Always answer a formal invitation promptly with a very brief (one or two sentences) written response which pays careful attention to detail. Keep in mind that the format of the acceptance should mirror that of the invitation. For example, if the invitation is centered on the page, the acceptance should be also. Begin the acceptance by using the third person, unless you are using personal stationery that contains your full name in the letterhead. Then you may begin by using the first person "I."

Mr. John Doe gratefully accepts your kind invitation to dinner at the Springfield Hotel Dining room on Wednesday, September nineteenth at six-thirty p.m.

Mr. and Mrs. John Doe
are pleased to accept your kind invitation
to a reception in honor of your daughter, Ashley,
on Tuesday evening, the thirteenth of October
at six-thirty o'clock
at the Springfield Country Club.

John and Jane Doe
are pleased to accept your gracious invitation
for Friday, November second
at half past six o'clock.

Mr. and Mrs. John Doe
are pleased to accept your invitation
to the marriage of your son, Eric, to Ashley Johnson,
daughter of Robert and Suzanne Johnson,
on Saturday, the twentieth of May
at nine o'clock in the morning at the Johnson' home,
located at 648 Maple Lane, Springfield, Kansas.

John Doe accepts with pleasure your kind invitation to celebrate the inauguration of Springfield's new mayor on Saturday, April twentieth, at three o'clock in the afternoon.

accepts with pleasure
appreciate the invitation to
are honored to accept
are pleased to accept
are delighted to accept
gratefully accepts
in honor of
join you at
join you in celebrating
to dinner at
to celebrate the
to the marriage of
to a reception
your cordial invitation to
your kind invitation to
your invitation to
your considerate invitation to
your gracious invitation to

However, we regret
that we must leave the party
at eight o'clock.

We regret that due to a prior engagement,
we will not be able to attend the reception
immediately following the wedding.

I regret, though, that Mrs. Doe will not be in attendance.

I look forward to attending, but am I sorry that I will not be able to remain for the entire engagement.

Although both Mr. Doe and I will attend the wedding, we regret that Mr. Doe will not be free to attend the reception.

are unable to
are disappointed that
are very sorry
because of previous commitments
because of other commitments
due to a prior engagement
immediately following the
must leave early
out of town on
prior commitments make it impossible
regret that we
sincerely regret that
to remain for
to attend the
we will be unable to
will not be able to
will not be free to
will have to leave
will be late for

Mr. and Mrs. John Doe accept your kind invitation to brunch at the Springfield Country Club on Saturday, the thirty-first of March at 10:30 a.m. Unfortunately, we will have to leave early due to a prior engagement.

Mr. and Mrs. John Doe accept with pleasure
your kind invitation to the Springfield Charity Ball
Saturday, June sixteenth, at eight o'clock in the evening
at the Springfield Country Club.

Ms. Doe gratefully accepts your invitation to the annual Springfield Foundation benefit luncheon on Tuesday, November 20, at 12:30 p.m.

Regrettably, a previous commitment will force my departure before the 2:00 p.m. presentation of awards.

John and Jane Doe
are pleased to accept the kind invitation of
John and Jane Smith
to join them in celebrating the graduation of their daughter, Jane
Saturday, the twentieth of June, at 4 o'clock
at the Riverside Country Club, 4500 Riverside Drive

Dr. Jane Doe
is delighted to accept
your gracious invitation to a reception for
Dr. Joyce Smith
Sunday, February 19, at 8 o'clock p.m.
at the University Alumni House.
Mr. John Doe regrets
that he will be unable to attend
because of another commitment