Wording 1 of 3
It's [name]'s birthday and we're celebrating.
[date] from [time]
[place]
Come hungry, stay late.
Let us know you're in by [RSVP date].
[your name]
Free, no sign-up
Invitation wording for every party
Pick the occasion and the tone, add your details, and copy wording that sounds like you. Birthdays and 21sts to weddings, BBQs to the work Christmas party. Then add a line for BYO, bring a plate or the dress code, and a real RSVP date.
Your wording
2 of 3 ideas for this occasion and tone. Anything still in square brackets is yours to fill in.
Wording 2 of 3
Party time. [name] is having a birthday, and you're invited.
[date], [time]
[place]
Bring yourself and your best stories. RSVP by [RSVP date].
[your name]
How it works
Every wording here was written by a person, not generated. There are 3 for each occasion in each tone, and your details drop straight in as you type.
- Casual sounds like a text to the group chat. Warm is for when it means a lot. Funny gets a laugh without leaving anyone out.
- Formal follows printed invitation rules: it's in the third person, and dates, times and ages are written in words, so 7:30pm becomes half past seven in the evening.
- Formal wording never says "requests" or "request" after the host's name, because one host requests and two request. It uses "the pleasure of your company is requested" or signs off with your name instead.
- Names take an 's even when they end in s, so it's James's 30th, and a couple shares one: Priya and Tom's engagement.
- Put in a date and you'll get a send-by and an RSVP-by date, from the table below. If you're sending late, we only suggest an RSVP date that gives guests at least 3 days to reply. Closer than that, we say to ask for replies as soon as you can.
- If the RSVP date you pick is on or after the party, or already gone, we'll flag it under the field.
| Occasion | Send it | RSVP by |
|---|---|---|
| Birthday | 3 weeks before | 1 week before |
| Milestone birthday | 6 weeks before | 2 weeks before |
| Kids birthday | 3 weeks before | 1 week before |
| Engagement | 4 weeks before | 2 weeks before |
| Wedding | 8 weeks before | 4 weeks before |
| Baby shower | 4 weeks before | 1 week before |
| Housewarming | 3 weeks before | 1 week before |
| Dinner party | 2 weeks before | 1 week before |
| BBQ | 2 weeks before | 1 week before |
| Work Christmas party | 6 weeks before | 2 weeks before |
| Farewell | 2 weeks before | 1 week before |
| Retirement | 4 weeks before | 2 weeks before |
| Graduation | 4 weeks before | 2 weeks before |
| Christmas lunch | 4 weeks before | 2 weeks before |
These are rules of thumb from common etiquette guidance, rounded to one figure each. A venue or caterer that wants numbers sooner wins. Want the dates worked out for you? Try the when to send invitations calculator.
Tips for the host
Put the when and where up top. It's what people look for when they check the invite on the day.
Give a real RSVP date. "Let me know soon" means you'll be chasing people the night before.
Say what to bring or wear. BYO, bring a plate, or a dress code, in one short line. If you're asking for a plate, the bring a plate planner helps you share out who brings what.
Be clear about who's invited. If it's adults only or no plus-ones, say so kindly. It's easier than an awkward chat at the door.
Read it out loud once. If it doesn't sound like you, swap the tone or shuffle for another.
Wording ideas by occasion
Birthday invitation wording
Casual
It's [name]'s birthday and we're celebrating.
[date] from [time]
[place]
Come hungry, stay late.
Let us know you're in by [RSVP date].
[your name]
Formal
The pleasure of your company is requested
at a celebration in honour of the birthday of
[name]
on [date]
at [time]
[place]
Kindly reply by [RSVP date]
[your name]
Milestone birthday invitation wording
Casual
The big three-oh has arrived.
Come and celebrate [name]'s 30th.
[date] from [time]
[place]
Let us know you're coming by [RSVP date].
[your name]
Formal
The pleasure of your company is requested
at the thirtieth birthday celebration of
[name]
on [date]
at [time]
[place]
Kindly reply by [RSVP date]
[your name]
Kids birthday invitation wording
Casual
[name] is turning [age], and you're invited to the party.
[date], [time]
[place]
Let us know if you can come by [RSVP date].
[your name]
Formal
You are warmly invited
to the [age] birthday party of
[name]
on [date]
at [time]
[place]
Kindly reply by [RSVP date]
[your name]
Engagement invitation wording
Casual
[names] are engaged, and it's party time.
[date] from [time]
[place]
Let us know you're coming by [RSVP date].
[your name]
Formal
The pleasure of your company is requested
at an engagement celebration in honour of
[names]
on [date]
at [time]
[place]
Kindly reply by [RSVP date]
[your name]
Wedding invitation wording
Casual
[names] are getting married, and we want you there.
