Dialogue
Decline a wedding invitation in French: a warm, clear dialogue
Practise declining a wedding invitation in French with a concrete reason, a clear answer and a thoughtful follow-up. B1 dialogue with English speaking cues.
- B1
- 16 lines
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In short
Thank your friend, then give a clear answer: Merci de m’avoir invitée. Malheureusement, je ne pourrai pas venir. Add a short, concrete reason and a warm next step. In this exchange, Camille uses feminine forms such as invitée, touchée and désolée.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
Nadia has invited Camille to her wedding in September. Camille will be looking after her sister’s children that weekend. The two friends use tu.
- Nadia
Coucou Camille ! Tu as reçu notre invitation pour le mariage ?
English
Hi Camille! Did you get our wedding invitation?
- Camille
Oui, merci de m’avoir invitée. Ça m’a beaucoup touchée.
Thank Nadia and say the invitation meant a lot.
English
Yes, thank you for inviting me. It meant a lot to me.
- Nadia
On serait tellement contents de te voir le 14 septembre !
English
We would be so happy to see you on 14 September!
- Camille
Justement, je voulais t’en parler. Malheureusement, je ne pourrai pas venir.
Introduce the difficult news and give a clear answer.
English
Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that. Unfortunately, I will not be able to come.
- Nadia
Oh, quel dommage ! Tu travailles ce week-end-là ?
English
Oh, what a shame! Are you working that weekend?
- Camille
Non, je garde les enfants de ma sœur pendant son déplacement. Je m’y suis engagée il y a plusieurs mois.
Explain the existing commitment.
English
No, I am looking after my sister’s children while she is away. I committed to it several months ago.
- Nadia
Tu ne pourrais pas venir seulement à la cérémonie ?
English
Could you come just to the ceremony?
- Camille
J’aurais vraiment aimé, mais je serai seule avec eux tout le week-end. Je préfère te donner une réponse ferme.
Decline the smaller invitation clearly and warmly.
English
I would really have liked to, but I will be on my own with them all weekend. I would rather give you a definite answer.
- Nadia
Je comprends. Il faut qu’on confirme le nombre de personnes au restaurant lundi.
English
I understand. We have to confirm the number of guests with the restaurant on Monday.
- Camille
Tu peux donc compter sans moi pour la cérémonie et le repas. Je suis vraiment désolée de manquer ça.
Confirm the practical consequence for both parts of the day.
English
So you can leave me out of the numbers for the ceremony and the meal. I am really sorry to miss it.
- Nadia
Merci de me le dire maintenant. On se verra après le mariage ?
English
Thank you for telling me now. Shall we see each other after the wedding?
- Camille
Avec plaisir. Est-ce que je pourrais vous inviter tous les deux à dîner en octobre ?
Offer a separate occasion to celebrate.
English
I would love to. Could I invite both of you to dinner in October?
- Nadia
Oui ! On choisira une date à notre retour.
English
Yes! We will choose a date when we get back.
- Camille
Et si tu en as envie, envoie-moi une photo le jour du mariage.
Ask for a photo without making it an obligation.
English
And if you feel like it, send me a photo on the wedding day.
- Nadia
Bien sûr. Je suis contente qu’on ait pu en parler.
English
Of course. I am glad we could talk about it.
- Camille
Moi aussi. Je vous souhaite une très belle journée à tous les deux.
Close with a warm wish for the couple.
English
Me too. I wish you both a wonderful day.
Je ne pourrai pas venir.I will not be able to come.
Focus: A definite answer about future attendance.
Je ne pourrai pas venir le 14 septembre.
I will not be able to come on 14 September.
Je ne sais pas encore si je pourrai venir.I do not yet know whether I will be able to come.
Focus: An answer that is still open; use it when you are actually undecided.
Je te donnerai une réponse vendredi.
I will give you an answer on Friday.
Merci de nous avoir invités. Nous sommes désolés de ne pas pouvoir venir.
Thank you for inviting us. We are sorry we cannot come.
For a mixed group, use invités and désolés. For an all-female group, use invitées and désolées.