# How to reply to a wedding invitation, with messages · Aaiyega > How to reply to a wedding invitation: accept, decline or say maybe, on WhatsApp or formally, with thank-you messages to copy for family, friends and colleagues. _Source: https://aaiyega.com/how-to-reply-to-a-wedding-invitation_ _Published: 2026-10-27 · Updated: 2026-10-27 · By Aaiyega_ Getting the invitation is easy; knowing how to reply to a wedding invitation without sounding stiff or careless is the harder part. A good reply does three things: it thanks the person who invited you, it congratulates the couple, and it gives a clear answer. Below are replies on WhatsApp and formal ones, for accepting, declining and saying maybe, and for replying to elders and in Hindi. - How to reply, step by step - Accepting, declining and not sure yet - Can't come, but sending blessings and late replies - Replying to elders, in Hindi and formal replies - Shagun and gifts and RSVP on an invite link ## How do you reply to a wedding invitation? 1. **Reply the way it came.** A WhatsApp invite gets a WhatsApp reply. A card given by hand, or a call from an elder, deserves a call back. 2. **Reply within a few days.** Hosts plan food and seating from the answers. If there is a reply-by date, beat it. 3. **Thank, congratulate, answer.** In that order, in two or three lines. 4. **Say how many of you.** “The four of us” or “just me” saves the host a follow-up call. 5. **Use the RSVP button if there is one.** A WhatsApp reply is polite; the RSVP is how the hosts count. ## Replies to accept a wedding invitation Warm, short and clear. Mention which functions you will attend if the invitation lists several. - Simple yes - Thank you so much for the invitation! Congratulations to \[Bride\] and \[Groom\]. We'll definitely be there, all \[number\] of us. 🙏 - Close friend - Finally! Of course I'm coming. Count me in for every function, and I'm already planning my sangeet outfit. 💃 - Specific functions - Thank you for inviting us! We'll be at the wedding and the reception. Sadly we can't make the haldi, but we'll be there in spirit. - Colleague - Thank you for the invitation, \[Name\]. Congratulations to you both. I'll be at the reception on \[Date\]. - Family - Bahut bahut badhai ho! Hum sab zaroor aayenge. Kuch kaam ho toh batana, pehle aa jaayenge. - With travel - Thank you for thinking of us! We'll be there. Booking our tickets this week; we arrive on \[Date\]. ## Replies to decline a wedding invitation politely A short, honest reason is enough; nobody needs the full story. Send blessings, and for close family, call as well. - Warm no - Thank you so much for the invitation. I'm so sorry I can't make it this time, but my best wishes to \[Bride\] and \[Groom\] for a beautiful life together. - Prior commitment - Thank you for inviting me, \[Name\]. I have a family commitment on \[Date\] that I can't move, but I'm very happy for you both. Let's meet soon after. - Travelling - Congratulations! I'll be out of the country on \[Date\] and can't change it. I'll be thinking of you on the day; please send photos. - Colleague - Thank you for the kind invitation. Unfortunately I won't be able to attend on \[Date\], but congratulations to you and \[Partner\]. - Health - Thank you so much for inviting us. Papa isn't keeping well, so we can't travel just now. Our blessings are with the couple. - Offering a visit - I'm so sorry to miss the wedding. Can I come and see the two of you when you're back from the honeymoon? Lots of love. ## Replies when you are not sure yet Don't leave the host guessing. Say when you will know, and then actually tell them. - Will confirm - Thank you for the invitation! I'm trying to work out leave and will confirm by \[Date\]. Fingers crossed. - Travel pending - Congratulations! We'd love to come; just waiting on tickets. I'll let you know by \[Date\] either way. - Part of the family - Thank you! \[Spouse\] and I will be there; I'll confirm about the children by this weekend. - Reception only, maybe - Thank you so much. The reception looks possible for us; I'll confirm the rest by \[Date\]. ## When you can't come but want to send blessings - Blessings - Heartiest congratulations to \[Bride\] and \[Groom\]. We can't be there in person, but our blessings will be. Wishing them a lifetime of happiness. - Elder's blessing - Dono bachchon ko dher saara aashirwad. Hum aa nahi paayenge, par dil se aapke saath hain. - With shagun - We're sorry to miss the wedding. We're sending a small shagun with \[Name\], who will be there. Blessings to the couple. - Video call - We can't travel for the wedding, but please set up a video call for the pheras. We'd love to watch and bless them. ## Late replies Apologise once, briefly, then answer. A late answer is still far better than none. - Sorry for the delay - So sorry for the late reply! Thank you for the invitation. Yes, we'll be there on \[Date\]. - Late no - Apologies for replying so late. Unfortunately we can't make it, but our best wishes to \[Bride\] and \[Groom\]. - Missed the date - I'm so sorry, I missed the reply-by date. If there's still room, I'd love to come. If not, completely understood, and congratulations! ## Replying to elders When an elder calls or visits to invite you, call back to accept or decline. Send a message too, so they have your answer in writing. - Accepting, to an uncle - Pranam Chacha ji. Invitation ke liye dhanyavaad. Hum