Tag Archives: Party Invitations

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How to Word a Party Invitation (with Party Invite Message Examples)

You’re throwing a party! Whatever the occasion is – whether you’re throwing a kid’s birthday party, an anniversary bash, a graduation do or something else – it’s time to celebrate, and you’re planning on sending out party invitations.

Even if your party is casual, sending out paper party invitations is one of the best ways to let people know about the upcoming celebration. A party invite will convey all the important information about when and where to go, as well as what you are celebrating in the first place.

There are various different details that you need to include in your party invitation, and it’s important to word it correctly. This guide will talk you through what you need to include on your party invitation, and give you some wording examples that you can adapt to your own needs.

What Do You Put on a Party Invitation?

Before you start thinking about how to word your party invites, you’ll need to familiarise yourself with the important information that you need to get across.

Who’s Invited?

First and foremost, you need to make it abundantly clear who’s invited to the party. This goes for any party, whether it’s a kid’s birthday party or a grand wedding. The last thing you want is to cater for 20 guests, only for 40 people to turn up because everyone’s brought their partner, or has assumed their child’s siblings are also invited.
The best way to do this is to specifically mention the invitee(s) by name on the envelope. For example:

1) “Mr John Smith and Ms Sarah Ellacombe”
2) “Master William Brooks”
3) “Sarah and Nancy McIntyre”
4) “Miss Jade Hewett plus Guest”
That way, there can be no confusion.

Why Are You Having a Party?

It’s important that your guests know why you are having the party in the first place. The wording has to be particular when you are trying to communicate a message to your guests.
For example, if it’s for a birthday party, make sure that you include the name of the birthday person, and how old they’re going to be (especially if it’s a milestone birthday, or a child’s party). Or for a graduation invitations, include who is graduating and which educational milestone they’ve achieved.
For example: “Please join us for Susan’s 8th birthday party!”
Or: “You are cordially invited to celebrate Ashleigh’s graduation from Warwick University”.

Who’s Hosting the Party?

Not only is it important to tell your invitees who the party is for, but you should also let them know who’s hosting the party, and at least one way of getting in touch with them. That way, they’ll know who to contact if they have any questions about the party, and they’ll also know who to ask if they need gift recommendations or anything else.

If you don’t mention who’s hosting the party on the invitation, your invitees will contact whoever the party is for (e.g. the person whose birthday it is). This wouldn’t be ideal if it’s supposed to be a surprise party!
For example: “If you have any questions, please contact the party host Sharon Mitchell on [phone number]”.

When Will the Party Start and End?

Your guests will need to know what day and time the party will be held. Make sure to be extremely clear, and give an approximate end time as well as a start time (especially for kid’s parties, so that parents will know when to come and pick up their children). You can typically expect guests to turn up between 5 and 10 minutes earlier than the start time you list on your invitation, so keep this in mind.
For example, you might write “3:00pm – 5:00pm on Sunday, 28th November 2021”. If there’s no specific end time, you can simply write something like “8pm ‘til late”.

Where Will the Party Be Held?

One of the most important things to include in your party invitation is the location. Whether your party will be held at:

1) The host’s house
2) The birthday person’s house
3) Outside in the local park
4) A booked party hall, such as a town hall
5) A soft play centre, cinema or other venue

It’s vital that you include the full name and address of the venue. Don’t just assume that everyone knows where “Paul’s house” is!
For example: “The party will be held at 123 Blackbird Lane, Newtown, NW1 1TN.”
If the venue is difficult to find, you can also include directions to guide attendees from the nearest motorway or main road, or even a mini map.

What Will Happen at the Party?

Make sure to tell your recipients what kind of party this is, and what is going to be involved. That way, they’ll know what to wear, whether to eat beforehand, and whether they should drive or get a taxi (if alcohol is going to be served).

You could list the theme, any activities you have planned, and what sorts of refreshments you’ll provide. For example: “Join us for a princess-themed celebration involving a royal buffet, face painting and manicures!”

