How to Word a Surprise Birthday Party Invitation

Throwing a surprise party is a tricky endeavor. As well as tackling all the standard party planning tasks, you have to ensure the party's guests don't spoil the surprise for the guest of honor. One way to make certain guests don't spill the beans is to stress the surprise element for them in your party invitations. Use your invitations as a way to drive home the importance of keeping the party a secret.

Things You'll Need

• Birthday party invitations
• Guest addresses

Instructions

Invitation Guidelines

1. Begin your introduction with a declarative statement telling invitees the party is a surprise and the guest of honor has no knowledge of the event. "It's a surprise! Don't tell the birthday girl!"

2. Request invitees' participation by again mentioning the surprise factor, and state the first and last name of the guest of honor. "Please join us for a super-secret celebratory dinner in honor of Jill Smith."

3. Inform invitees of the time, date and location, making sure guests know to arrive at least 15 minutes before the guest of honor. Also spell out the month and include the year. "Please arrive by 6 p.m. (Jill will arrive at 6:15) August 27, 2010, at Bob's Steak House, 321 Main St., Auburn."

4. Tell invitees who is hosting the party as well as to whom they should RSVP while playing up the surprise factor yet again. Make sure to include a deadline and provide a phone number and, if possible, an email address. "Given by the ever-so-sneaky Wilson family. Kindly respond by August 10 to Alice ..."

5. Close the invitation with a reminder that the party is a surprise. While repetitive, this will help invitees understand the importance of keeping the party a secret. "Remember this is a surprise, so keep a lid on it!"

Tips & Warnings

• When dealing with people you fear may spill the beans, don't hesitate to deliver their invitation personally or make follow-up phone calls. Politely remind them that the party's success hinges on their ability to keep the surprise a secret.

• Don't send invites to locations where the guest of honor spends an ample amount of time. For example, when sending invitations to the guest of honor's co-workers, mail the invites to their home address.

References

• Colorsbydesign.com: Wording samples for surprise birthday parties