What to Write

What to Write in an Invitation: 55+ Wording Examples

55+ invitation wording examples for birthdays, children's parties, dinners, weddings and formal events — plus RSVP wording and the eight details every invitation needs.

By Funtastic E Cards Editorial Team 7 min read

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Photo by mk. s on Unsplash

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An invitation has one job most people get wrong: telling guests exactly what they are turning up to, when, and what to wear. Here are 55+ wording examples for every kind of event, from a child’s party to a black-tie dinner.

Send yours as a free invitation ecard — easier to update if the details change.

What every invitation must include

  1. Who is hosting. Guests need to know whose event it is before anything else.
  2. What the occasion is. “Drinks” and “a party” set very different expectations.
  3. Date, start time, and end time. The end time is the one everybody forgets and everybody wants.
  4. The full address. Including a postcode, not just a venue name.
  5. RSVP by a date, with a method. “Let me know” gets ignored; “text me by the 14th” does not.
  6. Dress code, if there is one. Say it plainly — guests would rather be told than guess.
  7. Food and drink. Whether it is a meal, nibbles, or nothing at all.
  8. Anything unusual. No parking, bring a chair, adults only, cash bar.

Birthday party invitation wording

  1. Come and help me celebrate turning 40! Saturday 12th, 7pm till late, at ours. Food, drink, and no speeches.
  2. It is my birthday and I would love to see you. Drinks from 8pm on Friday at The Crown. Come when you can.
  3. Turning 30 and making a fuss about it. Saturday 5th, 7.30pm, 14 Mill Road. RSVP by the 28th.
  4. Please join us for a birthday dinner in honour of Sarah. Friday 9th, 7pm, Bella Italia. Let me know by Monday.
  5. Birthday drinks! Saturday from 6pm at mine. Bring nothing but yourself.
  6. You are invited to celebrate my 50th. Saturday 20th, 12pm to 5pm, at the village hall. Lunch provided.
  7. Come and see in my birthday with us. Friday from 8pm, The Anchor. First round is on me.
  8. It is a big one this year. Party at ours, Saturday 3rd, 7pm onwards. Dress: whatever you like.
  9. Join us for cake and chaos as Tom turns 60. Sunday 14th, 2pm, at the house.
  10. Birthday lunch, Sunday 11th at 1pm. Small, relaxed, and no presents please.

Children’s party invitations

  1. Ella is turning 6! Join us for the party on Saturday 8th, 2pm to 4pm, at Riverside Soft Play. RSVP to Mum on 07700 900123.
  2. It is my birthday and I would love you to come! Sunday 12th, 11am to 1pm, at 22 Oak Street. Party food provided.
  3. Come and celebrate Jack turning 5! Saturday, 1pm to 3pm at the church hall. Please let us know about any allergies.
  4. You are invited to a birthday party! Saturday 4th, 10am to 12pm, Brookside Park. Wrap up warm.
  5. Sophie is 7! Party at the leisure centre, Sunday 19th, 2pm to 4pm. Swimming, then cake.
  6. Join us for a superhero party! Saturday 25th, 3pm to 5pm. Costumes very welcome.
  7. Birthday party for Amy, Saturday 16th, 12pm to 2pm at ours. Parents welcome to stay for a coffee.
  8. It is party time! Saturday 2nd, 1pm to 3pm, 9 Elm Close. RSVP by Wednesday please.

Dinner parties and casual gatherings

  1. Come for dinner on Saturday 7th, 7.30pm. Nothing formal — just good food and better company.
  2. We are having a few people over on Friday from 7pm. Come hungry.
  3. Sunday lunch at ours, 1pm on the 12th. Bring an appetite and nothing else.
  4. Fancy dinner on the 20th? 8pm at ours. Let me know if you can make it.
  5. Having a barbecue on Saturday from 3pm, weather permitting. Bring a chair if you have one.
  6. Drinks and nibbles at ours, Friday 5th from 7pm. Drop in whenever.
  7. Come round for a curry night on Saturday 18th, 7pm. Let me know about spice tolerance.
  8. Games night, Friday from 8pm. Snacks provided, competitive spirit essential.