How to Write a Party Invitation: 6 Top Tips

Now that you know what to include on your invitation and how to word it, it is time to put it all together. Here are our 6 top tips for writing and designing the perfect party invite, whatever the occasion may be.

1. Choose a Themed Invitation

One of the most fun things you can do when you are preparing for a party is picking the theme. Having a theme throughout the entire celebration – dress code, food, gifts, entertainment, decorations – will help the party have a cohesive aesthetic that will make for great photos, and which your guests are sure to remember for years to come.

A great way to tie the party theme together and to help spread the word to guests is to choose a party invitation that also features the same theme. For example, if you’re hosting a child’s birthday party with a clown or circus theme, this Party Clown invitation would be perfect. For a more grown-up girly-themed party with manicures and cocktails, this Fun ‘n Fancy design fits the bill.

2. Use the Right Tone

The tone of voice you use on your party invite will affect how guests are going to view the invitation, and their first impressions of the party itself. That’s why it’s important to use the correct tone when you’re writing the party invitation’s wording.

For example, if your party is going to be a super-formal black tie graduation event or wedding, you’ll want to write the invite in the third person, and avoid using any abbreviations or slang. For example, “Mr and Mrs John Smith invite you to celebrate their sixtieth wedding anniversary.”

For a casual party such as a child’s birthday or a house party, you can use the first person and can use a more informal style of writing that’s closer to normal speech. For example: “Come and join us for little Tom’s 3rd birthday! We hope to see you there!”

3. Address Your Recipients Correctly

When you send out the invitations, it is important to address your guests properly. The envelope should include their titles, along with their first and last names. For example, you can use Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms. You should ensure you spell their first and last names correctly, as well as mentioning if they’re permitted to bring a guest of their own, or bring their child’s siblings along to the party too.

4. Include the 5 Ws

Remember what we discussed previously: who, what, when, where, and why. Don’t forget to include the 5 Ws when you’re writing your invitation! These details are important because they are how your guests are going to know exactly what is going on, what to do, where to go and at what time.

And if there is a certain dress code, if the party is catered, or if your guests need to bring anything extra – let them know. It’s important to keep that line of communication clear for your guests.

There’s nothing worse than forgetting to put vital information on your custom party invitations. Whether it’s a name, date or number, leaving out even a single piece of information can cause invitees to get confused (and then you’ll be inundated with phone calls).

5. Don’t Forget RSVP Instructions

Lastly, remind your invitees that they are going to need to RSVP to your invitation. RSVP stands for “répondez s’il vous plait”, which is French for “please reply” – in other words, “Let me know whether or not you’re coming”. If your guests don’t RSVP, you aren’t going to know who’s coming and who isn’t – and this can have an impact on certain elements of party planning, such as how many guests you need to provide food for.

So, at the end of your invitations you should include either a phone number or an e-mail address that your guests can use to RSVP. Alternatively, you can include a reply card in the envelope with the party invitation. This is a paper slip that invitees can fill out and send back to you to indicate whether or not they’re attending.
And don’t forget to include an RSVP deadline! For example: “RSVP by Monday 29th November”.

6. Order More Invitations than You Need

One of the mistakes people make when ordering party invitations is accidentally ordering too few of them. Chances are, you’ve planned out the guest list in advance, and so you’ll know how many people you’re inviting. But it’s always a mistake to order exactly 13 invitations if you’re inviting 13 guests.

Here’s why:
1) If you’ve accidentally forgotten somebody on your guest list, you won’t have a spare invitation to give to them
2) You may lose or misplace one or more invites, or they may get lost in the post, and you won’t have any spares as backups
3) You might make a mistake while addressing an envelope, spill something on an invitation or damage it in some other way

A good rule of thumb is to order 10% more invitations than you think you’ll need, or round up to the nearest 10 (whichever number is more). So if you think you need 16 invitations, round it up to 20, to give you at least a few spares.

