unable to attend.
Example Ⅳ: If you cannot attend your friend’s wedding, you may write something like this:
- Thank you for your wedding invitation. Most unfortunately I am unable to attend, but I wish you every happiness.
Conclusion:
This article has tried to share with you some unwritten rules that societies have implemented. However, following these rules will certainly strengthen your social relationships.
At the end of this article, I would like to share how delighted I am to know that a smart person like you is reading my blogs. So Thank you.
You may also like to read: small-talk-strategies-formal-vs-informal-small-talk
Picture source: pexels.com