RSVP Etiquette

Please follow RSVP etiquette if you are invited to a party. This simply means being courteous to those who invite you to a party:

RSVP to your party invite as soon as possible. The party planners need to know how many people are coming so that they can plan for food, chairs, table settings, and pretty much every other aspect of the party. The quicker you can respond, the better. Also, if you say you are going, GO and if you say are you aren't, DON'T.
If it's a birthday party invite, when you RSVP, ask for gift suggestions. Sometimes people will be reluctant to say - it is uncouth to tell people what to buy. In that case, ask if the birthday person has any special hobbies or favorites. Golf, movies, chocolate - whatever the birthday person might like. Take the suggestions and get something having to do with one of them. If you can't get any suggestions or even any hobbies/preferences at all, consider a gift basket or gift certificate to anywhere the recipient might like (including department stores, book/music stores, restaurants, movie theaters, sports stores, and even online!)
Ask if you can bring anything with you to the party (like a food or drink gift). Even if the party planners weren't planning on asking the guests to contribute, they might appreciate the gesture. If they do ask you to bring something, be sure you bring it!
Even if you are told not to bring anything, a nice gesture is to show up with a bottle of wine, specialty bread, or some other food or drink item that is within the theme of the party. (For example, a pineapple-based fruit salad for a tropical party.)
If the party has a theme, dress the part! Get a costume or at least some accessories and show some party spirit! Check out costumes and accessories on the Costume Ideas page.

Whatever the party and whatever you bring or dress in, the best RSVP etiquette is to have fun!