Where Can I Order Personalised Party Invitations in the UK?

It’s important to show your guests that you know what you are doing and give them the right information so that everyone has a fun time. If you follow this guide while writing and designing your party invitations, you have no need to worry. You will have included everything that they need to know, and given them contact details just in case they have any more questions.

As to where you can order your party invitations, we suggest a professional stationer such as 123Print. On our website, you can browse through a collection of over 300 party invitation templates – far more than you’d find in any ordinary party shop! You’re bound to find a design that works for your party theme.

Within minutes you can edit your chosen theme online, add all of your party details, and place your order. Your invites will be printed and dispatched within 48 working hours. All that’s left is to address the envelopes! Start your party planning

How to Reschedule a Party: A Step-by-Step Guide

The venue has been booked, the invitations sent out, and the food is being organised, but all of a sudden, you have to cancel the party. What a nightmare!

Whether it’s a kid’s birthday party, an anniversary party or a baby shower, one of the most challenging things to be faced with is having to postpone and rearrange a party or other celebration. Not only do you have to face the chaos of re-booking the party venue, catering, and everything else, but you also have to somehow communicate the new date to all of the guests -and hope that they don’t take umbrage to it.

Never fear, however: rescheduling a party doesn’t have to be a logistical nightmare, as long as you follow this simple step-by-step guide. We will take you through the process of cancelling and rearranging a party, and explain the etiquette of sending out new invitations with the revised date and venue information.

Why Might You Need to Reschedule a Party?

Nobody wants to have to rearrange a party, especially if it’s at the last minute and you’ve spent so long planning and organising it. However, there are many good reasons why you may have no choice but to postpone the celebration. For example:

1) Illness or injury
2) Family emergency or bereavement
3) Bad weather preventing you from accessing your party location, especially if you’re holding the celebration outdoors
4) Double bookings for the date of your party
5) Government guidelines coming into effect that prohibit large gatherings (due to COVID-19, for example)

No matter the reason, it is essential to keep your guests informed on the changes so that they can be prepared and not inconvenienced. In addition, it’s crucial to have a rescheduling plan in place just in case there are any changes to your party.
For this guide, we will go step by step on how to cancel and reschedule a party due to unforeseen circumstances.

How to Cancel and Reschedule a Party

While cancelling a party is never easy, sometimes it simply cannot be avoided. Factors to consider include: if the venue is double-booked on the new date, or there’s been a pandemic warning or bad weather warning, which might tip your decision over whether to reschedule or cancel the event.

From here, you should examine every possible option to avoid rescheduling if possible. For example: if the issue is bad weather, could you simply move the party to an indoor location, rather than moving the date of the party?
If there’s no way to avoid rescheduling the party, here are the steps you should follow.

Step 1 – Contact the Venue and Suppliers

The first step is to contact the party venue, as well as any and all suppliers you may have booked for your party, and let them know that you have to cancel. For example:

1) Caterers
2) Entertainers
3) Live music
4) Rental companies for decorations, chair covers, cutlery and crockery, etc
5) Cake baker

The sooner you contact everyone, the more likely it is that you won’t lose your deposit. Hopefully, they’ll let you reschedule the booking for a new date, without charging you any extra. Unfortunately, this may not be the case if you’re cancelling the party at very short notice. If you have a very good reason for rescheduling the party, though (such as a bereavement in the family) you may find that they’re more understanding.
Obviously, if you’re simply hosting the party at home and preparing all of your own decorations and food, this is a step that you won’t have to worry about. Phew!

Step 2 – Decide on the New Date

Once the venue and suppliers have been contacted, it’s now time to liaise with them all to find a new date that works. If you can’t find a date that works for every supplier, unfortunately you may have to prioritise some over others.

