How to Write Proper Invitations
A phone call may be appropriate to invite your brother to a casual dinner party, but for more formal events, you need to follow proper invitation etiquette. The precise requirements for an invitation depend on the event to which you are issuing the invitations. But no matter what the event is, your formal invitation should be clear and concise, giving potential guests all the information they need to arrive at your event on time and prepared.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Make a list of pertinent details. Write down everything you guests need to know about this party including location, date and time, attire suggestions and gift registries.
-
2
Decide on how formal you would like your invitations to be. Keep in mind that your wording should match the tone of the event. If your party is a backyard barbecue, your tone should be much less formal than for a black tie affair.
-
-
3
Begin by identifying the host and type of event. If you are writing wedding invitations, the host is often the parents of the bride. Your invitations might say, for example, "Mr. and Mrs. Smith request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter, Susan Smith, to Mark Brown."
-
4
Let guests know when and where to arrive. Write the date and time on separate lines so they stand out from the rest of the invitation wording. Guests should be able to see at a glance when your event is taking place so they can decide whether they will be able to attend.
-
5
Include any additional information you would like guests to have. For example, if your affair is black-tie, you should inform guests of this on the invitation. Similarly, if you expect guests to arrive wearing Hawaiian T-shirts, write this on the invitation. Avoid using negative wording, such as "do not bring" or "not allowed" on the invitation. Phrase your suggestions by telling guests what they should do. For example, if you are planning a surprise party, ask guests to "arrive on time" as opposed to "don't be late." If appropriate, include information about gift registries for the guest of honor. Refer back to your list of details, and make sure you've included everything.
-
6
Decide on an RSVP date. Give guests a deadline for their response that will give you enough time to give a head count to the caterer or plan your own menu; often this is about three weeks before the event. Be clear about how you would like them to respond. If you would like to receive RSVPs in the mail, include a simple form with a preaddressed envelope. Otherwise, you can include a phone number or e-mail address.
-
7
Choose a lettering technique. If your invitation is formal, use calligraphy or engraving. For a very casual event, handwrite or print invitations from a word-processing program. Thermography and digital printing are appropriate methods for a semiformal event.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit party invitation image by robert mobley from Fotolia.com
