I have a fascination with all things old – antiques, old movies, old photos,  heirloom china, old machines (i.e. the 1200 pound 125 year old press I print on), etc. etc. What I also love is the formality which used to pervade everyday culture in times gone by.  I love that in the age of email and digital domain, the classic (and tangible) wedding invitation still exists. It is still addressed, sealed and snail-mailed. Ahhhh… the small pleasures… One thing that has changed though, is the reply card within. Not that long ago the reply card to accompany a wedding invitation was a stamped envelope and blank card to be filled out by the guest. And any well-etiquette-versed woman knew just how to do this. So how do you do it? Below are a few snippets from a favorite companion of mine, Miss Manners’ Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior by Judith Martin.

It’s really quite simple – you will want to reply in the 3rd person and copy out text from the invitation so that your response matches the formality of the invitation itself.  Your response should begin with your {name} (with all appropriate titles) and then “accepts with pleasure” or “regrets that they are unable to attend” (or some such thing equally elegant) the kind invitation of {invitee} for {the date and time}.

sample:

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Roe

accept with pleasure

the kind invitation of

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Winters

for

Saturday, the first of May

at twelve noon.

If you are feeling excruciatingly correct you could even go to the extent of:

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Roe

accept with pleasure

the kind invitation of

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Winters

for the wedding of their daughter

Miss Kitty Marie

and

Mr. Robert Compton

Saturday, the first of May

at twelve noon.