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Formal and evening events

  1. Mr and Mrs Whitfield request the pleasure of your company at dinner on Saturday 14th June at 7 o’clock. Black tie. RSVP by 20th May.
  2. You are cordially invited to an evening reception at The Grand Hotel, Friday 3rd October, 7pm. Lounge suit.
  3. We would be delighted if you could join us for drinks and canapes on Thursday 12th, 6.30pm to 9pm.
  4. Please join us for an evening of dinner and dancing. Saturday 22nd, 7pm, Ashford Manor. Formal dress.
  5. The pleasure of your company is requested at a celebratory dinner, Friday 8th at 7.30pm. RSVP by the 25th.
  6. You are warmly invited to our annual dinner. Saturday 16th November, 6.30pm for 7pm. Black tie optional.
  7. Join us for a champagne reception from 6pm on Friday 11th, followed by dinner at 7.30pm.
  8. An evening in celebration of thirty years. Saturday 4th, 7pm, The Old Rectory. Smart dress.

Weddings, engagements and showers

  1. Together with their families, Anna and James invite you to celebrate their marriage on Saturday 6th September at 1pm, St Mary’s Church, followed by a reception at Hillcrest Barn.
  2. We are getting married! Join us on Saturday 12th July, 2pm, at the Old Town Hall. Reception to follow.
  3. Please join us to celebrate our engagement. Saturday 9th, 7pm, at ours. Drinks and nibbles.
  4. You are invited to an evening reception from 7.30pm on Saturday 6th September, Hillcrest Barn. Dancing, drinks, and a late buffet.
  5. Come and celebrate before the big day! Bridal shower for Emma, Sunday 3rd, 2pm, at 14 Beech Avenue.
  6. Baby shower for Rachel! Sunday 18th, 2pm to 5pm. Tea, cake, and gentle fuss.
  7. Please join us for the christening of Isla Rose, Sunday 21st at 11am, St Peter’s Church, with lunch afterwards at the village hall.
  8. We would love you to join us for a small ceremony on Friday 14th at 3pm, followed by dinner.

RSVP wording

  1. RSVP by 14th March to Jane on 07700 900123.
  2. Please let us know by the 20th so we can confirm numbers.
  3. RSVP: yes or no by Friday please — it helps enormously with catering.
  4. Kindly respond by 1st June.
  5. Let me know either way by the 10th. No hard feelings if you cannot make it.
  6. RSVP to [email protected] by 28th April. Please mention any dietary requirements.
  7. Reply by the 5th please. After that we assume you are eating elsewhere.
  8. Please confirm attendance by 15th September.

Short invitation lines

  1. Come and celebrate with us!
  2. You are invited!
  3. Join us — it would not be the same without you.
  4. Save the date.
  5. Drinks. Ours. Friday. 8pm.
  6. Party at ours — details inside.
  7. We would love you to be there.
  8. Bring yourself, nothing else.

How to word it well

  1. Lead with the occasion, not the pleasantries. Guests scan for what, when, and where before reading anything else.
  2. Give an end time. It is the single most appreciated detail on any invitation.
  3. Say what the food situation is. “Nibbles” and “dinner” require very different plans from a guest.
  4. Make the RSVP easy. A name, a method, and a deadline — all three, or you will be chasing.
  5. Match the formality to the event. “Request the pleasure of your company” on a barbecue invitation reads as a joke.

Send it — and pair it with a gift

A free invitation ecard lets you update details and track replies. See also birthday party invitation wording and wedding invitation wording:

Pair this with a gift

Ideas that suit the occasion, each linked to one product we picked. Prices and availability are set by Amazon and can change.

Party Decorations

Our pick: Luditek sound-activated party lights

Best for: Birthdays, showers, themed parties

Occasion: Invitations

Set the scene — pair invites with ready-to-hang decor.

  • Bundles save time
  • Reusable pieces available
  • Quality varies — check reviews
View on Amazon

Party Favours and Games

Our pick: JoyCat felt tic-tac-toe party favours, 30 pack

Best for: Children and larger gatherings

Occasion: Invitations

The bits that keep a party moving once the decorations are up.

  • Fills the awkward middle hour
  • Works for mixed ages
  • Cheap per head
  • Easy to over-buy
View on Amazon

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FAQ

What do you write on an invitation?

Host, occasion, date, start and end time, full address, dress code, food, and an RSVP with a deadline and a method. Everything else is optional.

Should an invitation include an end time?

Yes. Guests need it to arrange lifts and childcare, and it is the detail most often left off.

How far in advance should invitations go out?

Two to three weeks for a casual gathering, six to eight for a formal event, and several months for a wedding.

How do you word “no gifts”?

Say it plainly and warmly: “No presents please — your company is the whole point.”

How do you say adults only?

Directly but kindly: “We love your children, but this one is for grown-ups.” Vagueness causes far more awkwardness than clarity.

Is an ecard invitation acceptable?

For everything except the most formal events, yes — and it has the advantage of being editable if details change.

More invitation wording