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If you’re hosting a dinner party, the first thing you’ll want to do after setting a date and making up your guest list is to send out the invitations. The invitation will set the tone for the whole party. For instance, if the invitation is done in an elegant design and indicates black tie, one knows the affair will be formal. If the invitation indicates fancy dress, one knows there will be a costume party and if the invitation indicates potluck, one can only assume the affair will be casual.
For just about any dinner event, invitations are sent out about thirty to sixty days in advance. The exception to this being weddings or formal affairs, which can be sent two months prior to the big day. The reason they’re sent so far in advance is not only to give invited guests adequate time to prepare, but also so one can respond early enough to give the hostess time to prepare. It’s for this reason an RSVP date is indicated at the bottom of the invitation.
RSVP stands for "réspondez, s'il vous plaît," which is French for, “please respond.” It doesn’t matter if you’re attending the affair or not, you’re still required to respond by the requested date to advise the hostess of your intentions. This will give her enough time to prepare for the party.
Invitations should list the following information:
Name of host and hostess
Date
Time
Year (this is usually done only if the affair is a formal one.
Purpose – Is it a birthday party? A wedding? Retirement? Is there a full moon? If there’s a reason to celebrate, this will need to be indicated on the invitation.
Guest of Honor – Is the party in honor of someone else? This will also need to be indicated on the invitation.
Location: Is it at someone’s home? A restaurant? List the name of the location
Address
Type of dress – In certain circles, if a party is held after six pm, one can consider it a black tie affair. This isn’t always the case, however. If a particular type of dress is required, this can be indicated as a footnote at the bottom of the invitation.
Please note all wording on formal invitations must be in the third person. In addition, punctuation isn’t used at the end of each line, with the exception of a comma to separate sentences. Never use numerals or abbreviations, all pertinent information must be spelled out.
Ideally, invitations can be printed, but envelopes must be hand written, traditionally in black ink, though blue is acceptable. It’s the envelope which indicates who is invited to attend. If the affair isn’t to include children, the invitations will most likely be addressed to the parents only. “Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Smith.” If the invitation is extended to the whole family, those names of children under eighteen will be written underneath that of their parents:
“Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Smith
Diana and Douglas”
Children over the age of eighteen who are still living at home should receive their own invitations.
If a single person is allowed to bring a guest, the words “& guest” will be written next to the invitee’s name on the envelope. If a guest isn’t indicated, in all likelihood the invited can consider this a solo affair. Generally, guests are invited if one is engaged or living with a significant other. Casual dates, generally, aren’t invited to formal affairs.
The important thing to remember is any important information is listed on the invitation or its envelope. Please RSVP within the allotted time, especially if this will be a catered affair. Never, ever, show up with an uninvited, last minute guest without first checking with the hostess. The next order of business is to just have a good time.
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