Don’t forget to speak to the most important party guests to make sure that the new date works for them. For example, if it’s a baby shower, speak to the pregnant person. You wouldn’t want to book a new date without checking with the VIP!

Try to choose a new date at least two weeks later than the original one so that your guests have sufficient time to rearrange their schedules and not be inconvenienced. Then, re-book the venue and suppliers as soon as possible.

Step 3 – Communicate with Your Guests

Once you’ve officially cancelled the party and re-booked it for a future date, it’s time to let all of your guests know.
Of course, the best and most formal way to do this is to send out a new party invitation with the revised date. However, if the original date of the party is coming up very soon, you may have to contact them using a quicker method first, to ensure that they don’t get the memo too late.

There are several ways of doing this:
1) Call each guest personally to tell them
2) Send out a mass text message
3) Send out a mass e-mail

Obviously, tailor this to your guests. For example, if you know that Aunt Susan never checks her e-mails, it would probably be best to call her.
If you’ve created a Facebook event or a website for the party, update it with the new date and time as well. However, your guests may not get a notification about this, so be sure to contact them personally to make sure they know.

Step 4 – Send Out New Party Invitations

Once you’ve let your guests know that the party date is going to be changed, you should send out a new party invitation to formally communicate the new date. This is especially important if you’re moving your party from one venue to another, or changing any other details about the party (such as the start time).

Choose a party invitation that matches your theme, and include the new date and time. Even if the party location hasn’t changed, include the venue on your new invitation anyway, otherwise your guests will all be calling you up to check that it’s still in the same place.

People may have planned around coming to your party on a specific day at a particular time in a specific place, so having this information included on the invitation is essential. In addition, this will allow your guests to rearrange their schedules or let you know if they can no longer attend.

How to Word a Rescheduled Party Invitation

So, when you’re informing your guests that you’ve had to reschedule your party, how do you actually word it? Here are some examples to help you find the perfect phrasing.

Party Rescheduling Email Example

If you’re informing your guests through email, it’s easiest to send a mass message to everyone, rather than contacting them all individually. For example:

Hi Everybody!
I hope this message finds you well. Unfortunately, I need to change the date of my party due to (insert reason or situation). The new date is on (insert new date) and will be held at (location) starting at 8:00. I apologize for the inconvenience and hope that you can still make it!
Regards,
Sam
However, if you’ve only got a few guests, you might want to personalise the email for each individual.
Dear __________,
I hope you’re well! I’m sorry to tell you that our party is being rescheduled due to (insert reason or situation). I’ve attached the new date below. Please let me know if you can still attend or if the new date doesn’t work for you.
I look forward to seeing you soon!
Regards,
Sam
Cc: (host’s contact info)
Attachment: New Date & Location of Party

Party Rescheduling Facebook Post Example

If your party has been mainly planned online (like in a Facebook group, for example), then you can communicate the new date and location of your party in the same way. Just be sure to tag whoever is hosting, so they receive notification of your post.

Hi Everybody!

I’m sorry to say that I need to change the date of my party due to (insert reason or situation). The new date is on (insert new date) and will be held at (new location) during the same time. I hope you’re all well and, again, apologize for this inconvenience!
Don’t forget to change the date of the Facebook event as well as creating a post in the group.

Rescheduled Party Invitation Wording

It’s vital that you send out a new party invitation as soon as possible with the amended details. The most important thing is to make it clear that this is a postponement notice, so that your guests pay attention to the new date. For example:

Jen’s baby shower
Has been rescheduled
For 20th April 2022
At one o’clock in the afternoon
We apologise for any inconvenience
Or alternatively, for a less formal feel:
Let’s try that again!
Due to unforeseen events, Jackson’s birthday party
Will now be held on:
20th April 2022
At 1pm
Thanks for understanding!

Where Can I Order Party Invitations?

When you reschedule a party, the most important thing to do is to ensure that your guests are all notified as soon as possible. You can send out invitations or tips announcements with the new date, time, and location of your party so that they’re aware of the changes. Whatever you do, don’t leave your guests in the dark!

