The rule of etiquette dictates that you respond to an invitation within 3 days of receiving it... after all, you know immediately that your calendar does or does not have a conflicting event marked on it... waiting longer to reply only tells your host or hostess that you are waiting for a better offer!

rsvp please

Imagine if you gave a party, invited 75 people, and no one let you know if they were coming... you had to buy liquor and food without any idea at all of how many people you would have to provide for. Please remember this scenario the next time you receive a mailed invitation.

Today you will usually find a response card to fill out and a stamped envelope in which to return it... how easy. If the invitation has a telephone number instead, please use it... if you don't like the telephone, write a note... simply say you will be delighted to attend on Friday the seventeenth, or that you regret you will be unable to attend... do not explain why... your host(ess) will assume that you have a good enough reason.