A reliability analysis method is proposed in this paper through a combination of the advantages of the response surface method (RSM), finite element method (FEM), first order reliability method (FORM) and the importance sampling updating method. The accuracy and efficiency of the method is demonstrated through several numerical examples. Then the method is used to estimate the serviceability reliability of cable-stayed bridges. Effects of geometric nonlinearity, randomness in loading, material, and geometry are considered. The example cable-stayed bridge is the Second Nanjing Bridge with a main span length of 628 m built in China. The results show that the cable sag that is part of the geometric nonlinearities of cable-stayed bridges has a major effect on the reliability of cable-stayed bridge. Finally, the most influential random variables on the reliability of cable-stayed bridges are identified by using a sensitivity analysis.