At 123Print, we offer a huge range of party invitations suitable for any theme – from kid’s birthday parties to weddings, engagement parties and more. For example, this sweet owl design would be perfect for any baby shower.

Simply have a browse through our extensive selection of party invitation templates to find the perfect choice for you. Then, use our easy editor to add your details and alter the wording to your liking.

We’ll dispatch your order to you within 48 working hours, so you can send those all-important invitations out to your guests as soon as possible. And with our 100% satisfaction guarantee, you can rest in the knowledge that should anything go wrong, we’ll do whatever we can to make it right!

How to Design and Word Invitations for a Work Party

Planning a work party is quite a bit different from planning a typical party, but it doesn’t have to be super complicated. Of course, the type of event, the formality level, and the mindset with which to approach it will differ, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t plan as thoroughly or think as creatively about your work party as any other social event.

The invitations you choose for your work party will help to create your guests’ first impressions of the event. So, they’re pretty important. They’re also your chance to spread the relevant details and get attendees excited about what will no doubt be a fun and memorable occasion.

This guide will talk you through how to design and word the perfect invitations for any work event, whether it’s a spooky Halloween bash, an employees’ Christmas ball, or simply a casual house party celebrating the completion of a big project.

Who to Invite to a Work Party

The first thing you need to figure out is who to invite. The proper answer here is pretty much everyone, but of course, that’s not practical or even possible in some cases. So how do you decide who makes the invite list? Here are some tips:

1) Consider the reason behind the party. Are you celebrating wrapping up a big project in your department? Then perhaps you should limit the list to team members only, or even the support staff for the department. If it’s a general party for the whole office, such as a Christmas party, it’s better to invite everyone that works there – even the cleaning staff!

2) How well do you know your co-workers? Nothing is more awkward than forced small talk at a party with people you barely know. If you don’t know your co-workers well enough to hold a conversation with them, inviting them is probably not the best idea.

3) Know your company’s work party policy. If there are any policies in place about parties and potlucks at your company, be sure to read those first. Follow their rules!

4) Beware of office politics. Are there people in the office that don’t get along? If so, you might consider inviting only one of them just to avoid an uncomfortable situation.

5) Will you allow plus ones? Some employees might like to bring their spouse along, if you have the budget and space for it. But remember that if some people get a plus one, everyone should – don’t pick and choose, or people will feel resentful.

If in doubt, simply extend an invitation to everybody in the workplace. It’s much better to invite people who’d rather not come (they’re free to decline, after all) than to miss people out and cause resentment or conflict.

Should You Use Paper Invitations for a Work Party?

Like any other party, you’ll need to send out invitations. However, one question that comes up in today’s digital world is whether you should use paper invitations, or simply invite guests via text or e-mail.

While texts and e-mails are free, we think paper invitations are still a much better choice for any party. Here’s why:

• It’s nicer to receive a paper invite. It shows someone cared enough to make an effort (and likely spent money on it). It also helps to get guests excited!
• Paper invites can be themed. If your work party is for Halloween, for example, you can choose a spooky-themed invitation to help set the tone for the occasion.
• Paper invitations are taken more seriously. A text may be disregarded whereas a paper invitation makes the party seem more “official”, and sets the expectation that you should RSVP.
• Paper invitations won’t be missed or lost. A digital invitation might get buried in a mountain of unopened emails, never to be seen again. The same can’t be said for paper invitations.

How to Design Work Party Invitations

Now that you’ve decided on paper invitations, it’s time to design them. Here are a few tips and considerations for designing the perfect invitations for your work party.

Keep it Professional

While this is a party, your workplace should still be reflected in the invitation. Avoid anything too crazy or wild, like inappropriate images. You don’t want to give your boss a heart attack when they open the invitation!

