How to Write a Party Invitation

Party invitations are a formal way to let people know of a gathering and also to let them know what to expect there. Being as specific as possible in your invitation will help ensure the comfort of your guests, as well as giving yourself the opportunity to request that they RSVP if needed. That way you can plan your party accordingly.

Instructions

1. Plan to send your party invitations from eight to two weeks before the event, depending on the formality of the occasion. The more formal the event, the more time you should allow your guests to consider and respond.

2. State who is hosting the party, the guest of honor and the reason for the celebration (e.g., birthday party, engagement party, retirement party, baby shower). This particularly helps your guests know whether it is the kind of event for which they will be expected to bring a gift.

3. Inform your guests where the party will be held. A simple address will suffice in most cases, unless your party is held at a more prominent location, in which case you should mention the name of the building, hotel or resort. Include directions or a map if the location may be difficult to find. If your invitation is more formal, do not use abbreviations such as Rd. for Road or Ave. for Avenue.

4. Specify the date of the party. It is always a good idea to include the day of the week on which the party will be held to help your guests fix in their minds.

5. Include the time of the party. For a more formal party invitation, spell out the party time rather than write it numerically.

6. Specify if special dress is required such as black tie, business casual. Also, inform the guests if your party has theme such as the 60s or a pajama party.

7. Be specific about whether your guests are allowed to bring a date or another guest with them. In less formal parties, this may not matter, but you will want your guest numbers to be as accurate as possible if you are catering or have limited space.

8. Include an RSVP request if you would like your guests to let you know if they will be attending. This is more common for formal parties although as the host, you may request it for any gathering you are hosting. Be sure to include the number where people are most likely to get a hold of you if want them to RSVP by phone. More formal invitations include RSVP cards on which the guest indicates "attending" or "not attending."