Diane Gottsman | Leading Etiquette Expert | Modern Manners Authority

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Holiday Party Invitation Etiquette

04 Oct 2018 By: Diane Gottsman

Your holiday invitation sets the tone for your celebration.

Holiday Party Invitation EtiquetteA beautiful invitation, received in the mail, lays the foundation for your celebration and answers all of the questions your guests need to know in a festive, articulate and straightforward manner. Here’s the message it should send:

 

The 4-1-1

Your name, the date of the event and the location should be up front and center. Include the reason for the celebration and if there will be a guest of honor.

Add any particular specifics such as how to dress, what to expect in terms of food and drink, open house or a sit-down meal, where to park and if there will be a gift exchange or donation to a charity. Guests will feel more comfortable when they don’t have to assume.

 

Examples of the Right Wording

The kind of party you plan to host will dictate how you word your invitation. Less formal gatherings will be kitschier and more fun, as opposed to a more proper type of wording for a gala or winter ball.

What to Include:

The Formal Invitation

  • An honorific:  i.e., Mr. and Mrs./Dr. and Mr. or Mrs./Reverend and Mr. or Mrs./Ms.
  • Call to action: “You are cordially invited to the Smith’s second annual Thanksgiving Gala”
  • Name of the host(s): John and Sara request the pleasure of your presence to herald in the fall season
  • Date/time/location/dress code
  • RSVP and reply card
  • Details: Bring an unwrapped item to donate to The Children’s Center

The Casual Invitation

  • The guest’s names: “John and Mary Smith” or “Lisa Blake and Guest.”
  • Call to action: “Come carol around our holiday tree” or “Tis the season to mix and jingle”
  • Hosts name/date/time/location/dress code
  • RSVP
  • Details: White elephant gift exchange

The Corporate Invitation

  • The employee’s name (and their spouse or partners name if appropriate)
  • The invite: “You are invited to an evening filled with fun and goodwill” or “AGC’s 10th Annual Holiday Office Party”
  • Date/time/location/dress code
  • RSVP
  • Details: Bring a favorite memory of 2018 to share with the team

 

Dressing for the Event

Each type of event has its own dress code. Black tie, for example, requires a tux and long dress. Cocktail is dressy but less formal. Business casual is professional clothing you could wear from office to party. Casual is fun and festive, without being too informal. Use specific phrases to give your guests a true guide for the evening.

 

The RSVP

RSVP’s are invaluable when relying on an accurate headcount. A sophisticated guest understands the importance of a prompt response and will reach out with an answer within a week of receiving the invitation. For large events, recruit a friend or team member to follow up with those who have not replied.

 

Menu Options

If your party is going to provide food for your attendees, share the type of meal that will be served. Whether it’s brunch, light appetizers, dinner or dessert, state what will be available for your guests to enjoy. Keep in mind allergies and dietary restrictions and plan your menu to accommodate a variety of situations.

 

An Itinerary

Depending on the type of party you will be hosting, an itinerary may be in included in an informal invitation. For example, if you are hosting an all-day event, an overview of the day, in the form of a timeline will help your guest know what to anticipate.

 

Label and Lick

The envelope is equally as important as the invitation. Knowing who you may bring is always a source of confusion. Address the envelope to only those you are inviting to your affair. For example, if you are asking the entire family to attend your gathering, the invitation can read, “The Smith Family.” The same holds true for couples or an individual. Mail the invitation out 3 to 4 weeks in advance to get on the calendar of many of your busy guests. Some examples include:

  • “Liz Frazier and Guest”
  • “Mr. Chris Thomas and Ms. Kelsey Armstrong”
  • “Charles Mueller”

Now, get your dancing shoes on and get ready to enjoy the holiday festivities!

 

 

You may also like Holiday Etiquette: Tips for Being a Good Guest or Host. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips read her posts on Inc., subscribe to her articles on HuffPost, “like” The Protocol School of Texas on Facebook, and follow her on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. Buy her new book, Modern Etiquette for a Better Life.

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Diane Gottsman

Diane Gottsman is a national etiquette expert and modern manners professional, sought out industry leader, television personality, accomplished speaker, Huffington Post blogger, author, and the owner of The Protocol School of Texas, a company specializing in executive leadership and etiquette training. Diane is routinely quoted in national and international media including The New York Times, The BBC, CNN, Bloomberg Business Week, Kiplinger, Huffington Post Canada, U.S. News and World Report, and Forbes. She is the resident etiquette expert for two popular morning talk shows, SA Living and Good Day Austin. She has been seen on The TODAY Show, HLN Headline News, WGN Chicago, and CBS Sunday Morning. Her clients range from university students to Fortune 500 companies and her workshops cover topics ranging from tattoos in the workplace to technology at the dinner table and the proper use of social media.