Think About Company Branding

While you don’t want to copy company branding exactly, do consider creating an invitation that is in keeping with the look and feel of your business. In addition, you can get some inspiration from your company’s website, corporate brochures, or logos if available.

Include Relevant Party Details

Don’t leave out any important information! What’s the date, time, and location? Who is hosting? Will employees be allowed to bring a plus one, or is it strictly staff only? Let people know what to wear (casual or dressy), whether you will be serving food, and if there’s anything they need to bring. Don’t forget to include contact details for the party’s organiser, and RSVP instructions (including a deadline if there is one).

Choose an Appropriate Template

There are thousands of party invitation templates available for you to choose from, in a wide range of designs and colours. Try to pick one that is appropriate for the occasion, so that your guests will know what to expect, and won’t arrive underdressed or overdressed. For a casual beach barbecue, a super-formal black and white invitation with cursive text may be overdoing it – but it would be perfect for an elegant ball.

Don’t Sound Desperate for a Crowd

You’ve planned this party, possibly for months in advance, and you want it to succeed. Just be sure to avoid any wording or statements that make it seem like you need the guests to come, lest they feel obligated to attend out of guilt. Instead, people should want to go because they will enjoy themselves and have fun. Sound too desperate for guests and you may end up pushing people away!

Don’t Clutter the Invitation

The invitation is your chance to invite people to the party, not an opportunity to explain all of the little details in full! Avoid making the invitation look too cluttered with information, otherwise people won’t be bothered to read it all. You can send out an e-mail to attendees nearer the time if there’s anything they need to know that wasn’t on the invite. Otherwise, people are free to contact you if they have any questions.

How to Word Work Party Invitations

Here are some phrasing options for wording your work party invitations. Of course, you’ll want to provide your own details and information, but these are intended as examples.

• Sample 1: Please join us on Friday, September 15th, from 7 pm to 9 pm for food and drinks to celebrate the end of summer! We will be in the conference room.
• Sample 2: Lisa Thomas cordially invites you to her backyard barbecue on Saturday, August 26th, from 12 pm to 4 pm.
• Sample 3: Lisa Thomas cordially invites you to celebrate her birthday at McLeary’s Restaurant on Saturday, September 9th, from 8 pm to 11 pm. Please meet us there!
• Sample 4: The London office cordially invites you to a potluck work party on Friday, July 21st, from 7 pm-9 pm. Please bring [type of dish] to share! For more details, please see Mr. Smith.
• Sample 5: The London office cordially invites you to a work party on Friday, July 21st, from 7 pm-9 pm. We’ll have food and drinks supplied. RSVP with your choice of beverage.

The most important thing is to include all the relevant details so that your attendees are fully prepared for the event. Beyond that, how you word it is largely up to you – but avoid sounding too casual and using slang terms. It is a work event, after all.

When to Hand Out Work Party Invitations

There’s no perfect answer here. It depends on the type of party, but generally, people hand out invitations at least two weeks before the date of the event. This gives everyone plenty of time to get back to you with any questions and confirm their attendance.

If it’s a catered event and you’ll need to know an exact head count, you may want to send your invites out earlier, so that you’ll receive the RSVP in plenty of time – as well as people’s food choices, if you’re giving them. Posting the invitations four to six weeks in advance is acceptable for these sorts of parties.

If the party is during office hours, it’s less important that you provide plenty of notice, as everyone will be present anyway. However, you may want to hand out invitations at least a week in advance so that people can mark their calendars for the event and dress accordingly – particularly if the party will extend beyond normal hours of operation.

Where Can I Order Personalised Work Party Invitations?

When planning a work party, your goal should be to create an atmosphere of fun and enjoyment, allowing your co-workers to let their hair down. You also want everyone invited to feel included and part of the group. Work parties are meant to be casual events that will help build camaraderie and strengthen workplace relationships.

