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Dinner Party invitation wording

The best dinner-party invitations are as short as the best dinner parties are long. A title, a date, a feeling, a place. Nothing that requires re-reading.

01

Openings

Start with the room, not the occasion.

  • “Dinner at our place.”
  • “Saturday, long table.”
  • “A quiet dinner before the summer goes.”
  • “Come for dinner. Stay for arguing about records.”
  • “Midsummer Soirée.”
02

The arc

Tell them when the night begins, lands, and ends. Hosts who post an arc host better parties.

  • “Cocktails at 7. Dinner at 8. Dancing by 10.”
  • “6 for 7. We'll eat at 7:30.”
  • “Drinks on arrival, supper at 8, sweets at 10.”
  • “Doors at 7. We're done by 11.”
  • “Pull up at 6. We're cooking at 7.”
03

Dress + dietary

One line each, and only if it matters.

  • “Come as you are.”
  • “Linen encouraged, layers sensible.”
  • “Garden formal.”
  • “Let us know about allergies when you reply.”
  • “We're cooking vegetarian; tell us if that's a problem.”
04

The note

The one-line closing is where a dinner-party invite stops being practical and starts being a love letter.

  • “We've missed you.”
  • “Stone fruit and orange wine on the longest day of the year.”
  • “Clear the Saturday. Trust us.”
  • “It's been too long. Come.”
  • “The dog will be well behaved. Mostly.”

Do

  • Write like you're texting a friend who you actually like
  • Give an end time on weeknights
  • Ask about dietary notes in the RSVP, not in the invite body
  • Name the vibe once, trust the rest

Skip

  • Explain the menu in the invitation — let it be a surprise
  • Use 'cordially' for anything under 30 people
  • Apologize for hosting ('it'll be casual, don't expect much')
  • Write more than eight lines
Pair this wording with a design

Templates for dinner party

You're invited

Midsummer Soirée

An evening in the garden

Hosted by Maya & Daniel

When
Saturday, June 21
7:00 PM — late
Where
The Garden
412 Linden Way · Brooklyn, NY
Attire
Garden formal · linen encouraged
Reply
RSVP by June 12

“Stone fruit, orange wine, and the longest day of the year.”

Midsummer SoiréeDinner Party
Come for a long dinnerHosted by Noor & Tomas

Blue Hour

Dinner at the Aaltonen's

Date
Saturday, March 15
7:30 PM
Place
Home
212 Charter Oak · Cambridge, MA
Attire
Come hungry
Reply
RSVP by March 9

We are experimenting with the slow-roast and orange natural wines.

Blue HourDinner Party
Discreetly yoursThe Hollowell residence

Velvet Hour

A cocktail affair

Date
Friday, February 14
8:00 PM
Place
The Library
Address upon RSVP
Attire
Dress loudly, arrive quietly
Reply
Reply by February 7

A small band. A smaller room. A password at the door.

Velvet HourCocktail Party
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