[date] at [time]
[place]
Ceremony, then food, drinks and dancing. RSVP by [RSVP date].
[your name]
Formal
Together with their families
[names]
request the pleasure of your company
at the celebration of their marriage
on [date]
at [time]
[place]
The favour of a reply is requested by [RSVP date]
[your name]
Baby shower invitation wording
Casual
Baby on the way. Let's shower [name] with love.
[date] at [time]
[place]
RSVP by [RSVP date].
[your name]
Formal
You are cordially invited
to a baby shower in honour of
[name]
on [date]
at [time]
[place]
Kindly reply to [your name] by [RSVP date]
Housewarming invitation wording
Casual
We've moved. Come and see the new place.
[date] from [time]
[place]
Just bring yourselves. Let us know you're coming by [RSVP date].
[your name]
Formal
You are cordially invited
to a housewarming
on [date]
at [time]
[place]
Kindly reply by [RSVP date]
[your name]
Dinner party invitation wording
Casual
Dinner at ours. You in?
[date], [time]
[place]
Let us know by [RSVP date], and tell us if there's anything you don't eat.
[your name]
Formal
The pleasure of your company is requested
at dinner
on [date]
at [time]
[place]
Kindly reply to [your name] by [RSVP date]
BBQ invitation wording
Casual
Barbie at ours. Snags on, drinks in the esky.
[date] from [time]
[place]
Let us know you're coming by [RSVP date].
[your name]
Formal
You are cordially invited
to a barbecue
on [date]
at [time]
[place]
Kindly reply by [RSVP date]
[your name]
Work Christmas party invitation wording
Casual
It's that time of year. Let's wrap it up together.
Christmas party: [date] from [time]
[place]
Let us know you're coming by [RSVP date].
[company]
Formal
[company]
invites you to the annual Christmas celebration
on [date]
at [time]
[place]
Kindly reply by [RSVP date]
Farewell invitation wording
Casual
[name] is moving on, and we're not letting them go quietly.
Farewell drinks: [date] from [time]
[place]
Let us know you're coming by [RSVP date].
[your name]
Formal
You are cordially invited
to a farewell in honour of
[name]
on [date]
at [time]
[place]
Kindly reply to [your name] by [RSVP date]
Retirement invitation wording
Casual
[name] is clocking off for good. Let's celebrate.
[date] from [time]
[place]
RSVP by [RSVP date].
[your name]
Formal
The pleasure of your company is requested
at a retirement celebration in honour of
[name]
on [date]
at [time]
[place]
Kindly reply by [RSVP date]
[your name]
Graduation invitation wording
Casual
[name] did it. Come and celebrate the grad.
[date] from [time]
[place]
Let us know by [RSVP date].
[your name]
Formal
The pleasure of your company is requested
at a celebration in honour of the graduation of
[name]
on [date]
at [time]
[place]
Kindly reply by [RSVP date]
[your name]
Christmas lunch invitation wording
Casual
Christmas lunch at ours. Bring your appetite.
[date] from [time]
[place]
Let us know you're coming by [RSVP date].
[your name]
Formal
The pleasure of your company is requested
at Christmas luncheon
on [date]
at [time]
[place]
Kindly reply by [RSVP date]
[your name]
Questions
When should I send party invitations?
Two weeks ahead for a BBQ, dinner or farewell, and three for a birthday, kids party or housewarming. Give an engagement, baby shower, retirement, graduation or Christmas lunch four weeks, a milestone birthday or work Christmas party six, and a wedding eight.
What RSVP date should I put?
A week before for a party at home, two weeks when a venue or caterer needs numbers, and four weeks for a wedding. So for a BBQ on Saturday 12 December, send it by Saturday 28 November and ask for replies by Saturday 5 December.
How do you word a formal invitation?
In the third person, with the date and time written out. 7:30pm on Saturday 12 December becomes "Saturday the twelfth of December at half past seven in the evening". "The pleasure of your company is requested" suits most parties, and "the honour of your presence" is traditionally kept for a wedding ceremony.
Do I put the age on a birthday invitation?
For a kid, yes. They'll want everyone to know. For a grown-up it's usually just the milestones, the 18th, 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th and 60th, and only if they're happy to have the number out there.
How do I say BYO or bring a plate on an invitation?
Keep it to one plain line near the end. "BYO drinks, we'll have the food sorted" or "Bring a plate to share, a salad or a sweet is perfect". Both are normal here, so there's no need to apologise for asking. If it's a Kris Kringle, say the spend limit in the same line.
Is it rude to say no gifts?
Not if you say it kindly. "Your company is the only present we need" does it in one line.
What does RSVP mean?
It's French for "répondez s'il vous plaît", please reply. You don't need the full stops, and you don't need "please" in front of it, because it already says please.