Be sure to make the event special with a customised work party invitation from 123Print. We have a huge selection of work party invitation templates to choose from, available in both standard and large sizes, and all of which can be fully personalised. Here are a few of the great designs we have:

Twinkly Toast: This colourful red design features martini glasses in silhouette and is great for a party located at a local bar.

Solid Black: This basic black design is a fantastic multipurpose design for any work party. The white text on the black background is both elegant and understated.

Simply select the design that you like, customise it with your preferred wording and details, and we’ll print and dispatch your order within 48 working hours. With our 100% satisfaction guarantee and thousands of happy customers, you know your design is in safe hands.

Formal vs. Informal Party Invitations: What’s the Difference?

Whether you are planning a party, wedding, christening or birthday, invitations will make up a good portion of the planning process. An invitation is, of course, how your guests will learn that their presence is requested. It’s also used to convey information about the location, date and time, who the event is for, and sometimes even a required dress code where relevant.

You may wonder: are paper party invitations really required for every kind of event? Aren’t paper invitations always a bit formal, and best reserved for important gatherings, rather than casual ones?

In fact, paper party invitations can come across as either formal or informal, depending on their style, the wording, and the content of the invite itself. It’s always worth using paper party invitations for any kind of bash, whether it’s your little one’s space-themed third birthday party or a glamorous golden anniversary ball.

In this guide, you’ll learn the difference between formal and informal party invitations, so you can decide which would best suit your upcoming party.

What is a Formal Party Invitation?

A formal invitation is one that has strict rules and etiquette that must be followed. It is typically used for formal events, such as:

1) Weddings
2) Anniversary parties
3) Dinner parties
4) Award ceremonies
5) Graduations
6) Black tie events

Formal invitations can also be used for important or milestone birthday parties, which you want your guests to take seriously – e.g. a 50th birthday meal.

Sending out a formal invitation will set the tone of the event early on; it should reflect the theme of the event, and depict what is required from the guest attending.

What is an Informal Party Invitation?

An informal invitation is one that is more appropriate for a casual or laid-back event, such as:
1) Picnics
2) Kid’s birthdays
3) Most adult birthdays
4) Baby showers
5) House parties
6) Homecoming parties
7) Holiday parties (e.g. Easter, Christmas, Halloween)

The benefit of an informal invitation is that it has no strict rules it must adhere to, and so can design it to look however you want it to. They are usually written in first person, and in a more conversational, rather than traditional tone.

With informal invitations, you can branch out and use your creativity, making it as original and to your exact design and needs for your event.

What Wording Should I Use?

Whether you’re planning a wedding or a birthday party, the wording of your invitation can be important in setting the tone of the event to come, and will help your guests determine what kind of event they are attending, and how they should prepare for it.

Formal Invitation Wording

As mentioned before, formal invitations have a certain set of rules and etiquettes they have to stick to, which includes not just the way it is written but also the type of information about the event that must be included. Things that should be included in a formal invitation are:

Date and Time

It is important that the date of the event is written out using letters, rather than numbers, and it mustn’t be abbreviated. For example, Saturday 16th September should instead be written out as Saturday the sixteenth of September.

The time of the event must also be written out and must use phrases such as ‘in the morning’ for events set between midnight and midday, ‘in the afternoon’ for events set between midday and 6pm, and ‘in the evening’ for events set between 6pm and midnight.
Examples of this would be ‘Ten thirty in the morning’, or ‘Nine forty five in the evening.’ If the time is on the hour, then o’clock may be used, for example ‘Two o’clock in the afternoon.’

Location

As with the date, the address must be written out fully, with no abbreviations. So, 56 London Ave would become 56 London Avenue, or even Fifty-six London Avenue for ultra-formal occasions.

Guests’ Names

When addressing the guests, full, non-abbreviated names must be used; Samantha instead of Sam, Thomas instead of Tom. Surnames must also be included if you know them. If you are inviting someone with a title other than Mr, Mrs or Ms, then you must use their correct title, such as Doctor.

