You’ve received a beautiful wedding invitation.
You open the envelope, read the details, and eventually reach the RSVP card.
Then you notice something strange.
There’s a line that begins with a single letter:
M________________
What exactly are you supposed to write there?
Meal preference?
Marital status?
The number of people attending?
None of those.
The explanation is actually much simpler.
The “M” Is the Beginning of Your Title
Traditionally, the M is there to begin a courtesy title such as:
Mr.
Mrs.
Ms.
Miss
You’re expected to complete the appropriate title and then write your name on the line.
For example, if your name is John Smith, you might complete the line as:
Mr. John Smith
That’s all the mysterious letter means.
Why Is It Written This Way?
Traditional wedding stationery often follows formal etiquette conventions.
Rather than printing a separate box labeled “Name,” some RSVP cards provide the letter M as the beginning of the guest’s formal title.
It assumes that the guest will complete the title and add their name.
People familiar with traditional wedding etiquette may recognize the convention immediately.
For everyone else, that lonely “M” can be surprisingly confusing.
It Doesn’t Mean “Meal”
One common misunderstanding is that the M relates to the meal being served at the reception.
It doesn’t.
Meal selections, when required, are usually presented separately with choices for each guest.
The M also doesn’t ask whether you’re married.
And it doesn’t tell you how many guests you’re allowed to bring.
Its purpose is simply to identify the person responding to the invitation.
THE STORY CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE… 👇👇👇
