Source Text 2:
No matter what type of invitation you receive, the most important rule is to respond promptly. There’ s nothing worse for a host than to have to wait until the last minute to find out who will be attending the function.
The easiest invitations to handle are those with enclosed reply cards, along with addressed and stamped envelopes. Formal response cards serve a definite purpose: They alert the caterer and other people responsible for the arrangements to the number of guests who must be accommodated. Your obligation as a guest is to fill out the card and mail it back at your earliest convenience, preferably within 48 hours. Imagine yourself as the host of an event that will cost you 75 dollars for each person in attendance and being forced to pay for no-shows.
无无论你收到什么样的邀请，最重要的一条规矩就是及时回复。对于招待客人的主人而言，最糟糕的事情莫过于到最后时刻才能确定哪些人会出席宴会。
最容易处理的邀请函是带有附寄的回复卡以及写好地址和盖上邮戳的信封。正式的回复卡是有特定目的的：它们用来提醒宴会主办人以及相关负责人员将会有多少数量的来宾。作为一名受邀请的客人，你的义务就是填好回复卡然后尽早将它邮寄回宴会主人，最好是在收到邀请后的48小时以内。换位思考，假如你是主持一场宴会的主人，这场宴会中每位客人的出席将花费你75美元，如果你花钱准备了一场没有人来的宴会，你会怎么想。