sab \[Date\] ko zaroor aayenge. \[Name\] ko bahut badhai. - Declining, to an aunt - Namaste Bua ji. Aapne itne pyaar se bulaya, par us din hum shehar se bahar hain. Bahut afsos hai. Dono ko hamara aashirwad aur pyaar. - Formal elder - Respected \[Name\] ji, thank you for the invitation. It will be our privilege to attend \[Bride/Groom\]'s wedding on \[Date\]. ## Replies in Hindi - स्वीकार - निमंत्रण के लिए हार्दिक धन्यवाद। \[वधू\] और \[वर\] को बहुत-बहुत बधाई। हम सपरिवार अवश्य आएँगे। - असमर्थता - निमंत्रण के लिए बहुत धन्यवाद। खेद है कि हम \[दिनांक\] को उपस्थित नहीं हो पाएँगे। नव-दंपत्ति को हमारी हार्दिक शुभकामनाएँ। - आशीर्वाद - आपके निमंत्रण से बहुत प्रसन्नता हुई। वर-वधू को हमारा आशीर्वाद। ईश्वर उन्हें सदा सुखी रखे। ## Formal replies to a wedding invitation For a printed card, a formal invite from a senior colleague or a family you don't know well, match the tone of the invitation. - Formal yes - Thank you for the kind invitation to the wedding of \[Bride\] and \[Groom\]. We shall be delighted to attend on \[Date\]. - Formal no - Thank you for the kind invitation to the wedding of \[Bride\] and \[Groom\]. We regret that we are unable to attend, and send our warmest wishes for their happiness. ## What about shagun and gifts? Shagun is usually given in person at the wedding or reception, in an envelope, often with a one-rupee coin added so the amount doesn't end in a zero. If you can't attend, send it with a relative who is going, or give it when you next meet the couple. Some couples now ask for no gifts on the invitation; respect that, and let your message carry the warmth. Don't ask about gifts in your reply. If you want to know, ask a sibling or a close friend of the couple instead. ## Replying on an invite link with an RSVP More invitations now arrive as a link that opens a small website. If it has an RSVP button, use it: tap yes or no, add how many people are coming, and tick the functions you will attend. The host sees the reply straight away, counted with everyone else's, which is much easier for them than scrolling back through a hundred WhatsApp chats. Reply in the chat as well, with a line of congratulations; the RSVP gives the numbers and the message gives the warmth. On an [invitation website shared on WhatsApp](https://aaiyega.com/whatsapp-wedding-invitation), your reply can also open a WhatsApp chat with the host, ready for you to send, if they have switched that on. If you are the one sending invitations, see [how to invite for a wedding](https://aaiyega.com/how-to-invite-for-a-wedding) and the [wedding invitation messages](https://aaiyega.com/wedding-invitation-messages); for friends and the office, the [messages for friends and colleagues](https://aaiyega.com/wedding-invitation-message-for-friends). ![Every function with its map, on an Aaiyega invite](https://aaiyega.com/static/img/shots/invite-events-600.webp?v=f0ad3cd2a8) Send the words with a link that does the rest Your message, plus an invite website: every function with its map, your song, photos and RSVP. Edit it later; the link stays the same. [Make your invite](https://aaiyega.com/designs) [See a live demo](https://aaiyega.com/designs/bougainvillea) Questions ## Questions people ask How do you reply to a wedding invitation on WhatsApp? Thank the person, congratulate the couple, and say clearly whether you are coming and how many of you. Reply in the same chat within a few days. If the invitation is a link with an RSVP button, use that too, because that is where the hosts count heads. How do you politely decline a wedding invitation? Thank them warmly, give a short honest reason without detail, and send your blessings to the couple. For close family, call instead of texting. Offering to visit the couple after the wedding softens a no. How soon should you reply to a wedding invitation? Within a few days, and always before any reply-by date on the invitation. Hosts plan food and seating from the replies, so an early “not sure yet” with a date you will confirm by is better than silence. Should you send shagun if you can't attend the wedding? It is a kind gesture, not a rule. Many families send shagun through a relative who is attending, or give it when they next meet the couple. A warm message with blessings matters more than the amount. How do you reply to a formal wedding invitation? Match its tone: “Thank you for the kind invitation to the wedding of \[Bride\] and \[Groom\]. We shall be delighted to attend.” For a printed card from elders, a phone call is often expected as well as a written reply. ## Keep reading - [**How to invite** Who first, when, and how to follow up](https://aaiyega.com/how-to-invite-for-a-wedding) - [**For friends and colleagues** Casual ones for the gang, polite ones for the office](https://aaiyega.com/wedding-invitation-message-for-friends) - [**Wedding invitation messages** 80+ messages in English, Hindi and Hinglish, by who is sending them](https://aaiyega.com/wedding-invitation-messages) - [**Messages in Hindi** हिंदी और Hinglish में, बड़ों से दोस्तों तक](https://aaiyega.com/wedding-invitation-message-in-hindi) तैयारी की लिस्ट में एक काम कम ## Make your invite tonight. Share it in the morning. Free until you publish. When you are happy with it, pay once and send one link to every family group. [Make your invite](https://aaiyega.com/designs) ![](https://aaiyega.com/static/img/shots/invite-rsvp-600.webp?v=7592996900)