Hosts’ Names

One of the most important rules of a formal invitation is the inclusion of the host or hosts. By mentioning them on the invitation, the guests know who is organising the event. This is especially important when inviting guests to a wedding.
This should also be written out fully with no abbreviations, and should be paired with the initials and/or logo of the party organiser.

Other Important Details for Formal Invitations

Other things to include in your formal invitation include:

1) Third person wording. Instead of ‘I am inviting you to an awards ceremony’, instead ‘Emma Falcon requests the pleasure of your company at…’ It is also important that the invitation is typed, and using a formal, serif font such as Times New Roman.
2) The reason why the event is being held e.g. ‘to celebrate’ or ‘to honour’ and whether it is a wedding, a birthday, an anniversary or awards ceremony (for example).
3) The dress code. There are several types of attire for a formal event, and each type is very specific to the type of event. Therefore, you must inform the guests of the expected dress code, such as white tie, black tie, formal, cocktail, etc.
4) RSVP instructions. This is required atevents where you need to have a head count

beforehand, so that catering or drinks may be planned in advance. With your invitation, a card should be included along with a prepaid envelope with a response address on it. The RSVP should include the deadline by which it should be returned, a space for the guests to write their name, and two options for the response, with phrases such as ‘accepts with pleasure’ or ‘declines with regret’. If needed, you can also include a space for a meal choice.

Formal invitations are traditionally printed on high-quality cardstock in white, ivory, or cream, and will use accent colours that match the colours for the event. Try to avoid using a gaudy or loud colour scheme for a formal event, as this will look out of place!
For example, this Enchanted Evening template would be perfect for any formal party, with its classic black and white colour scheme featuring delicate fleur de lis motifs.

Informal or Casual Party Invite Wording

When it comes to creating an invitation for an informal event, you have a lot more flexibility with how you write it, as well as what information needs to be included, it does not need all the etiquette and rules that are required for a formal event.

The important things to include for an informal invitation are:

1) The date of the event, which you can write in any format you like
2) The time. You can afford to be a bit more flexible with how you write your timings with an informal event. You could put the exact start and end times, such as 1pm – 10pm; or you could avoid specifying the end time, e.g. ‘8 till late’. For super casual events you could be even vaguer e.g. ‘noonish’ if you don’t really mind what time guests turn up.
3) The location – no need for any abbreviations here, just write it in a way you feel comfortable. Include the full address or just ‘Emily’s place’ for example, if you’re sure everyone knows where the host lives!
4) The hosts – although informal, it is still important to let your guest know who it is that is inviting them (unless it’s obvious, e.g. the guests know whose birthday it is)
5) The guests – you may address the guests in anyway you like, whether it is their full name or an informal nickname you have for them!
6) The RSVP instructions – as as you can be more creative with an informal invitation, you don’t need to provide a separate card for the response. Instead you can choose to simply include an email address or phone number for your guests to send their acceptance or refusal.

With an informal invitation, the tone can be a lot more casual and warmer. You have the opportunity to make it as personal if you like – use whatever slang or abbreviations you’re comfortable with, and write it in first person if you’d prefer!

You can also have a lot more fun with the colour scheme and artwork if you’re hosting a casual party. For example, this bright and bold Party Clown invitation would be ideal for a child’s birthday party.

Where Can I Order Personalised Party Invitations?

If you’re looking for high-quality, professionally printed party invitations at an affordable price point, look no further than 123Print. We offer a huge variety of party invitation templates, wedding invitation templates and an array of other stationery for any use imaginable!

With both formal and informal designs available in various themes and colour schemes, you’re bound to find an invitation to suit your event down to the ground. All of our invitations are fully customisable at no extra cost, so you can add your personal details, alter the wording and change the font style and colour to suit your preferences.
Join our thousands of happy customers today and get ordering your party invitations with a click of a button!