expert party tips

RSVP PDQ
The term RSVP stands for répondez s'il vous plaît and means "Please reply." Or, put another way, "Seriously, you have to reply." It's just polite. And you'd want people to do it for you. Spare your hosts from reliving the childhood nightmare of having a party where nobody comes.

When Reply?
As soon as possible, ideally within two days of receiving an invitation. If you are unsure whether you can attend, respond "Maybe" with a brief explanation of what is holding up your reply. Then be sure to change your reply to "Yes" or "No" as soon as possible.

Why Reply?
Lots of reasons. If someone has invited you to an event, they want you there, and they're excited to find out if you'll attend. Then there's the planning part. Event hosts need an exact headcount so they can make sure they have enough food, drink and space for you. And finally, the selfish reason: People appreciate it when you RSVP, so you'll have a better chance of being invited to the next event.